Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-25
PRESTON 3. PLUMB,
Born oct. -, 1887.
Died Dec. ~, 1891.


During the night the only watchers
ct the residence Of the deceased on
Fourteenth street were a detail Of mes
aengers from the capitol and his private
secretary. This morning there were
few calle s at the house, mostly Senate
employees, who greatly admired Sena-
tor Plumb in life for his many charita-
bic efforts in their behalf and who hold
his memory in the deepest reverence.
Among the callers were Capt. J. G.
Lindsay of Kansas, who commanded
q company in Senator Plumb's regi-
ment during the war and his warm,
personal friend.
At 10 o'clock the casl1et was borne
from the house to the hearse by eight
of the capitol police, under direction of
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Merritt.
Immediately the small funeral cortege
consisting Of the hearse, drawn by
two coal-black horses, comparisoned
with heavy robes of black netting;
carriage in which rode Mr.. Merritt and
the private secretary, and few adj
mirers of the late senator---started to-
ward the capitol. There were no
floral decorations at the house, and save
small wreath of white immortelles on
top of the casket, sent by the chief
clerk of the treasury department, there
was nothing to relieve the som Der
blacllness of the casllet which contained
all that remained of the late distin-
gished Kansas senator.
The small procession moved slowly
a I l, -
vania avenue and wendell its way up
through the capitol grounds to the
northeast front of the capitol, where
the casket was removed from the
hearse and carried up the white marble
steps of the Senate wing. At the en-
trance to the building the remains were
met by Sergeant-at-Arms Valentine,
who escorted them through the lower
corridors of the building and upstairs
to the marble-room in the rear of the
Senate chamber and only few feet
from the vice-President's chair There
they were placed on a black catafalque
in the center of the room and all per-
sons were requested to retire.
Soon after the caslet was deposited
In the marble-rOom a large number of
persons gathered around the door az
the entrance anxious to take a last
look at the features of the dead, but in
view of the condition of the body it
was deemed best not to expose them to
view
When the Senate met at noon the
chamber was partly arranged for tie
funeral of sequies. The desk and chair of
the deceased Senator were heavily
draped. The galleries were crowded
with spectators, except the diplomatic
and the Vice-President's galleries,
which were reserved. In the opening
prayer the Rev. J. G.. Butter, the chap
lain, referred in feeling manner to the
death IF Senator Plumb. "Sanctifed,"
he said be this last bereavement.
Teach US heavenly wisdom and hear US
when we commend to Thee, very
tenderly, Thy handmaiden in her soh-
tude and sadness and overwhelming
sorrow in her distant home We pray
that Thou wilt sustain her and comfort
her and give her Thy peace"
On motion of Mr.. Henderson the
reading of the journal was dispensed
with and Mr.. PETER rose to make the
formal announcement of Mr.. Plumb's
death and to offer the usual resolutions.
He said:
Senator Pefrer's EuIosy.
Mr.. President: | esteemed myself
peculiarly unfortunate in that, before
l have been a member of this body
long enough to become familiar even
- =
which we sit, l am called upon to an
nounce the death of my distinguished
colleague, upon whose wonderful re-
sources | had expected largely to rely.
Preston B. Plumb, a Senator from
Kansas, died in this city yesterday at
ten minutes before - o'clock. This is
not the time nor the occasion to speak
at length of the life and public services
of the absent Senator. The dark drap-
cry about the seat he SO long occupied
forcibly reminds his fellow-members
that they have lost one of their most
active and industrious workers His
experience, his practical way of doing
things, his sagacity and his great pow
srs of endurance his constancy and
faithfulness on duty and his alertness
In the main made him conspicuous
figure among the strong men of the ma
tlon.
The services over the remains of Sen,
ator Plumb came 90 an end at 2:05, anC
then ensued what many people regard a,
an extraordinary affair. Without any
motion to adjourn or TO take
a recess, and without making
anv provision for the hiatus which after
wards became decidedly prominent. lht
senate simply collapsed and walked out
leaving the guests standing. for fully
two minutes the president and otieia
family, the supreme court and diplomatic