River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-05-28
TWO SUDDEN CALLS.

Judge Hauk. the weII-Known TENNESSEE
take and the Error Costs Him His Life
David Butler. Nebraska's First GOV
ernor, Drops Dead.
KNOXVILLE. Tenn, May 26.-Con.
FRESHMAN Houk died Monday morning
, at o'clock of heart failure, caused by
accidentally swallowing a solution CT
arsenic. The poison was swallowed
Sunday afternoon at the drug store
near his residence. He called at the
store, bought some cigars and asked
for drink of water, which was given
him. He remained about the store for
some minutes, going behind the
counter where the prescription clerk
was busy compromising a prescription
and not noticing Judge Houk's move
ments. Going to the clerks size and
pointing to a covered glass on the
counter Judge Houk asked: "What
is that stuff in that glass? 1t don't
taste very good. Is il a poison?''
''Great heavens" exclaimed the
clerk, ''you did not drink from that
glass, did you? Why. judge, that glass
contains enough arsenic to kill half a
dozen men. Houk had swallowed part
of the contents, thinking he was drink
ing second glass of water. He was
stricken with terror and begged the
clerk to give him something to save
him. The clerk at once prepared mus
tard emetic and in few seconds Houk
was vomiting freely. A physician was
Immediately summoned and other emet-
les administered. He was then conveyed
To his residence and stomach pump
was used until the physicians decided
that no more arsenic was in his sys-
TEN. At 10 o'clock he was thought
beyond danger and was rest
ing quietly. TIL. physicians called
several times during the night, finding
him in good condition, and at 8 o'clock
a. m. his son Elmer, who had remained
awake all night ia his fathers room,
went to breakfast. He left Mr..
Houk asleep, breathing naturally.
Twenty minutes later a servant
was sent to the room and on returning
reported thu patient looking very
strange. Members of the family rushed
to his room to find him gasping for
breath, and in a few minutes he was
dead. Physicians were summoned, who
pronounced the cause of his death to
be heart failure, brought on by ex-
element and exhaustion induced by
swallowing the poison. The coroner's
jury rendered verdict in accordance
with these facts. Jadge Houk Sunday
night exonerated the prescription clerk
from all blame, saying that the swal-
lowing of the poison was accidental
and resulted from his own carelessness.
fMr. Houk was a native OF Sever county,
Tenn. and had almost completed his 55th year.
He attended school but three months during his
lifetime, but after the close OF his daily labors
as a cabinetmaker devoted himself to study
until, in 1859. he began the practice
u the law, in which he continued I'M
I'll the secession of his state, when he entered
the union army a private August Q, 1861. In
April, 1888 after he had become colonel OF the
Third Tennessee infantry, i'll health com
PEELED him to resign. He was engaged
In newspaper work for a year following,
but in 1855 resumed practice at the bar. Mr.
Houk was a member of the Tennessee constitu.
tional convention OF 1885, served one term
as Judge OF the Seventeenth circuit court
Of Tennessee; was for time mem
Der of the southern claims commission; repre-
sented his state in the national republican con
seven times elected to congress. He was on
the republican electoral tickets in 1864 and 1875.
DEATH OF NEBRAsKA's FIRST GOVERNOR
OMAHA, Neb., May 26.-David But
Ter, the first governor of Nebraska and
prominent politician, dropped dead at
his residence in Pawnee City Monday
of heart failure.
Butler has played q prominent part IN the
political history OF Nebraska since his advent
in 1883 In many respects his career has been
sensational. He was born at Bloomington,
ind. and after losing fortune in the financial
srsis of 1857 he removed to Nebraska. His
fortune was Immediately rebuilt In the cat
tie business and he became a prominent
hgure in the state politics, being an uncompro
missing republican and free-state advocate and
On sdmirer OF Lincoln In 1851 Butler was a
member OF the territorial legislature, and dur
Ing those tumultuous periods was an aggressive
figure. In the Kansas and Nebraska
bill agitation he led the republicans
When the state was admitted he was
elected it's first governor by l46 votes
majority. During his term many questions OF
Importance incident to a new state were de-
cided. He signed the bill removing the capital
from Omaha to Lincoln. Butler was elected
three successive times, but during that time
made bitter enemies. The personal fight
impeachment in 1871. The charge was
malfeasance In ONCE. The onense consisted
In alleged frauds in the disposition Of public
lands A hard fight was made by his friends.
Secretary of State w. III. James was appointed
his successor In June, 1871. He retired TO pri-
vate life for long time thereafter, but later
became an alliance man. 1t was thought that
the deceased would play an important part in
the new peoples party movement, he was
nromfnentIv mentioned for office