The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-12-26
PRESTON B. PLUMB.
Kansas Senior Senator Succumbs
to Apoplexy.
The Sudden Summons Believed to Have
Been the Result OF Overwork-ue
Had Isecn y Senator for
Fourteen Years.

Dcen the Result OF OverwOrk-he
Had Been = Senator for
Fourteen Years
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator Pres
ton B. Plumb. of Kansas, died suddenly
of apoplexy shortly before noon yes
terday. His death occurred in the un-
pretentious three-story brick boarding
house, 610 Fourteenth street, in this
city, within n stones throw of the Eb.
bitt house, Riggs house and Willard's
hotel, in which convenient location he
has for the last five or six seasons
taken up his quarters during the ses-
siOns of congress
In q very short space of time the
news spread over the city, and the ex-
pressions of regret were universal, and
not confined to any political party.
Vice-Prcsident Morton, accompanied
by Mrs. Cameron, wife of Senator Don
Cameron. of Pennsylvania, was one OF
the earliest callers, and placed his
services at the disposal of the friends
of the dead senator. Mr.. PETER, Mr..
Plumb's alliance colleague, remained
in attendance several hours. answering
questions and rendering any assistance
in his power. During the afternoon
nearly every senator in town either
called in person or sent messages OF
coincidence, and some of the most earn
estly expressed of the latter came from
senators on the democratic side, by all
of whom the Kansas statesman was re-
spected.
Mr.. Charles B. Reade, assistant SER
geant-at-arms, of the senate, took charge
OF the remains and caused kilograms to
be sent to the absent wife and children
of the dead senator.
Mr.. Plumb had been ailing more or
less ever since the close of his hercu-
lean labors in the last campaign in his
state. which resulted so satisfactorily to
himself and his party. lie was at all
times an indefatigable worker, but in
this campaign he outdid himself. On
his return to Washington he attempted
to throw into his senatorial duties his
accustomed ardor, but complained that
he could not concentrate his faculties
with his accustomed readiness. He
felt dazcd and uncertain, both men
tally and physically. Preliminary
symptoms of the disease which finally
carried him off with such startling
rapidity were not wanting. For weeks
past, when he had occasion to write n
letter personally. the lines wandered
mp and down the page in the most ir-
regular manner, greatly differing from
his usual precise bankers chirography,
and he found difficulty even in signing
with regularity those letters which his
secretary prepared for him. On the
street he lost himself occasionally.
Several days ago, just after the open
ing of the senate, walking with Col.
f. c. Manning, his frequent companion,
he stopped as Manning was about to
leave him, and said: Don't go, Man
ming; want you to stay by me: don't
know exactly where / am
lie thought that the trouble might
arise from some impairment of his vis-
ion, and after the adjournment Of the
senate on Thursday last went to Phila-
delphla, VIII ere his eldest son is under
treatment for defective eyesight, to
take advice in his own case. The emil
ncnt medical men he consulted told him
frankly that unless he gave himself an
immediate rest, and exercised the great
est care, softening of the brain might
result With the warning ringing in
his ears he returned to Washington,
with a determination that after the
senate adjourned for the holidays
he would return to Philadelphia
and put himself under the care
of DIR. Pepper for prolonged
course of treatment. He even men
toned 20 friends that he might return
to Philadelphia to-day, without waiting
the adjournment of the senate. He
:ame back by the 6 o'clock train and
went to Chamberlain's well-known
restaurant for dinner. He took his
seat at one of the small tables in the
rear of the public dining room. alone.
Senator Plumb was a remarkably alb
stcmious man in his habits. and he did
not depart from his usual custom on
this occasion. He partook of no wine
or other stimulant.
Ex-senator Malone, of Virginia; Mr..
Frank Hatton. of the Washington
Post: Senator Squire and his private
secretary were at adjoining tables.
They all entered into conversation
with Mr.. Plumb, but in the midst of it
the Kansas senator stopped and drew
out a bottle of medicine, which he
shook up and took a dose of. remark
ing, with an apology for his doing so,
that he was feeling quite sick and
feared he was going to be laid up with
the grip. He would not even yet admit
the grave brain trouble of which he
had been warned.
From Chamberlain's he went home to
his somewhat dismal rooms, and went
ing he aroused his landlord, Mr.. Jen-
nings, saying he felt very ill. and asked
him to send for a doctor. DIR. Phillip
s. Wales, ex-surgeon general Of the
navy, was summoned and remained in
charge of the case until the end.
Hypodermic injections were admins
tered. and about o'clock in the morn
ing the rsenator became unconscious
and continued in a state of coma with
scarcely any intermission until his
death. Just before he dozed off he
raised his hand to the back Of his head,
where he had all along complained of
feeling intense pain, and exclaimed:
''Oh, God. my head"
Shortly after II a. m. he commenced
to breathe stertoriously and Mr.. Jen-
nings, who was watching by his bed
side with the senator's secretary, be-
came alarmed and sent for the doctor.
When DIR. Wales arrived the senator's
face had turned purple. and it was ap-
parent that apoplexy had supervened.
The surgeon called for stimulants, and
Mr.. Jennings ran across to a neighbor-
ing drug store and seized some spirits
with which he Immediately returned.
''It is too late" said Surgeon Wales,
and almost Immediately afterwards the
senator expired.
There were around his bedside at
the time of his death, besides his ply
sician, Surgeon-General Wales. Mr.. B.
+. Flenniken, who for many years has
been clerk of the committee on public
lands, Of which Senator Plumb was
chairman, and has acted as his private
secretary; his landlord and other at
tendants-