Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-21

than the employe, who was his junior by
20 wears. As evidence of his vitality, he
doubled up his forearm. His biceps muscles
were hard and compact. He actively
looked after The interests of his constituents
last week, and probably leads any other
Senator in the number OF bills introduced
at this session. Notwithstanding this &C.
tivitv and his own assertion of his vigorous
health, latterlv he had been complaining OF
sleeplessness, vertigo, and symptoms which
in medicine are embraced in the term
"Aphasia."
Rapid Spread Of the News.
The news of the sad event spread rapidly.
Within an hour after Senator Plumb't
death Senator PETER was at the side Of his
dead colleague. Sergeant at Arms Valen-
tine and his deputy, Charles B. Reade, were
| promptly on hand and assumed the direc-
tion of the funeral arrangements. An un-
dertaker was summoned and took charge OF
the remains. He proceeded at once to pre-
pare the body for interment, and in a short
time completed the embalming process.
His haste in this matter gave rise to a dis
tressing incident. News of her husband S
death had been telegraphed Mrs. Plumb. at
Emporia, Kan, within few minutes after
1t occurred. Just after the undertaken had
| embalmed the body, telegram was re-
ceived from one of the friends of the family
at Emporia, directing that the remains be
not embalmed.
Soon afterward, but like the first, too
| late, came a second telegram explaining the
| direction. 1t stated that last summer
Senator Plumb was for two or three hours
in a state of suspended animation, and to
all appearance was dead. Having then this
crisis in mind, Mrs. Plumb did not wish the
body embalmed until it was absolutely
certain that her husband was dead.
No Doubt Left as to Death.
The receipt of this telegram caused much
unavailing regret The undertaken, how
ever, was positively of the opinion that
this could be no reason to doubt the fact
that death had occurred before he had
undertaken the discharge of his function.
In proof of his assertion he said that in
addition to the physicians statement to the
effect, there was undisputable residence of
death in the fact that no blood flowed from
the arteries when they were opened in the
course of the embalming process.
When the remains had been properly
prepared guard of honor composed of en-
nloves of the United States Senate was de-
tailed to watch over them until they are re-
moved to the Capitol Vice President
Morton was informed of Senator Plumb's
death early in the afternoon. He called
Immediately at the residence of the de-
ceased and extended his good Offices Sena-
tors Manderson, Paddock, Walthall, Gull
lom, Hale, Washburne, Teller, Wolcott
and many other Senators called during the
dav. They were inexpressibly shocked and
grieved at the sad event. The Vice Presi-
dent at once took steps toward the appoint
ment of a committee of Senators to direct
the obsequies, and communicated with
Speaker Crisp in order that corresponding
committee might be appointed in behalf of
the House of Representatives.
Sketch of the self Made Man.
The deceased Senator leaves wife and
five children. Two daughters are now at
Emporia with Mrs. Plumb. Two sons are
at school in PENNSYLVANIA, and a third is
confined to q hospital in Philadelphia by a
serious ailment.
Senator Plumb was born in Delaware
county, Ohio, October -, 1887, so that he
was in his 54th year at the time of his death.
He was not college graduate, but left the
common school for the printers case, and
in pursuance of his vocation as a journey
man printer, in 1856, in the bloody days of
the history of the newly organized terri
tory of Kansas, walked into the territory
and with the vigor and indefatigable energy
which has throughout his life been his chief
characteristic, the young man plunged at
once into the thick of hot political strife
which was then waging over the slavery
question
He at once went to the front and was
chosen a member of the Leavenworth Con-
stitutional Convention of March 5. He
was admitted to the bar in 1861, but the
place of his adoption becoming State of
the Union, he served in the Legislature in !
1862 was Chairman of the Judiciary Com
m and suhcpouont1v renorfer of the |
Supreme Court.
War Record of Senator Plumb.
When the war broke out he entered the
army as Second Lieutenant in the Eleventh
Infantry, and served successively as Captain,
Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the regi-
ment, and was commissioned a Colonel of
the same regiment in August, 1862
After the war Mr.. Plumb, returning to
Kansas, was elected a member and Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and in
1876 was chosen United States Senator to |
succeed James NJ. Harvey, Republican. He |
took his seat in 1877. and has represented |
his State as a Senator ever since that time. |
His term of Office would have expired |
March g. 1895.
Undoubtedly Senator Plumb has sue
ceeded iu stamping his strong individuality |
upon the legislative history of the United |
have the majority of his colleagues. He was !
a man of most positive views, but always |
had keen appreciation of the line of separ- |
alton between the impracticable and the |
eXpedient. His devotion to Republican |
principles was beyond question, but he |
never hesitated to point out what he re- |
garded as mistakes in the policy outlined |
by the party leaders, and to use his best |
efforts to correct them.
Well Fitted to Grasp Det,iIs
he was peculiarly fitted to grasp details,
That faculty found ample field for exercise
in the discharge of his functions as men,
Der of the Senate Committee on Appropria-
tions, and it was generally understood |
among his brother Senators that Senator
Plumb was unimpeachable in any statements
he made concerning the intricate machinery
of the Government service. He was Chair
man of the Committee on Public Lands and
a member of the Committee on Agriculture,
Executive Departments, Meat Products
and Administrative Service of the Senate
Senator Plumb's social qualities were
highly esteemed in Washington, and his
presence was always appreciated at social
His interests were large-for
Senator Plumb was wealthy man, and in
addition to his Senatorial duties he was ac-
lively concerned in railroads and industrial
and was widely known in
financial circles as an indefatigable pro-
noter
Arrangements for the Funeral.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the
body of the late Senator will be removed
from the apartments he lately occupied to
the marble room i'll the Senate wing of the
Capitol. 1t will be escorted by the Capitol