The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-24
SENATOR PLUMB DEAD.
THE POPULAR KANSAS STATESMAN
DROPS DEAD FROM APOPLEXY.
Years of Persistent, Hard Work Tells with
Sudden and Fatal Effect on an Iron
Constitution and He Falls in
the Prime Of Life

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-"Oh my
God! my head, my head, my head!"
and Senator Preston B. Plumb, who
as representative ofthe state of Kan
sas in the United States senate con-
tinuously since 1876, occupied a prom
inent place in the councils of the Re-
publican party. A few minutes after
he fell unconscious, never to regain a
knowledge of what was going on
about him. 1t was quarter to Z this
morning when he uttered the excla-
nation. Little more than five hours
later the broad, powerful looking
Kansas senator was stretched
out dead in his modest
apartments on Fourteenth street.
His physician, DR.. Philip Wales,
Clerk w. b. Flenneken and Land
lord Jennings were with him at the
end. His wife and two children are
in Kansas. Death resulted from ap-
oplexy, the result of exhaustion OF
the brain. 1t was clear case of over
work and inattention to the laws OF
nature. The senator has been known
for years as the most pushing, ener.
getic, Woodworking member of the
senate. A year ago he began to fail
his brain became affected and throb-
bling headaches became frequent. His
physicians warned him that con-
tinuance of his labors meant death,
but he refused to heed the warning.
He continued to work with the energy
of a steam engine, and today, when
still apparently full of vigor and a
long life before him, he died. A few
days ago Senator Plumb went to
Philadelphia with Senator Quay for
the purpose of consulting DR.. Pepper.
He returned to Washington last night
at 7 o'clock complaining Of violent
headache, but went to a dinner at
Chamberlain's given by Senator Ma
hone to few friends. 1t must have
been l o'clock this morning when he
returned to his quarters, Landlord
Lawson ID. Jennings said today that
he did not return till nearly o'clock
and the senator had not yet returned.
Shortly before o'clock Mr., jennings
was awakened by Senator Plumb,
who told him he was very sick. Mr..
Jennings saw that the senator's con-
dition was serious and DIR. Wales was
summoned. The doctor alleviated
the pain and again administered OPT
ates. At quarter to 7 O'Clock, Sena-
tor Plumb woke with a spring,
bounded out of bed 10 slop
lar and began to vomit,
his head aching violently.
Vomiting ceased after time, and the
Senator put his hands to his head and
exclaimed: ooh, my God! My head,
my head!' These were the last words
he ever uttered. In few moments
he lapsed into a slumber and Iatel
into unconsciousness.
A bout | o'clock Mr.. Flenneken
clerk of the committee on public
lands, of which Senator Plumb was
chairman, called, as was ms custom,
to assist the Senator with his cores
pondence. Flenniken noticed that he
was breathing heavily and stertor-
iously. DR.. Wales was again sum-
moned and saw at once that his pa
tient had been stricken with apo
plexy. Senator Plumb was uncon-
scious and his tongue was paralyzed
Death soon followed.
The news of the sad event spread
RAPIDLY. Within an hour senator
PETER was by the side of his dead COZ
leapue. Sergeant at-Arm Valentine
was nromptly on hand and assumed
the direction of the funeral arrange,
ments. The undertaken TOOK charse
of the remains. He proceeded 10 pre-,
pare the body for interment, ana IN 4, d
short time completed the embalmlng
process. This haste in the mattei
gave rise to a distressing lncldenG
The news of the husbands death mao
been telegraphed Mrs. Plumb, VINO Ii
at Emporia, Kas. Just after the
undertaken had embalmed the pody
TELEGRAM was received from one OF Int
friends of the family directing tha'
the remains be not embalmed. LaIei
came a telegram explaining that lasI
summer Senator Plumb lay for TWO Oh
three hours in sV"Un ON.
suspended animation and to an ~" p,
pearances dead. Having tnaV .L ~
mind Mrs. Plumb did nov WISH om'
BODY embalmed until absolutely ~, oo oa
tain her husband was dead. Inc 10
CENT of the telegram caused muchP I'm
awaiting regret. The undertakel
however, is positively of the op dn1' d
that there can be no reason to douo
the fact that death occurred before n
had undertaken the discharge OF nj
fnnctions and as proof of the asser ,,
t;ni' aoid that in addition to the ply
s Sicn '' statement to that effect, the 9
indisnntible evidence of death was G ~
fact That no blood flowed from arVe RE
when opened in the course OF tne en- th,
baIming process. The officers OF IN,
House and Senate will t tak S0o pro spd
steps on the obsequies OF the uec . Tif
The deceased senator leaves es, q NOW WOW,
and five children, two daughteLss t tUw'
at Emporia with Mrs; PLUMP 1,on TM'
sons now at school in Pen9 Penn y, v bos
fba third son now confined IN a no. noS
n TH at at philadelphia with a SERIOUS
ailment. 80, horn in Della
ware Sv1 county, Ohio, Oct. II, 1887 is wa va
in his 54th year at the ,l tlnoe g pa d1
death. He was not a coLle ssebso rT fol
90 h,t left the common sGnoon iO