Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-21
PLUMB FRUSTRATED.
The Senior Kansas Senator's
Sudden Death.
He Died of ApOplexy Caused by
OverwOrk.
A Loss to His State and Blow TO the
Republican Party.
Mrs. Plumb Overcome by, News of tho
Sad Occurrence-Ingalls VIII
Probably Be Appointed to
the Vacant Seat.
ssociated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-"Oh! My God
My head, my head !" and Senator Pres
ton Plumb who, as representative Of
the state of Kansas in the United States
senate since 1876, has occupied prom
inent place in the councils of the Re-
publican party, few minutes later fell
unconscious, never to regain knowledge
of what was going on around him. 1t
was quarter to this morning when
he uttered the above exclamation. A
little more than five hours later the
broad-framed, powerful looking man
was stretched out dead in his modest
apartments in Fourteenth street. His
physician, DIR. Philip Wales his clerk,
R. w. Flenniken, and his landlord, Mr..
Jennings, were with him at the last.
His wife and two children are in Kan
cas-. His
DEATH FROM APoPLEXY
was clearly the result of overwork. The
senator had been known for many years
as one of the most energetic members of
the senate. A year ago he began to fail,
his brain became affected, and he was
afflicted with throbbing headaches,
which became more and more frequent.
His physicians warned him that con-
tinuance OF his labors meant death, but
he refused to heed their warning. So
far as outward appearances went he was
most vigorous slooking, and apparently
the personi6cation of health. He con-
tinued with the energy OF steam en-
gine, and today, when seemingly still in
full vigor, died. Two weeks ago
TROUBLED BY FAILING MEMORY
and other symptoms which medical
men class as aphasia, he called in DR..
Wales. The latter, after careful
study, informed the senator that the
symptoms indicated apoplexy, and that
he must quit work, and rest, but Plumb
thought the doctor was unduly alarmed.
He kept up his labors, both in the SEN
ate and at home. His eyes then troubled
him, as did alec his kidneys. He had
skiilful specialists examine him. They
reported that there was nothing the
matter with those organs; that it
was some other trouble, which
confirmed DR.. Wales's diagnosis.
A few days ago Plumb went to
Philadelphia with Senator Quay to con-
suit DR.. Pepper. He returned last even
ing complaining of a violent headache,
but went to dinner given by ex-Sena-
tor Malone to few friends. He re-
turned home about O'Clock this morn
ing, and about 2 O'Clock called Mr.. Jen-
nings, his landlord, who lived above,
and requested him to come down and
sit with him as he was ill., Mr.. Jen-
nings saw his condition was serious and
nr Wola 1ott l.
leviated his pain and remained with the
Senator until 80, when he went away,
leaving the Senator sleeping soundly.
Fifteen minutes later Senator Plumb
awoke, bounded out OF bed to the slop
jar and began to vomit. When the
vomit ceased, he raised his hands to his
head and exclaimed what proved to be
HIS LAST WORDS:
"Oh My God My head, my
head !"
Mr.. Jennings stroked his head to re-
lieve the pain, and few minutes later
the senator relapsed into slumber and
soon after into unconsciousness. About
10 O'Clock DR.. Wales returned and saw
at once that the senator had been
unconscious until the end came at | 80.
DIR. Wales said the immediate cause of
his death was apoplexy brought on by
fatty degeneration of the brain from
overwork. 'It was a clear case of over
work." said the doctor. ''If he had
given up some time ago it would have
been different, but no man could stand
what he was doing in his condition"
THE NEWS OF THE SAD EVENT
Spread rapidly. Within an hour Sena-
tor PETER was at the bedside of his dead
colleague, and Sergeant-at-Arms Bal
lantyne of the senate assumed the direc-
ton of the funeral arrangements. An
undertaken was summoned and he en-
balmed the remains, his haste in this
matter giving rise to
A DISTRESSING INCIDENT.
Shortly after the embalming was COM
pleted a dispatch was received from his
widow, who was in Emporia, KS, re-
questing that the body be not en-
balmed. 1t was stated that last sum-
mer the senator was for two or three
hours in state OF suspended anima-
tion and to all appearance dead. Hav-
ing that crisis in mind, Mrs. Plumb
did not wish the body embalmed until
there was no doubt of his death. The
caused much unavailing regret. The
undertaken and doctor, however, are
positive the senator was dead.
A GUARD OF HONOR,
composed of employees of the senate,
was detailed to watch over the remains
until they were removed to the capitol.
President Morton and many sena-
tors called at the house during the aft
ernoon.
Plumb leaves wife and five children,
two daughters and three sons.
SENATOR PLUMB's CAREER.
He was born in Delaware county,
Ohio, October IL, 1887; left the common
school for the printers case, and in pur-
suance of that vocation went to Kansas
in 1856 and plunged at once into the
thick strife then raging over the
slavery question. He at once went
to the front, and soon be-