The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-23

him. be listened with the greatest pa
thence, and, while other and more promi
nent men were pressing upon his attention
the senator took out his note book anC
jotted down all of the details given him by
Mr.. Covill.
During the reunion at Arkansas City, al
the time of the sad casualty by which oul
young friend, Harry Parks of this city
lost both hands by the premature dis
charge of a cannon, Senator Plumb was
an eye witness of the scene, and expressed
himself in a manner more substantial than
| words. He headed the subscription with
SO gold piece At the same time he said
| to the young man that he would do some
thing further for him. The other day !
\ handed TO young Parks a letter from Sen
ator Plumb, couched in the kindest posi-
bic terms, letter which the boy will
| always keep as souvenir of the great big
| hearted Kansas commoner.
Another incident occurs to me now: Two
| years ago at the reunion at Ellsworth was
| billed TO speak the same afternoon, from
! the same platform with Senator Plumb.
l hated to speak with man of his prestige
and renown, and 50 sought him out l
! found him on the grounds which were very
| dusty; he wore the usual frock coat, broad
brimmed hat, both being covered with
| dust; he was engaged in earnest converse
ton with an old man from northwestern
Kansas who came 100 miles, driving an old
wagon with lean pair of oxen, his old
wife in sun bonnet in the wagon, and a
lean dog under the wagon, while pronin-
ent men were pressing tor recognition,
the old granger from northern Kansas
held the undivided attention Of Kansas
great senator. Such was his kindness of
heart, man entirely without ostentation.
l have probably written TO Senator Plumb
during the past three years on an average
two letters day, no man ever wrote TO
Plumb on business but received prompt
answer Who shall we write TO nowi
Senator Plumb was the steadfast friend of
Kansas. One of the founders Of Emporia
he took an active interest in every move
ment affecting her material welfare He
was the friend Of every citizen. He was
the active friend of every county and grow
ing town in Kansas. His death was a
shock to the state and nation. At the
time of his death he was doing the work of
seven men; think moment and you will
agree with me. Kansas has met no loss so
severe as the death of Senator Plumb in a
quarter OF a century. Who can adequately
fill his place? No man in Kansas can ill
the void caused by the death of Senator
Plumb.
Hon. J. r. Meade was called upon and
he briefly but feelIngly referred to the
many virtues of the dead senator. He
first met him thirty-two years ago at a
Fourth of July picnic and knew him ever
since. He referred to him as being a very
honorable and honest man who was at all
times. and under all circumstances de-
voted TO his friends He said he knew him
best as a business man and stated that he
had a remarkable faculty in that line. "He
WAS the best frend.'' said Mr.. Meade,
that man ever had, and on all occasions
he was a friend to the humble and treated
them with as much consideration as the
exalted. He put on no style and came
nearer the hearts of the people than any
public man l have ever known.
Judge Tucker was called on and he re-
sponded saying, Il have known Plumb
for over forty years. l knew him
when at the age of A. He
came from Delaware O., to Maryville
Ohio, TO learn the printers trade. We
used to call him Press Plumb in those
days and he was such popular boy that
everyone in town knew him. After lie
left Maryville l lost track of hun and
didn't see him again till | met him in the
army in Kansas in 1861. / knew him as "A
printers apprentice, l knew him as "A sol
der, knew him as lawyer, l knew him
as a statesman and l am happy to state
that in every position he was a grand,
good, noble, honest, honorable and up
right man; one who could not do too much
for friend. | can't remember of any
event that has happened in twenty-five
years that has shocked me more than the
news of his death. I consider his loss from
a personal standpoint and in his death l
realize that have lost a personal friend
and the state servant whose place 1t is
impossi BILE to fill.
One of the prettiesJ addresses made
was that delivered by Judge
Shields. The language he used was hard
to beat and his address was as full of feel
ing as it was full of eloquence. He stated
that his politics differed from the politics
of the distinguished kansan who is lying
cold in death, but duty compelled him to
publicly recognize his worth and acknowl-
edge his great service to the people whom
he represented. He paid high tribute to
the intellect of Plumb and deemed it
great favor to be given an opportunity to
express his feelings, and mingie his sor-
rows with his fellow citizens of all parties.
The judges speech was loudly cheered at
its conclusion.
Taking it all in all the meeting was a
very good one and reflected the sentiments
OF the community over the sad and ire
parable loss Of the great, big hearted, noble
senator
PLUMB TELLS A STORY.
A citizen yesterday related an incident
in Senator Plumb's campaign last fall
that illustrates his clear apprecia ton of
the political condition as it existed in Kan
sss in 1890. The senator was seated in a
diugy hotel Office in one Of the western
county seats, surrounded by a number of
his friends, when he related the following
story to illustrate his opinion of the calam-
ity howl He said that when he WAS lad
living in his native state of Ohio many
farmers then raised seeds for the market
Just as the large seed houses do now. The
senator had occasion 10 take short trip
on one OF the railroads OF Ohio. On the
seat in front OF him sat couple OF honest
old farmers who were engaged in the bust
ness of growing seeds At one Of the sta
t!ons Tom Corwin entered the train and
sat down by the boy Plumb. The old
were relating to each other the
awful condition then prevailing in Ohio,
The rains had ruined the seed crop, and
the farmers felt that they were at starva-
TONS door. COrwin listened intently TO