The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-01-17

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JOHN e. KENNA.
cal oneration Of constructing n boat. He
partially recovered and resumed his seat
in the senate and made one memorable
sDcpch which was remarkable, bOthsfor It's
length and it's vigor, but soon suffered a re-
lapse from which he never rallied.
His sufferings during the last few months
of his life from heart spasms were so polg-
nant that TO himself as well as to his tam
lily, death must have been looked upon as
almost welcome.
uic,ai OF Senator kenna.
Washington, January 1.-THE senate gal
Ieries began to crowd up half an hour before
noon. although the snow lay dep on the
streets of the city, and althoul the snow
storm was still raging.
After the recess expired all the senators
present took their seats on the east side of
Inc chamber, the space on the west side being
reserved for members of the house of repre-
seutatives. A message was received from
that body stating its sincere sorrow at the
event, and that it would attend the cere-
monies III accordance with the invitation of
the senate.
For the first time in many years the ven
cradle Captain Eassett, assistant door keep
er, who has acted as master of ceremonies
in the senate ON former occasions like this,
was prevented by illness from being present,
and his functions We're discharged by AS
sistaut Sergeantat-Arms Reade
Arfiy". of the Representatives.
In Il few minutes after the receipt of the
| message, Mr.. Keadc announced the arrival
IF the speaker and house Of representatives.
| lie senators rose and remained standing
While Speaker Crisp, escorted by officers of
the house, advanced and took the chair as
isncd him on the right of the vice presi-
rt The members of the house, in large
hers, occupied the portion of the hall
ed 10 them.
ID o'clock p. m. procession of robed
preceded by acoytes, bearing a
as--~xNi tail wax candles lighted marched
OFF aisle, followed by % squad of cap,
JEy1e III full uniform, escorting and
> ,he- caSliet which was covered
6ff ,u s and flowers The priests. with
patep.\eane, of the Cathoiic university,
piniurple robes, ranged themselves about
tencr Donohue, of St Joseph's, opened
fittigious services by walking around the
and aspersing it with holy water
+. was attended by an acoiyte waving Il
) cnscr. the fumes of which pervaded the
chamber. He read the funeral services OF
the Catholic church. first in Latin and then
Il English.
Bishop Keane then took his place at the
head of the coffin and preached the funeral
sermon. Behind him the desk of the
secretary's room a gilt crucifix with a gilt
candcabra on either side. in each of which
burned five large wax candles, while oppO-
site at the foot Of the coffin stood three
ANAL bpAS Iobtu III Nillte ana Ttl, one Oh
them holding tall cruciix and the others
one on each side bearing lighted candles.
Carried TO the Depot.
At the close of the sermon, which was
delivered with strong emphasis and was
listened to with the greatest interest by
the large aSSpmblage IN the chamber the
priests again formed iii procession and re
tired by one cf the side doors. The family
of the dead senator did the same.
The congressional committee in white
scIrfS then rose and LETT the chamber by
the main aisle, followed by the squad of
capitol police bearing the caSket. Then
the guests of the senate left the chamber in
the reverse order of their arrival and the
crowded galleries gradually emptied.
The whole arrangements had been carried
out admirably and without a single hitch.
sketch If Senator Kaunas Life.
At the opening of the extra session OF the
forthwith congress October 10, 1917, a
broad shOuldered young fellow, SIX feet
high, proportioned like IA Hurcules with
clean-shayed, good-humored but resolute
couutenance, took his place i'll the house
Of representatives and began the brilliant
public career which ended yesterday III
death. John E. kenna, of West Virginia,
was then the youngest member OF the house
as he was when he entered the senate seven
years later the youngest member OF that
august body. Senator kennaS life Is re-
markable illustration of the glorious posi-
bIItIeS OF American manhood. Ills tathef
axe of fourteen and won enviable distinc-
ton at the bar of Cincinnati where he was
associated with Ex-Governor HOadley. Will
lam =. GrOycSbeck the late George ii. Pen
dleton others who subsequently rose to
national distinction. His mother was q
member of the old Lewis family of Virginia
In 1896 Mr.. Kenna's father died, leaving
wife, two little daughters and the boy John
T., then but eight years old. Almont from the
day the father died, the son assumed the care
Ocll nf hp f1
er removed TO Missouri and with her young
son took up a farm. In his latter years Sen
ator kenna always spoke with pride OF the
fact that when he was eleven years of age
tie redeemed, with a prairie pillow and four
yoke of steers, of the finest plantations
III Missouri from the native wilderness In
this early labor he developed the wonderful
physical powers, the sturdy Self-reliance and
the keen taste for outdoor life and sports
which characterized him to the day of his
death. He entered the confederate army at
fourteen and fought for three years. laying
down his muSket in Louisiana when Lee sur
rendered at the age of seventeen. He worked
lis way back to West Virginia to Kanawba
county. where he has since lived. shOudercd
a pick and went into the coal mines at 80
4 day. But he ambitious to become a
harristcr, though lie had had no schooling
since he was ten years Old.ThrOugh the
money he saved from his slender earnings
in the mines, and the kindness of friends
who interested themselves in the bright,
stalwart lad, he was enabled to go through
an academic course and to be admitted to the
bar He was a hard student and remained
So Ill his life, being an omniverous reader,
and when he died few men in the senate,
with all their advantages of YOUTH were
more scholarly than he. Young I<enna push
ed his way to the front at the bar and won
brilliant reputation as pleader. He was
elected prosecuting attorney of his county
IN 1872. and as the outcome of a fierce ri
angular contest in 1876. was elected to the
lower branch of the national legislature.
lie soon achieved distinction on the floor by
DIS brilliancy in debate and won national rop-
utation in 1873 by his famous fight against
the Texas Pacific railroad steal in direct op-
position to the instructions of his state leg