The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11
SENATOR VOORHEES, DEAD
AT r.: AGE OF 70 YEARS AFTER
A BRILLIANT CAREER.
Introduced the First Resolution For
the Public Library in Sight of
Which He Passed Away.

voorhees,, eX-United States Senator from
the State of Indiana, died at five O'Clock
| this morning at his home in this city, No
1O5 Maryland Avenue, northeast. The
Senator had been IN poor health for sew
| eral years and for at least two years
| past had taken little part in the proceed
ings in the Senate. He had been a con-
| stant sufferer from rheumatism of the
heart and his friends therefore had come
| to expect that they might hear of his
| death suddenly. The last reports of him,
however, were that ne was showing some
| signs of improvement and his death, there
| FORE while not entirely unexpected, came
with the suddenness OF shock.
Mr.. Voorhees, death was caused by an
| attack of angina pectoris. The Senator's
health was so poor during the recent poll
| teal campaign that he could not partici-
pate in it, but after his return to Wash
ington in November he seemed to improve
\ in health. Two weeks ago the old rheu-
| matte troubles returned and three days
| ago they became even more alarming,
| but the Senator still did not confine him
| self to his bed, and his family felt no
| immediate alarm. 1t was not indeed, un-
| til half an hour before the final sum
| mons came that any one realized death
| was near. The Sena tors son Reese n.
voorhees, had remained in the room with
| his father during the night and was
| awakened about four O'Clock this morn
| ing by his father who was then suffering
great pain in THE region of the heart. He
| refused, however, to allow a physician to
be called saying that the pain would pass
away. Half an hour later he appeared
much better and got out of bed to walk
| to the bathroom, his son being with him.
| When they entered the hallway, the
Senator was attacked by a more severe
| spasm than he had yet experienced and
| fell in a semi-consciouS condition into
his sons arms. The latter carried the
now dying man back to his bed and sum-
| moned DR.. Shoup, neighboring physi-
clan. 1t was too late, however, for any
aid to be of avail and the ex-senator
| soon passed away without regaining full
consciousness. Only his son Reese, his
| daughter, Miss Halle Voorhees,, and the
physician were present when he died.
| The remains will be taken to Terre
| Haute, Ind, the Senator's home for so
many years, for interment, but just when
is not yet determined. The time will de-
pend upon the word received from his
| eldest son, Hon. Charles Voorhees,, who
| resides in the State of Washington. The
| Senator is survived by three sons,
| Charles, Reese NJ, and James Paxton,
and one daughter, Miss Halle, all of
whom except the first named reside in
Washington.
| When the news of Senator Voorhees,
death became known at the capitol to-
| day expressions of deep sorrow were
| heard. The Senator had been so long in
| public life that he was known to every
employee about the building, and all had
an affectionate regard for him be-
| cause of his uniformly kind treatment
| of them.
1t was generally remarked as fitting
| that Senator Voorhees, should have died,
| as he did, within a stones throw of the
beautiful new Congressional library
building and as particularly sad that he
| should not have lived to witness the
| opening of this institution, which is soon
| to take place. He had introduced the
| first resolution looking to the erection of
this building and had watched it rise
| from the foundation stones with all the
pride of a creator. 1t will stand in large
| part a monument to the Indiana Sena-
| tors memory.
| Mr.. Voorhees, was 10 years of age last
| September and prior to his retirement
| from political life on March 4th last, had
| been for many years one of the most
| picturesque figures in the Senate. He
was born in Liberty township, Butler
| county, Ohio, and in his early infancy
was carried by his parents to their
pioneer home in the Wabash Valley. In
diana. In 1849 he graduated from the
Indian Asbury New Depauw) Univer-
sity, and studying law, began its prac-
| tlce in 1851. His first public office was
entered upon in 1858, since which time
| he has been almost continuously in the
| public service. The office was United
| States District Attorney for Indiana.
| Ills Congressional career began in 1861.
lie served in the House of Representa-
| tives for five terms. In his autobiography
| he said that he was defeated for the
Forty -thiry Congress only by reason of
the nomination of Greely, on his, the
| Democratic ticket. He came into the
Senate in 1877, by appointment, to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of
Oliver L. Morton, and because of his
long experience in the House, was as
signed Immediately to the Finance com
mittee, very unusual honor in the case
or new Senator. Moreover, he retain
| ed his connection with that committee.
l WINS It's uuTlIS Tue IdSC
| ocratic era in that body and was lead
| ing figure in all debates involving ques-
| tions of finance or tariff.
In appearance Senator Voorhees, was
one Of the most striking figures in the
Senate. He was familiarly known as
| the Tall Sycamore of the Wabash. by
reason Of his large and magnifciently
| proportioned figure. AS an orator, he
| had few peers, commanding a magnif-
Icent vocabulary and imbuing his utter
| ances with degree of earnestness and
| feeling that strangely influenced his
auditor.
Severe strain, physical and mental,
TO which Senator Voorhees, was subjected
as the leader of the majority in the
Senate during the campaign resulting in
the passage of the Sherman repeal law,
permanently impaired his health. After
that campaign he was obliged to retire
for a longer rest to his Indiana home
Continued on Fourth Page.)