The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-15
SENATOR HARRIS IS DEAD
THE AGED TENNESSEE STATESMAN
DIED AT HIS WASHINGTON
RESIDENCE.
DEATH WAS FASTENED BY THE HEAT
lie Sank Rapidly and PASSED AVA!
Peacefully, Surrounded by Menu
hers of the Famiry-Interesting
sketch of His Life.

1arrlS OF i eDHCSsct ultl at Iin I''i''hNN
here a few minutes before D o'clock this
afternoon. The senator had been grow
ing constantly weaker for several days
past, the intense summer heat which has
prevailed greatly dcbilitating him, and no
doubt Fastening his end There were
times when he would rally slightly, which
gave his family hopes that he would be
able to regain strength to be moved from
the city, but his vitality had become too
much exhausted. This morning the SEN
ator revived somewhat, but only tempo
rarily. During the afternoon he sank
rapidly and passed away peacefully.
There were present at his bedside
when death came. his son, Edward *.
Harris, and the latters wife; Represent
alive Benton McMillin of Tennessee, Miss
Polk, friend from Tennessee. and the
members of the household, where the
senator had lived for some time. An
other son, Charles III. Harris not real
izing the end was so near, left the house
short time before death came. \
fourth son, Isham Harris, is on his
fathers ranch and stock farm mt Abb
lene, Tex, and probably will meet the
funeral train when it reaches Memphis,
where the interment will be made.
Senator Harris was last in the senate
unable to stay for any length of time
and had to be taken home in n carriage.
During the past six months the senator
had been able TO attend to his duties only
at intervals having been away from the
city several times cndeavoring TO rccu-
perate.
The remains will lie in state in the
marble room of the senate on Saturday
morning, and during the afternoon the
funeral services will he held in the senate
chamber. Accompanied by the commit
tees Of the senate and house the body
will be taken to Memphis, leaving here
after the senate ceremonies. Monday
the remains will lie in state for a few
hours at Nashville. Interment will be in
Elmwood cemetery at Memphis.
Senator Harris Biography.
Washington, July S.-Probably no man
in public life has been identified with
more of the history Of this country than
has Senator Harris. He had almost
completed his seventy-ninth year, having
been born in February, 1918, and first
became a member of congress in 1910
His congressional career thus began
earlier than that of any member of either
house antedating Senators Morrill, and
Sherman by seven years and Hon. Ca
lusha A. Grew, now member of the
house from Pennsylvania, by one year.
Mr.. Harris had when he was elected
to the national house of representatives,
already become man of state reputa-
ton in Tennessee, having the year pre-
viously served as n presidential elector
on the democratic ticket and two years
before been elected a member of the leg
jslature of the state.
E Mr.. Harris represented the Ninth Ten
nesscc district in congress for the two
terms ending in 1910. when he declined
n denomination. He then moved to Mem
phis, where he has since resided. Here
he was engaged in the practice of law
until 1857, with the exception of the i'll
tcrruption necessary to allow him to be-
come presidential clector in 1856. He
was three times in succession before the
war, beginning in 1857, elected governor
of his state and was serving in that ca
pacity when the war broke out. He
took n pronounced stand for the southern
confederacy, and was one of the southern
war governors. The vicisstudcs of the
conflict rendered frequent change of
residence necessary, and he was often
with the army in the field. He attached
himself Mt different times to the staffs of
Gems. Albert Sidney Johnston, Joseph Il.
Johnson. Beaurcgard and Bragg. Albert
Sidney Johnston fell from his horse into
Senator Harris hands when he received
his death wound.
After Lees surrender, Mr. Harris was
one of a small party of political refugees
who escaped to Mexico. going across the
country on horseback. Parson Brownley,
who had become the military governor of
Tennessee offered large reward in n
characteristically worded poster for the
capture of his predecessor, but the latter
remained absent from the country until
his return was safe. He remained in
Mexico for several months, going thence
TO England. where he remained until
1867. when he returned to Memphis and
resumed his practice of law.
Mr.. Harris was allowed to follow the
pursuits of the private citizen until 1877,
when he was elected to the United States
senate, defeating Hon. l.. Hawkins. re-
publican. He has remained member of
the senate ever since. and would have
completed his twentieth consecutive year
in that body on the 4th of March. had
he lived to that date. He had been four
times elected to the senate, the last time
in 1898, and his term would not have en-
PRED until 1901.
Senator Harris had received almost all
the honors that the senate could bestow.
He was president pro TEN. during the
Flfty-third congress, n leading member of
the committee on finance and rules and
also of the democratic advisory or steer
ing committee. He had long been award
ed by common consent the front place on
both sides of the chamber in parliamenta-
ry questions. and in recent years he has
been more frequently heard in eXpound-
ing these questions than in the calculation
of others. He was possessed of Il very
positive manner and never failed to throw
into his statements concerning parlia-
mentary practice the fullest force of
which he was capable. His language
on these and other occasions was gcner-
ally so uncompromising that he was re-
garded by those who knew him not as
man of little feeling. This was not
true and the contrary was true. and none
are more willing to testify than his OPP
Donents in the senate. who unite in at
tributing to him warm heart as well
as a just shirt and brilliant mind.
Senator Harris had been especially
active in the senate since the passage of
the Wilson-Gorman tariff act in 1894
He was one of the three democratic SEN
ators entrusted with the arduous duty
Of putting the bill in shane in committee
and to him was delegated the control Of
tho parliamentary work Of getting the
bill throuoh the senate. Although then
y man of advanced years. his energies
never seemed to flag He was ut his
most of duty day and night and No man
in the opposition who sought to turn n
Legislative point against the hill ever
carght him mapping but once.
Thov adinurrod ono day earlier thnu
no intprdnd when no was tpmnOra rily