Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-22

in the morning it could be seen that he
was sinking rapidly. and at 1870 O'Clock
he ceased to breathe. Toward the end
the action of his heart increased per-
ceptibly and hopes We're expressed that
he was awakening, but it was u fruit
less hope His sons, Theodore Ewing,
George and John his daughters, Fan
ME and Virginia, and Mrs. Bland were
at his bedside when the end came. His
brother, Judge c. G. Bland, Mrs. s. 7.
Thomas, his brother-in-la Gen. II. Y.
Mitchell and Il. Y. Mitchell. Jr., and
his private secretary, Grid Bell, were
also with him.
The funeral will be held Saturday
afternoon at four O'Clock at the opera
house and the body will be buried in
the Catholic cemetery. The funeral
will be in charge Of the sergeant-at-
arms of the house of representatives
and will be conducted by Masonic
lodges. Private Secretary Bell has
notified the clerk of the house of Mr..
BANDS death, asking him to appoint a
committee ofmembers to attend the fu-
neral. Prominent friends of Mr.. Bland
throughout the country have been
notified Of the funeral arrangements.
Mr.. Bland was a member of no church
and the ministers of all denominations
will participate in the services. 1t is
planned to have Col. William ]. Bryan
deliver the funeral grafton. The body
will lie in state at the opera house for
"a hours.
Mr.. BANDS illness began Immediate
ly after his return from Washington,
early in March, 1t started with an at
tack of grip followed with relapse
Chronic catarrh of the stomach compli-
Gated the disease. Brain trouble came
next and he died of cerebral congestion.
For several days before his death he
was partially paralyzed.
Richard r. BANDS Career.
Mr. Bland was native Of Kentucky. having
been born near Hartford on August 10, 1885.
He received an academic education in his ma
tive state and in 1885 removed to Missouri He
then went to California and to that portion of
Utah which is now Nevada, locating at Virginia
City as u praeticng attorney-at-law He was
interested in mining operations in California
and Nevada, and was county treasurer of Car
son City, Utah territory, from 1860 until the
organization Of the state government of Nevada.
In 1865 he returned to Missouri and located at
Rolla. Here he practiced law with his brother, |
C. c, Bland, until he removed to Lebanon in
August 1869.
Mr. Bland devoted himself to his profession
until he was chosen to represent his district In |
the Forty third congress, He was reelected to
the Forty -fourth, Forty-hfth, Forty sixth, |
Forty seventh, Forty eighth, Forty-ninth, |
Fifteth, Fifty-hrst, F'ifty-second and Fifty |
third congresses, He failed of reelection to
the F'ifty-fourth congress, but was again elect |
ed in 1896 by majority of over 1000 votes over
Joel D, Hubbard, republican, and j. II. Stencil |
pher populist Last fall Mr., Bland was again |
reelected to represent the Eighth district, his |
majority being about 900.
Mr. Bland became best known IN politics be- |
cause of his long and earnest advocacy Of the
free coinage of silver His acknowledged lead
ersblp earned for him the title of Silver Dick,
He became in 1873 chairman of the committee
on mines and mining and introduced the we'll |
known Bland BILL which provided that the
secretary of the treasury should purchase