The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-09
Binkley, Burns and Gibson. of the
Senate, and Carnahan, OF the
House, Have Died.
QUIET MAN OF REAL WORTH
DEAD SENATOR TALKED LITTLE
But WORKED INDEFATIGABLY.
Colleagues Shocked by the sudder
Evil Tidings-Body Sent to Late
Home This Morning.

sented In the upper house the counties of
Perry, Spencer and Crawford, died sudden
ly yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in his
apartments at the Circle Park Hotel Sen
ator Gibson had been i'll since last Monday
but while his condition was known to be
serious there had been no apprehension OF
a fatal termination
La grippe was the principal cause OF
Senator Gibsons death. He left his seat
In the Senate chamber a week ago, sufferins
from slight cold and bilious attack He
was forced to go to bed Immediately and
remained there all week under the care
of DR.. Harry L. Harter representative
from Spencer county, his friend and room
mate.
Saturday afternoon Senator Gibson de.
clared he felt better and insisted on getting
out of bed. He sat UP for while, waiting
with some eagerness the appearance of tive
OF his children, son and daughter who
were coming from the senator's home ir
Perry county for a brief visit. He found
he had overestimated his strength and that
he would have to lie down again. wher
his son and daughter arrived Senator Glib
son was apparently better He shooh
hands with them, talked about home af-
fairs, and, saying that life around the
hotel would be rather lonesome and wear
isome for them, suggested that they accept
the invitation of a friend to go out for the
evening and spend the night Thinking
that their father was not dangerously-U- " :
they went. When they got back TO the
Circle Park Hotel about 10 O'clock yester.
day forenoon their father was dead.
HEART FAILED RAPIDLY.
Although very sick man Senator Gibson
passed Saturday night well. Yesterday
morning he seemed to be improved Be-
tween o'clock and 10 o'clock severe in
ternal hemorrhages started and his heart
failed rapidly The weakness of the heart
action was due largely to the debitation
produced by the grip.
Representative Harter who had beer
giving him medical attention. was alone
with him when he died. A half an hour
before Senator Stricler. a close friend Of
Senator Gibson. called to cheer the sick
"well. it's about ell over" said Senator
Stricler jocularly, alluding. TO the end OF
the Sixty-third General Assembly.
YES" said Senator Gibson, "and its
about all over with me. too"
Senator Stricler and Representative Har-
ter did their best to persuade him that he
would come out all right and that he need
have no fear as TO the result. When Sem
ator Stricler left the sick man seemed 10
have cheered up a little. Within thirty
minutes the attack came on which ended
his life. Suddenly he sat up IN bed, clutch
ing at his breast, seized by a paroxysm of
coughing. He seemed to be strangling and
his lungs were apparently closing from
the hemorrhage. DR.. Harter ran to the
door to call for help but the senator was
gos To the MnG members Of the siaty9Sird @ Gen.
eral Assembly the news was shocking.
Senator Gibson's death is the fourth that
members of the Legislature. Senator c. c.
Binkley. of Richmond. and Representative
Aikman Carnahan. of Washington, died
shortly after being elected Senator Burns.
of South Bend, died at English's Hotel a
few weeks ago. and Senator Gibson was the
fourth TO pass over the divide.
DEATH STRIKES HARD.
Death and sickness have hung closely
over the Sixty-third General Assembly.
Few legislative sessions have been so un-
fortunate in this respect as the present one.
In addition to those that have died many
others have been and are seriously ill Sem
ator Starr, of Richmond, who succeeded
Senator Binkley. is very i'll at Ills home.
suffering from heart trouble. Senator
James p. Gray, of Evansville. whose health
has been precarious during the entire ses-
sion, is confined TO his room at the Dem
ison. very sick. During the session Sem
ator Matson had a siege of two weeks ILL.,
ness while Representative Cantweli, OF
Hartford City. is still In the hospital from
~
the stomach few weeks after the Legisla-
ture convened. In addition to this death
has visited the families OF Representative
o. p. Lewis. of Covington. and Representa-
tive william Morton. of Sycamore, the wife
of the former and the son OF the latter hav-
ing died within the past week
Lieutenant Governor Gilbert, the pres
ident of the Senate. was on the sick list for
ten days, and at one time there was fear
that he would not be able TO WELD the
gavel during the closing weeks OF the ses-
sion.
Few members OF the Senate were better
liked than Senator Gibson. He seldom
made speech or took part in debate. and
he not noted for the Introduction OF
bills but he was usually found on the right
side OF all questions. and his quiet person
ality exerted great deal OF influence on
his colleagues IL was In the committee
rooms that Senator Gibson was most ef-
fective. He an interchangeable worker.
and as chairman OF the committee on agri-
culture his labors were OF great value. not
OF the whole State.
Senator Gibson was ffty-one years old.
He was born in Perry county and had
spent all his life there. AS a young man
he taught country school, then later drifted
into the business OF keeping a general store
in the town of Branchville, Perry county.
Ii was as storekeeper that his acquaintance
broadened sufficiently 10 give him political
strength in the community Still later he
and retired 10 IL. In the politics OF the
county he had been prominent for many
years He had served township trustee
and had been elected 10 the lower house OF
the Legislature two terms. the first time I'm
1896 and then reelected In 1897 He had been
a Republican all his life. man OF sonne-
what straight-laced morality. but popular
and thoroughly respected wherever men
knew him.
HIS LAST VICTORY.
Senator Gibson took great pride I'm hin
last political victory. The senatorial dis
trict OF Spencer. Perry and Crawford coun-
ties is normally Democratic by a gooc-sixed
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