The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-03-09
Aged Statesman Falls Victim to COmplica-
ton of Pneumonia and Heart
Trouble.
(From the Nashville Banner

sdlu dluObb WIFI the IHbG DTehln. L
want to be buried in old Mt. Olivet
with my kindred"
The first symptoms of the illness,
which eliminated in the irreparable
loss to Tennessee, appeared last Mon
day shortly afternoon and were devel-
oped from exposure during the inau-
guration OF President Roosevelt Sat
urday.
Senator Bate sat on the inaugural
platform in front of the United States
capitol for nearly an hour while the
president took the oath of office and
made his address. A cold March wind
whistled over the uncovered structure
necessarily during that time, and al
though the senator was wrapped in his
overaoat, he grew chilled through and
through
A cold developed Monday morning,
but he went to his office in the senate
annex and attended to some business
which had accumulated over Sunday.
Shortly afternoon of Monday, however,
a severe chill seized him and he went
to his room at the Ebbitt House and
went to bed.
Tuesday the chill continued, and the
family called in DR.. Sewers, the local
physician, who has been waiting on
the senator here for some time. The
physician discovered symptoms of
pneumonia and began treating the dis
tinguished patient for that malady.
On Wednesday it was announced that
the pneumonia symptoms had been
conquered, and Senator Bate seemed
much better. In this condition he re-
manned all of Wednesday afternoon.
Neither he nor his physician nor fami-
ly dreamed that within few hours this
noble career would be finished, and the
brave spirit departed from the broken
and battle-scarred body.
This morning at 2 o'clock the most
alarming change took place. Mrs.
Bate, who had been constantly watch
ing at the bedside, hurriedly summon
ed the physician. A hasty examina-
ton showed that the heart was failing
to perform its functions, and artificial
means to assist it were applied. The
physician saw at once that the end was
coming, but the senator knew it before
him. With the cool courage that
marked his whole career he called his
, wife to him and calmly gave directions
for the conduct of his affairs in the fu-
} ture. It was then he begged to be Ia
| ken back to Tennessee.
Ats o'clock the immediate friends of
the family in the hotel were admitted
to the chamber, for it was realized then
that the end was not far away. At 6
o'clock, as the gray dawn was breaking
the shadows of wintry night outside,
Tennessee's hero of field and forum
passed peacefully to his rest. About
the couch were gathered Mrs. Bate;
Mrs. Cermack, the wife of Senator
Bates colleague; DR.. Sewers, Robert
: W. Cantrell, private secretary to Sena-
tor Bate, Mrs. Ellis, of Hartsville,
Tenn; Bate Mastin, the senotor' 8
grandson and the trained nurse.
t The news of Senator Bates death
went over Washington rapidly, and
soon the hotel was crowded with per-
sonal and political friends, all of whom
were shocked at the sudden deaf of the
senator.
' At 10 o'clock Sergeant-at-Arms Rams
dell of the senate called to arrange the
preliminary details for the funeral.
The family consented that the official
service in the senate chamber should
: take place, aud Saturday is the day
most likely when the ceremony will be
carried out there, though the arrange
ments are not definitely decided upon
as yet. After the funeral in the senate
chamber, which is the most imposing
service held In this country for its dis
tinguished dead, the body will be con-
: veyed to Nashville for burial in the
family lot at Mt. Olivet.
Senator Bate was 70 years of age.
He had served his state eighteen years,
or thaee full terms, in the highest Of
, fee the state can bestow, and he was
just entering upon the fourth term,
having been sworn in last Monday at
the extra session of the senate. In the
t senate he had the highest esteem and
! admiration of his colleagues, both dem
I ocratic and republican, during the de-
] cade of his service. He was chairman
+ of the FIVE civilized tribes of Indians,
member of the agriculture and for
estry committee and the committees on
civil service and retrenchment, mill
s tary affairs, Mississippi river and its
tributaries, revolutionary claims and
the committee on territories. In all
the work pertaining to these commit
tees Senator Bate was active and ener-
getic and faithful to the very highest
J degree.
/, Senator Bate is survived by his wife
and two daughters, Mrs. T. B. Mastin,
of Grand View, Tex, and Mrs o. W.
Childs, of Los Al geles, Cal. He has
| one brother, Capt. T. Il. Bate, of Gal