The Springfield herald., 1905-04-28
SENATOR PLAIT DEAD
THE CONNECTICUT. STATESMAN
Was Serving His Fifth Term as United
States Senator-Death Caused
by Abscess of the Lungs.

Washington, Conn, April 22.-United
States Senator Orville Hitchcock Platt
of Connecticut died at his summer
home in Washington, his native town,
at 1853 last night. from pneumonia.
The end came almost Unexpectedly,
the immediate cause being the break
ing of the absccss which had formed
in the right lung, and which produced
strangulation.
Only few minutes before DIR. Ford,
the family physician, had prepared
bulletin from the sick room to the ef-
feet that If the patient did not have
another sinking spell, such as had
come to him during the forenoon, he
would probably live through the night.
When the physician left the sick cham
Der the senator was perfectly con
scious, appeared to have no pain and
had answered questions put to him by
those at the bedside, showing that his
mind was clear. In the room at the
time were Mrs. Platt and the senator's
only son. Judge James p. Platt of the
United States Circuit Court.
Senator Platt contracted severe
cold while the Swayne impeachment
trial at the national capital was in pro-
gress before the Senate. He had not
fully recovered from it at the time of
Senator Hawley's funeral. He stood
in the railway station at Hartford for
some time awaiting the arrival of the
train on which General Hawley's body
was brought from Washington. During
the wait he complained of a slight chill,
in consequence of which, after the ex-
ercises at the capitol, he returned di-
rect to his country home in Washing
ton.
March 31st the Senator was taken
with the illness which proved fatal.
The first attack was of bronchitis
pneumonia of a comparatively slight
nature. This was followed April 4th
by a second infiction. which lasted for
about week. April 11th he showed
signs of Improvement, so that hopes OF
his recovery were entertained, but
soon after the lung abscess began to
develop, and April 18th he had bad
chill. The following day his physician
and nurses feared it would be the end,
but he rallied from that attack. Other
chills, however, followed at intervals,
eliminating in a particularly severe
one this forenoon between . and IL
O'Clock. Although the sick man seemed
TO rally somewhat from this attack and
become comfortable during the after
noon, it was evident that his life was
tDDlllS away
His physician at S:45 o'clock stated
that the end would come with another
chill, and the tread of life would snap
suddenly. This proved to be the case
and few minutes later Senator Platts
life was ended.
Orville Hitchcock Platt was born at
Washington, Connecticut July 10,
1927. He received an academic educa-
tion. He studied law at Litchfield, was
admitted to the bar in 1S49 and has
since practiced law at Meriden. He
was clerk of the State Senate OF Con-
necticut in 1855 and 1856, secretary of
the state of Connecticut in 1857, men,
Der of the State Senate in 1S61-62.
member of the State House of Repre-
sentatives from 1864 to 1863, serving
the last year as speaker. He was
elected to the United States Senate to
succeed William H. Barnum, Democrat,
who had been elected to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the death of Orris
S. Ferry. Republican,; took his seat
March is. 1879. was reelected in 1885,
1890, 1897 and 1908.