The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-02-17
SENATOR BACON OF
GEORGIA PASSES
Was iii But Ten Days, Dies i'm
Washington Hospital.
19 YEARS IN THE SENATE.
Gallant Soldier, Brilliant Lawyer,
Had Attained Nationwide
Prominence.

Washington, Feb. 14.-Augustus
Octavius Bacon, United States Sem
ator from Georgia for nearly 10 years
and chairman OF the Foreign Rela-
tion Committee since the ascendancy
of the Democratic party, March 4
1913, today died in hospital here
after an illness OF ten days. He was
the fisrt United States Senator elected
by direct vote OF the people under the
seventeenth constitutional amend
ment.
Though Senator Bacon had been
seriously i'll with kidney trouble and
complications developing from n bro
ken rib, his death was unexpected. 1t
came suddenly at o'clock in the aft
ernoon and news Of the end fell upon
the Senate as a shock while il was
in executive session.
BLOOD CLOT IN HEART.
The immediate cause of the Sena
tors death was diagnosed as a blood
clot in the heart. Throughout the
morning he had been in good spirits
and IL was announced to his colleague
that he was feeling better than for
several days. Physicians had deter
mined that an operation which had
been contemplated. was unn necessary.
the aflliction which he suffered was
of recent origin. and specialists be
lieved it would yield to treatment.
This conclusion relieved considerably
the anxiety of his friends and assO-
Ciates in Congress
Half an hour before his death the
Senator talked with his daughter.
Mrs. w. B. Sparkes of Georgia. She
had just left the room when he raised
himself in bed AS Mrs. Sparkes re
entered the room her father fell back
in collapse and never regained con-
sciousness.
OVERMAN TELLS THE SENATE.
In the absence OF Senator Hoke
Simth Of Georgia, Senator Overman
was notified and proceedings in the
Senate were abruptly halted when the
North Carolina Senator announced
the death. A brief resolution OF re-
spect was adopted and the Senate ad-
journed.
For several minutes the Senators,
shocked at the sudden tidings, re-
mained in the chamber discussing
what should be done. but later ar
rangements were made for a public
funeral in the Senate chamber next
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock, to
be attended by the Senate and House
of Representatives, the President OF
the United States and his Cabinet.
Justices OF the Supreme Court, mem
bers Of the Diplomatic Corps, the Ad-
miral of the Navy, and Chief Of Staff
of the Army.
The scene on the floor OF the Senate
was an unusual one. Not only had
the death of their colleague shocked
the Senators, but the effect of his loss
at a time when important foreign re-
lations measure were pending at once
impressed itself upon the minds OF
Democratic and Republican leaders
OVERMAN EXPRESSES EULOGY.
Informing the Senate of Senator Ba
cons death Senator Overman said:
"In absence of the Senator from
Georgia, Mr. Smith, it becomes my
painful duty to announce to the Sen
ate the death of Senator Bacon. The
sudden passing away of this great
Senator, who came to his chamber
with all the honors which his native
State could confer upon him and
who repaid that trust by his long,
honorable and Industrious career in
this body, is an irreparable loss not
only to the Senate, but to the people
of his State and also to the country
at large"
A resolution OF respect then was
sent to the Vice Presidents desk and
adjournment followed.
A Senate committe was informally
appointed to consult with the de-
ceased SenatoRs daughter as to her
wishes, 1t being the hope OF his col
leagues that a state funeral could be
held in keeping with the high posi-
tion Senator Bacon held in the ser
vice OF the Nation.
Vice President Marshall, Senators
Kern, Overman, Swanson and Sauls-
bury hurried to the hospital and aft
er comforting, announced that the fu-
neral would be held Tuesday in the
Senate chamber. The Senate will ap-
point a committee on arrangements
Monday when cards OF invitation will
be sent to the President, members OF
the Cabinet and Diplomatic Corps on
Monday. The services will be con-
Quoted by the Rev. Forrest G.. Pretty
man, Chaplain of the Senate, assisted
by an Episcopal rector to be selected
by the family.
Announcement OF Senator Bacon's
death was made in the House later in
the afternoon and resolutions of re-
spect, presented by Representative
Bartlett of Georgia were adopted
Speaker Clark appointed as a speciA
committee of the House to corporate
with a Senate committee for tire tu-
neral, the members OF the Georgia
delegation and Representative Ferris,
Mvil1is Mann paynp Gardner An