Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 21, 1891, Page 1

DAlLy BEE. WITH THE SILEST NAJORITY. fenator Preston B, Plumbt of Kantas Etrickan with Apoplex;y, CALLED IN THE VIGOR OF MANHOOD. - SBuddenly the Curtain on His Life Was Drawn and into the Shadowy silence of That Far-Off Sca Drifted a Human Soul, Wasniyaroy, D. C., Dee. 20.—Oh my God, my head, my head, my head!” and Senator Preston B, Plumb who, as a repre- sentative of the state of Kansas in the United States senate continuously since 1870 has ocoupled & prominent placs in the councils of the republican party, a few minutes after fell unconscious, never to re- gain knowlodge of what was going on aout him. 1t was a quarter to 7 this moraing when he uttored this exclamation. A little more than five hours Jater the broad framed, powerful looking Kansas sepator was stretched out dead in his modest apartments on Fourteenth street. His physician, Dr. Pnilip Wales; his clerk, B. W. Flenniken, and his landlord, Mr. Jennings, were with him at the end. His wife ard two children are in Kansas, Death came from apoplexy, the result of exhaustion of the brain. It was a clear case of over- work and inattention to the laws of nature. The senator has been known for years as the most pushing, energetic, hard working member of tho senate. A vear ago he began to fail. His brain became affected. and throbbing headaches becamo more and more frequent, His physicians warned him that continuance of s labors meant death, but he refused to heed their warning. He con- tinued to work with the energy of a steam engime, and today, when still apparently in vigor, with many years of life before him, he died. Shocked and Startled His Friends The news of his sudden death shocked and startled bis friends and acquaintances, of whom he had a great numoer iz and out of public hife. 1t being Sunday many persons wero at church at the time of his death, and none save thuse atdiis vedside knew that he had boen taken ill. Many persons who heard 1t wero almost incredulous of the accuracy of tho report. But_all acquaiuted with the scnator, as with intuitive iknowl- edgo, asked the question whether or not apoplexy was the cause of deatn. A fow of Mr. Plumb's most intimate friends know that he had beon ailing for some time but none were prepared for the worst. He had been in the senate last weck and ap- peared to bo as well as over. Ho attended to his duties with his usual briskness and vigor. A few days ago he said to a senate empioye, who congratulated him ou his appearance, that ho was younger than the employe, who was his junior by twenty years, As evidenco of his vitality ne dou up s forearm. His biceps muscles were hard and compact. He actively looked after the interests of s constituents last week, and probably leads any other senator in number of bills in- troduced at this session. Notwithstanding this and his own assertion of his vigorous health, lately he had been compluin- ing of slecplessness, vertigo and symptoms which, in medicine, arc embraced in the term quaphnsta, He complained of the persistent pain in his head, impairment of memory and growing 1nability to clothe his ideas in proper and _appropriato words, The senator nad previously.been remarkably fluent of speech, ond his words came so freely, copiousiy and rapidly that he was tho tévror of stenog- raphers. Ordered to Rost, Tt was not until two weoks ago, however, that Dr, Philip Wales was ealled in'and aske for ndvice us to the trouble. The doctor, after a carcful study of the case, informed the senator that his symptoms indicated ap- oplexy, and that he must quit work and take arost, but Mr. Plumb was incredulous and thought the doctor had become unduly alarmed. He kept up his labors, except when severe headaches forced bim tempo- rarily to ahandon hls work. Ho had a desk in tho front room of his apartments and an- other in his committee room, and attended to his personal business after doing a hard day's work in public affairs at the capitol. His oyes troubled him, and a skilled oculist examined them. His kidnoys were also ex - amod by a specinlist. Bach of these por- s0us reported that the trouble lay not in the kidneys, and by their report that there was some other organic trouble confirmed the diagnosis of Dr. Wales, A fow days azo Senator Plumb went to Philadelphia with Senator Quay for the pur- pose of consulting Dr. Pepper. . He roturned to Washington last night at 7 o'clock com- laining of a violent headache, but went to inner at Chamberlain’s given by ex-Sena- tor Mahiono to a fow fricnds. It must have beon 1 o'clock or latar this morning when he veturned to his quarters, for his landlora, Mr. Linson D. Jennings, said today that hé did not rotire until nearly 1 o'clock, and the senator had not yet returued. Boginning of His lness. Shortly beforo 2 o'clock Mr. Jennings was awakoned by a knock at his bedroom door. Senator Plumb told M. Jenniugs ho was vory sick - and requosted him 1o como down stuirs and sit up with mm. Mr. Jennings snw that the senator's condition was serious, and at 2 o'clock Di. Wales was summoned. The doctor alieviated the pain and adminis- tored thoe proper medicines. Ho stayed with Mr. Plumb from 2 o'clock until 6:30, and then left his patient sleeping quictly At aquarter to 7 o'clock Senator Plumb wolke, and with a spring bounded out of bad to a slop jar und began to vomit. H head was aching violently, The vomiting ceased aftera time, Then the senatoe tossed his hands to his head and exclaimed, *Oh, wy God, my head, my head!" the last words ho over uttered, Mr. Jennings stroked his head to rolieve the pain, and in a fow minutes later Mr. Plumb lapsed into slumber und Iater into unconsciousness, Avout 1 o'clock Mr. B, W. Flenniken, cierk of the public lands committee, 2 which Sena- tor Plumb was chairman, and his private secretary for some years, callod, as was his custom, to ussist tha senator with his corre- spondence. Mr. Flonniken noticed that he was breathing heavily and stertorously, When Death Came. Dr. Wales was again summoned, atonco that the patient had been stricken with apoplexy. Mr. Plumb was unconseious and his tongie was paralyzed. Tho doctor, Mr. Flenniken and Mr, Jennings remained with him until the end came at 1130, Dr. Wales said this aftoraoon that the ftmmediato causo of death was apoplexy, brought on by fatty dogenoration af the brain from overwork and fatiguo. It was a cloar case of overwork,” sald the doctor. If ho hud given up, a0 all provability it would have been difforent. Ho did not von sult with mo until two wooks ago. 1 warned him to ceuso work, but ho kept on, He had 8 stroug framwe, but he had an enormous amount of work to carry and no maa could keep up domg what ho was dofng," Seuator Plump iived for the lst fouryears at#12 Fourteenth street in a plun, roomy three-story, bgsement pressed brick house. He occupled the frst two rooms on the main floor. “Tho front room he used as an office and reception room and the som in the rear us & bedroom, In this room he had a desk, und toduy it was piled high with corre spondence, personal, business and politival, 1howing the great aihount of work the sen, tor was nccustomed to carey on. ‘I'ho news of the sad ovent spread rapidly, Within an hour after Sonator Plumb's death Bonator Peffer was at tho side of his dead league. reeant-at-Arms Valentine and Ho saw bis aeputy, Cuaries B, lteade, were promptly the o0 band And assumed the Funeral arrangements, A Distressi oction of Incident. | death chargo of the remains, Ho procoeded at once to prepare the bod¥ for interment, and ia a short time compieted the embalming process. this haste in this matter gnve rise to a dis- tressing iucident. Nows of her husband's death had been telegraphed Mrs, Plumb,who 15 at Emporiu, Kan, Within a fow minutes after it occurred, just after the undertaker haa embalmed thie body, a telegram was re- celyed from one of tho friends of the family at Emporia directing that the remains be not embalmed, Soon afterwards, but like the first, too lnte, camo @ socond teiegram ox- plaitiing the directions, It stated that lnst suminer Senator Plumb was for two or threo hours in a state of suspended animation, and to all appearanco was dead, Having that crisis in mind, Mrs, Plunb did not wish the body embalmed until it was absolutely cer- tain that her husound was dead, The receipt of this telegram caused much unavailing regret. The uadertaker, how- over, was positively of the opinton that thero could be no reason to doubt tho fact that had occurred before he had under- taicen the discharge of lis functions, and, in proof of his assertion, he smid that, in addi- tion to the physician’s statement to that effect, there was indisputable evidence of daath 1 the fact that no blood flowed from the arteries when they wero opened in tho course of the embalming process, When the remains had been properly pre- arcd, a guard of honor, composed of em- ployes of the United States senate, was de- tailed to watch over them until they are removed to the capitol. Deep Sorrow Felt. Vico Presidont Morton was informed of Senator Plumb's death early in the after- noon. He called immediately at the resi- dence of the deceased and extended his con- folence. Senators Manderson, Paddocl, Waltham, Cullom, Hale, Washburn, Telier, Woeleott ‘and _many other scnators called during the day. They were inexpressibly shocked and grioved at the sad event. The vice ln-csl«xem. at once took steps towards the appolntment of a committee of senators to airect the obsequics, und communicated with Speaker Crisp that a_corresponding commit- o might be appointed in behalf of the house of representatives, o deceasod senator leaves a wife and five children, Tto daughters are now at Empo- via with Mrs, Plumb. I'wo sons are at schiool in Pounsylvania and the third 1s confined to a bospital in - Poiladelphia by & serious ail- meut. Ris Life's Story. Senator Plumb was porn 1 Delaware county, Ohio, October 12, 1837, so that he was in s Hith year ab the timo of his death, He was not a college graduate, but left the com- mon schools for the printer’s case, and in pursuance of his vocation as a journeyman printer in 1856, the bloody days of the historic and newly organized torritory of Kausas, walked iuto that torritory, and witn the vigor and indefatigablo energy which has ‘throughout his lifo been his ehief characteristic, the yourg man plunged at once into the thick of the hot strife which was then waging over the stavery question. He at once went to the front and iwas chosen a membor of the Leavenworth constitutional convention of 185). He wus admitted to the bar in 1861, when the place of his adoption ne a state of the union; served in the slaturo in 15, was chairman of the judiciary committee and subsequently re- porter of the supreme court. When thée war broke out he entored tho army as secoud lieutenant in the Eleventh Kansas nfantry and served successively as captain, major and lieutenant colonel of that rogi- ment, and was commissioned a colo- nel of the same reziment in Au- qust, 1862 After the war Mr. Plumb, roturning to Kisnsus, was clocted a mombor and speaker of the house of representatives, and in 1876 was choson Uuited States senator to suceeed James M. Harvey, repub- lican, He took his seat in 1877 and has rep- resented his stato as_senator ever since that time. His term of office would have expired March 3, 18 Lefe the Stamp of His Individuality. Undoubtedly Senator Plumb has succeoded in stumping strong individuality upon the legislative history of the United States in a more permanent character than have the majority of lis colleagues. Ho wus a man of most positive views, but always had a keen appreciation of the line of separ- ation between the impracticablo and exped- ient. His devotion to republican principles was beyoud question, but he never hesitated to point out what he regarded as mistakes in the policy outlinod by tho party leaders and to use his best offorts to correct them. He was particularly fitted to grasp details. That facuity Tound amplo field for exercise in the discharge of his fuuctions s u member of the seuate committee or. av- propriations, and it was generally known among his brother senators that Senator Plumb was unimpeachable in any statements he 1ade concerning the intricate machinery of the government service. He was chairman of the committee on public lands and a mem- ver of the committees on agriculture, execu- tivo departments, meat products and admiu- istrative servico of the senate, Senator Plumb's sociul gualitics were highly estcemod in Washington andis pres- enco was alwiys appreciated at social gath- erings and_at the clubs of which he was & momber. His interests wera large, for Sen- ator Plumb was a wealthy man, and in addi- tion to his senatorial duties he was actively concerncd in railroad and industrial enter- prises, and was widely known in financial circles as an indefatigable promoter. Preparations tor the Funeral. At 10 o'clock in the morning the body of the late Senator Plunb wus taken from the apartments he_ lately occupied to the marble room in the senate. It wus escorted by the capitol police in charge of the sergeait-at- arms. Ata quarter past 1 the body will ve remuved to the senate chamber, where a quarter of an hour later funeral services will bo held, conducted by Kev. J. G. Butler, the chaplain of the senate. The followig named persons have been invited to attend the services in the senate chumber: Presidont and wembers of the cabinet, chief justice and the associate jus- tices of'suprenie court, members of the house of representatives, diplomatic corps, the gen- eral communding the army, and the senior adoival of the navy. Other friends of the late senator in this city have been invited to the gullery of the senute, At 2330 the body will be taken to the Penn- sylvania station and cscorted by the com- mitteo of the two_ houses and the members on foot. Such other persons invited to the . floor and gallerios of the serate as desite to do so will also warch to the station, A iving at the station, the vody will be pluced 1 a special car ut- tached to the Columbian express train, leay- ing the city at 8:23 p. w., and taken 15 Em- poria, Kan., where thoe interment will ve wade. 1t will probably reach there Wodnes- day afternoon. Furtherservices will be held on the following day at 2 o'clock. The route to Emporia will be via th Pennsylvania, the Missouri Pacifio and the Santa Fe. e body will be accompanied by the com- mittees of the senate aud house, in churge of the sergoaut-at-arms of the former body ‘The committeo on the part of the senato will be Senators Peffer, Dolph, Paddock, Ransom and Pasco. The following is the committeo appoiuted by Speaker Crisp to represent the house: Mossrs, Kunston of Kansas, Dockery of Missours, Suyres of Texas, - Brockiuriuge of Kentusky, Honders sou of Towa, Cogswell of Massachusetts and Peel of Arkansas. All of the above named members were appointed without being con- sulted. The list therefore may be changed tomorrow morning. Private Secretary Halford called at the late senator's residence durivg the ey to express to the friends of the late sei tho condolenco of the president. Rusis wus also among the callers., His 'ne death an i Kausa Kunsas, and it Se retary obable Suceessor. of Senator Plumb will prove paruble loss to the republicans of said Reprosentative Simpson of to n Vost reporter tonight,” will be a difeult mattor to find a man to take his place.” Spoaking of Mr. Plumb's probabie successor, Mr, Simpson smd, that he would undoubtedly be o republican, appoluted by Goveruor Humphrey, who would serve this entire congress, * re sult will be,” smd Mr. Simpson, *“that the new senalor will represent Governor Humplrey and not the people.” Mr. Sinp- son did not counidor it likely that Mr. In galls would receivo tho sppolatment. Iu reply to. questions by a Post reporter HOW THE TREATY WAS MADE. fome Insidy Histery Ooncerning Recnt Negotiatioas with Italians. WOODRUFF'S ENTRE STORY DENIED, Allegations Made That He Was Look- ing Out for Personal Int During the Commis- sion's \l ork. ests WasINGTON Buneav or Tiie Bes, } 513 Founreesrtu WASITINGTOY, D. C Inquiry made in offcial sources hero would indicate that the facts in reference to the Shoshone and Arapahos Indian treaty aro totally at variance with the statement made by J. D, Woodruff, tho chairman of the commission, who in an fnterview pub- lished in Tug Bre a fow days ago, said that ho was on his way here to break up the treaty negotiated by the majority of the com- mission with the Shoshono and Arapahoe Indians. Wooaruff, it scems, lives in Lan- der, Wyo., & town about three miles south of the reservation. He Is largely interested in a mercantile store there ang in town lots. The records of the Inaian ofice show that Woodruff himself offered the Indians the same amount of monoy the majority of the commission agreed to give them for the very lands he now says are worthless, It was understood by Woodraff when he mado this offer that the Arapatoes were much opposed to selling cortain of these lands on the east- ern side of the reservation, They did object, and Woodruff, it appears, then sbowod his band by offering to waive the sale of this eastern strip and compromise on 60,000 acres of coal, oil and agricultural lands on the southern boundary of the reservation near his own place. This was rojected, and he then offersd the compromise and a raise in the price of £100,000, so that the 1ndiaus would get $700,- 000 1f they would agree to sell this southern tract. In his interview Woodruff says that if he had had his way a half-million acres of good tillable land ‘“‘and the rest fine grazing land,” would have beer secured. What the Records Indicate. But the records in the [ndian officz show that the only lands not secured which were over talked about was this 60,000~ acre strip mear Woodruf's place, so that his 500,000 acres must come from stretching his imagination or from the tract the majority purchased. When the Indians refuséd to sell this southern strip complaints of threats and bulldozing 8001 came from the Indians and Chief Washakie in full council said Woodruff told him his rations would be taken away if ho did not sell. Woodruff de- nied this, and in the interest of harmony the majority said some mistako must have been made. ‘Ihe rights of the Arapahoes on the res- ervation were not,_cousidered securo until this spring, the Shoshones claiming the whole reservation. When the Arapahoes ‘kicked’ about this southera tract Captain P. H. Ray was told by Woodruff he could tell his Arapahoe soldiers that if they (the Arvapahoes) did not sign they might be ignored and left out entirely. These and ocher reports of undue influences came to light. Captain Ray gave Woodruff a *‘dress- ing down” for his conduct. The captain was formerly stationed at Omaha _as department Juage advocate of the army. He is now sta- uoned on the Shoshone reservation as the commander of the newly organized compa- nies of soldiers and can speak with regard to the treaty. ‘When the majority of the commission saw that the Indians were strongly opposed to selling this southern strip and ascertained the methods that wero being employed, 1t took the nexotiations out of the hands of the chairman and made a treaty. The Indians of both tribes said rather than sell land to the south they would sell the land to the ecast and take £100,000 less, and by the treaty negotiatea the Indians sold the lands the commission originally asked for at the orig- inal price. Two Mino-ity Reports. Mr. Woodruff has submitted two minority roports already, and ho spoaks of coming here to_ submit a minority report. Mr, Woodruf’s refercnco to a ‘“row’ when tho first offer was made was looked up, and it appears that his associates objected because ho offered on his own responsibility proposi- tions never discussed and others never agreed to by tho commission. The principul of these proposed to divide semi-annually in cash among the Indians the interest on $300, 000, The department’s instructions directed that money should be subject to the discr tion of the secretary of the iuterior, to be ex- pended by him in the purchase of thin necessary to the Inaians’ civilization. Mer- rillat insisted that cash distributions were not. in the interest of the Iudians, and the row over this extended to other maiters, . Woodruff’s object now is said to be to have this treaty rejected and anotber commission appointed to forece the Indians to sell the southern strip. An old army officer, who has served in that part of Wyoming, say that the land in the Wind river country is good foragriculture where it lays so it can be irrigated, and that the grass is geod and streams numerous in the Wind river strip, 50 Lhat the zrazing there1s as good as in any part of Wyominig. Mr. Merillat, whom Woodruff accuses of saying he proposed to make no treaty until the appropriation was spent, said today that that statement was an_absolute, unqualified falsehood. Mr. Woodruff, he added, was not aware of the fact that he (Merillat), as dis- bursine officer, had turned In to the treasury unexpended a balance of ulmost one-fourth of the total appropriation, He said as the treaty was before the department he did not caro to get into the personal wrangle which Mr. Woodruff sought, Senutor Plumb wis Fopul e, Few men have ever had a stronger hold unon the country than had Senator Preston B. Plumb of Kansas, whose sudden death here today shocked all of Washington, He was a veritable diawond in the rough, a mau who measured fur more than would be. ac- corded him at a glance, He was not many years ago the editor of a country paper at Marion, and was brought up with men who won their way through iife upon their merits alone. He looked a big raw-boned, plain and unassuming farmer, whether on the floor of tho senato or the prawies of his adopted state. His door wus never olosed to hs friends or worthy stran- gors. Ho was a just man, and one of the most storling republicans in_congress where 1o one could overcome him in dobate, for, while not eloquent, he was a very forci- ble speaker, and prodably more than any other mun in the senate was familiar with the detall operations of the federal govern- meut and the republican party. He was blunt and direct in his speech and bold in nis actions, His Possible Successor, When Senator Plumb voted two or three times with the tariff roducers in the last cou- gress o was clussed by those who did not understand him as one of the radical ‘'re formers" of the Atthe close of the last campaig Kansas, scarcely more than six weeks ago, Seuator Plumb wrote Prosident Harrison that he had forced general issues to the front, had com- pelled the voters to pass judgment upon fre coinage proposition, the Mills tarifl bill and other guestiins of national importance, and the result was thestrongest possiblo endorse- ment of the admivistration's position on sil- ver and fluance geuerally and the present tariff law. “I{ansas is once more back in the republi can folds,” said he, “‘aud she will stay there. She has gone off after prohibition, subtreas ury schemes, freo silver and other’ wild eyed theories and found them false, it not disas trous, and she has returued to bher tirst love, never to depart.” Prominent Kansans here say Governor . DEC T George gk or othor strong , C0' il vacancy until t ropubllc: the ley a year hence, and that the possibility of them breaking ) ' line of re- publican succession. Senagor’ Plumb had an ndividual followine in the ptate; but Kansas 18 now rogafded as roliabl® républican. A legislature will be called o elect Senator Piumb's successor next veas It is uot thought that the nama of éx-Sesator Ingalls will come to the front for this vacancy. Senator Manderson's Opinion. Spegking of the death ef Senator Plumb tonight Senator Manderson sald to Tur Bee correspondent: “Preston B. Plumb was u unigue figure and no maw eamne in contact with him without stroig respect for his ability and strength of nwellect and great admiration of his nggrnflive personality. Physically and mentally he was the most vigorous and virile force in the Amecrican congre: He seemed tireless in his efforts to ncquire resutts important to himself or his constituents. A most foreible speaker when interosted on a subject under debate, words of power flowed from him fn such A torrent that the most rapid reportes found it difieult to follow nim. His career tad been ouo fit- ting him most admirably for public life,. He had boen a printer, a journalist and a lawyer on the frontier, and @ foruiing force in the carving out of the great state of Kansas. Plumb's Love for the Flag. A carcer as a volunteer soldier gave him cloar insight into the military needs of tho country, and none can forget the patriotic power of his eloquence, Wusn, in occasional speech in the senate, he rofarred to the flag of the republic and lus live for American institutions. The west hag suffered an inde- soribable loss in his death, and I know no man west of the Missouri river fitted to fill the vacancy the dread summouns has caused. He was cver alert for the interests of his section, while never forgetting the rights of ull localities, The loss to Nebraska is almost as great as that to her sister state, and her tizens will mourn his lose as though she had lost one of her uwn soas."" Senator Paadock said: “I am too much de- pressed by my own personal sorrow to think of the publicloss. Senator Plumb, from the earliost days of our service together in the senate down to the very last, was one of my most intimate and best ti'sted frionds. No one ever was truer, more steadfast, move un- selfish in his friendship. Our coustituents were neighbors, their interests were idon- tical, and looking from the common stand- point thus established for us we generally thought and acted on about the same lines. A more faithful representative of his own people never occupied a seat in any legisla- tive body anywhere. Few, if any, abler or more efficient legislators have ever been in the serate. He was always alert, wise, strong and couservative wighal in the formu- lation of measures in committee, and if not the ablest, he was amohg the vary ablest of all in the senate. [ doubt if there was his equal in that body. But powerful as that machin- ery was, it broke down finally under the terrible strain to which it was unceasingly subjected. His loss to the country, particu- larly to the great west, of whose interests he was the bravest and ablest.bampion, is be- yond estimate. There I5.a one loft to take s place.” /d springer Will Geg the Priz>, “Springer will bo chairan of ways and means, unless Speaker Crigp proves a bigger coward and baser ingrate than 1 think be is,” said one of Mills’ staunchedt friends in tho house speaking of the committes formation tonight. “Had it not that Springer played into the hand of Ctlsp, the Georgiun would not have been spoakdit.. Of course there was an_ante-clection uudbmtanding whereby Springer was to hu co of the cou- mittees for permitt! g ration of his support, by which the el a of Crisp was made possible. Yes, he ®ili*hold Crisp to bis bargain and be chair:janfaniess, possibly, ho loses his nerve a: - last’ ‘moment. Engrmous pressure 15 brought to bear to induce him to let up “oi", Crisp, but should he release the spcaker from his obligation, T don’t see how Mills can hop to bo chairman of the commit.ee, after § nas been refused him, Crisp would show! cowardice if he offered it to Mills now and1 don't thii he is a coward. No sir, it is' my opinion that Springer, McMilli, or pgssibly Outhwaite will b ~bairman of the wdys and means.” Difficalt to Get I"ositions. “I would rather undertake to get two places in private life, nayiAg the same salary, than one position under the federal govern: ment,” said & westerd sepator to Tie Beg correspondent last night, after having tramped through the ddpurtments all day will appoint somo the convenos 14 But a remote for a clorkship, “I wish,” continued he, “that the ambitious med in my section who want to get appointments could realize something about the difliculty sur- rouading the procurement of foderal appoint- ments, It is not alone the eivil service law that interferes with appointments. Every place which pays batween $300 and $1,500 a year in the departments here comes within the scope of thc civil service law and can only be procured by compatitive examination under the Civil Service commission, and political influence avails Lotning. But there are 100 applications for every place, “I get letters in every mail now from in- telligent _constituents Wwho want these posi- tions and believe that 1t is only necessary for me to go to the president or some of the cabinet oficers and make & big kick and the place is mine for anyone I may select. Noth- g could bo further from the truth, If the civil service 1aw was clim- inated from the statutes there would ve an immense rush for the 10,000 or 12,000 places which come withiu the range of the law and are located in Washington, but I have uo doubt there would be less than 1,000 vacancies created. T doubt if there would be 800 places vacated by the repeai of the eivil service law. And yet intelligent men who are supposed to be ‘conversant with those facts, urge me within a_year's time to get enough places to disposssss eve army of ofliceboidors,” How it is Dono~, ‘“There is scarcely a demacrat held in these departments,” continued the senator, *but that has strong political backing behind him. Somo of the ordinary clerks in the depart- ments have many republican members of congress to hold them in thoir places and cach man wno stands sponsor has good ason for doing so or he would not lond publican influence to favor a demo- crat, 1 find upon investigation that the motives underlying the, republican who holds democrats in the depurtments here re late to local interest; the ropublicens at homo urge the republican meimbers of congress to hold democratic frieuds iy place. I can co into a wholesale or retall Bouse and secure o position for a clerk, at as good a salary as he could get in the departfgnts here, twenty times quicker than [ codld get a position in Washington. And furtherya place in private life 18 twenty times better for the individual thun the one in fedetal sedyice. I wish that the people who want these! Pplaces could un- derstand these fact®» -~ f Miscellaneons Nebraska's three members of the house will spend tho holidavs<at their homes. Senator Manderson will be in Philadelphia, and Senator Paddock in Wasbington, Senator Carey has ledt for Wyomiug for a stay of ten days, avthe expiration of which time e w Il roturn to “Washington, accom- vanied vy bis family, P, S H. Depressing om Dongross. Wasnixatoy, D. C., Deteo. ~Tuo death of Senutor Plumb has seghh!iwed any disposition on tho part of congres to engago” in logisla- tive business duriug [the few days that re- bofore the beglnthe of the holiday recess, for the senati L anbtless acquiesca in the action of b€ house.uud adjourn Wednesday next overihé holidays, The obsequies of tha late Senator Plumb, with tho few remarlis &f sympathetic regret usual on such oceasipns, will probably fally occupy the time of thd senute up to tho bo- guning of the recess, #uil the enly matter of business that can com befops the houso in the meantime is the ajjpointment of the com- mittoes, If the sposicmy whio to complete his lists by Wednesday, morgingg ey Killed White Walkingthe Track, Despwoon, S. D, Dee, 20, —s|Special Tele- gram to Tur Bee |- 'Will Hoby, a boiler maker, was struck oy the pilor of a Dead- wood Central engluel this wfternoon while walking the track and instantly killed. The whole side of his Lead was smashed toa main EMBER 21, DAN MILLER'S TRIPLE CRIM 1891, ty Strange Story of Eloodshed from a Little Towa Vi'lage. HOW CHRIS M'CALLISTER WAS KILLED. Iragedy of a Farm House -The Trial and Lynching of Pleas Anders ~Dan Miller's Convice tion and Contession, 80 Orremwa, Ia, Dee. 19— Special to Tne Bee,|—Ono fine day in the fall of 1881 Cnoristian MecCallister drove into Alvia, and drew from the Mouroo County bank a con- siderablo sum of money. This began a series of tragedies strange as ever were recorded. McCallister lived near Blakesburg with his wife and bis father and mother. He re- turned home from Albia directly. The next evoning he was called to the door by a knock. He stepped out, but was never seen alive by his relatives afterwards. Tho next morning his headless body was found about twenty feet from the door of the house, and the head itself was discovered some hundred feet further and the skull had been crushed by a blow from some blunt instrument, prasum- ably a billy, and the head was sovered from the trunk by an ax. Blakesburg at that time was not the most enhighteued community known, and the resi- dents had soni® very pronounced ideas con- cerring the proprieties, But with all their moral idiosyncracies tho tragedy at the Mc- Callister farm aroused such excitement as had never been felt there, even during the most. stirring revival times. Young McCal- lister was a gencral favorite, and to avenge his death was generally accepted as the true duty of Blakesburg. Duving the early morn- ing hours after the discovery of the body the scene attracted nearly every able bodied man in the community. Thore was only one thing which scemed to offer a probabie clow to the murderer's identity. There were preserved in the slightly frozen soil, clear and distinet, the footprints made the evening prior by the murderer as ho walked from the cave to tho house anda around the body. These were numerous enough, and singular eaough—the murderer having worn a pecul- iarly formed ooot—to attract attention, and some mspived Hawkshaw mado u plastor cast of one of the tracks, It was afterwards used in evidence in one of the most noted murder trials in the annals of Iowa. Searching for the Murderer. Among the earliest arrivals at the McCal- listor farm oa the morning in quostion was Pleasunt Anderson. He was one of a numer- ous tribe of Andersons who had lived long enough ir that section to gain a decidodly unenviable reputation, But Pleas was a hugo brate, built and mus- cled like a giant, with a bad disposition, a general contempt for other men, and a disagreeable habit of visiting condign punishment on those who incurred his dispieasyre. It was this that subse- quently got Anderson into deep trouble, Anderson, who was & United States deputy marshal aid a Cedar Rapids detective, took charge of the case at once, and under his goneral divections the search for the mur- derer was commenced. Rewards toa cou- siderable amount were offered, and many guesses wero made, but no murderers wero found, Two young mon were arrested and coufined in the school house. They easily established their innocence and were re- leased, not, however, until Pleas Anderson had pleasantly suggested that they be taken out and hanged a littie while in order to accelerato a con fession, After these young fellows had gained their liberty, the matter apparently slumbered, for but ittle was ‘heard of 1t,” and affairs at Blakesburg dropped back into their old way of going, and Chris McCallister was no longor talked about except now and then, as the local Vidocqs got together and wondered why their efforts had pever been crowned with success. Meantime Pleas Anderson added 1o his unpopulavity in various wa and the Monroe County bank of Albia passed to the realm of the has been. At notime had the search for Mc. Cullister’s murderer dicd out entirely, Arrested for the Murder. One day in June, 1883, a warrant was sworn out_before Justice Orrin Outumwa, charging Pleas and William Anderson with the murder of McCallister. They were arrested und brought to trial. So deep was the interest, folt that the hearing of the case was had in the main court room at the county court house, in order that the throng of cuvious people mignt be accommodated. Fiftoon days were consumed 1 the prelimmacy hear- ing. A chain of circumstantial = evidence that would ordinurily serve to hang & man was constructed around Pleasant Aaderson. His boot fitted the tracks mado by the mur- derer; the plaster cast and the boot were identical: a shoemaker who made the boots identified them positively; Chris McCaliis- ter's skull was brought into court and the dcep depression in it was exactly ritted by the eud of a billy carried by Aunderson; and finally, Bill Anderson turned state’s evi- dence and swore he sat in tho road holding his horse acd the one Pleas rode while Pleas callea McCallister out and killed him. M Callister’s father aud mother both swore thoy overheard the short conversation be- tween their son and his slayer, and_ that it was Anderson’s voice they heard. Over and against this, whicb was bucked by a cloud of witnesses all anxious to testify to Anderson’s bad character, was the unqualified statement of the defendant that he dia not kill the man, backed by (oo testi- mony of his wife aud’ child to the effect that the husband and father was at home at the thmo the crime was comunitted. and considerable testimony to show Bill Anderson a general untrustworthy charac- ler, Bill Anderson swore that Pleas had nrom- sed to give iim & vultivator in rewurn for his assistance. He said that on one othor oc- casion e ana Pleas bad paid a midnicht visittoold Sam Phinney’s touse aud on calling the old man to the ddor Pleas had taken a shot at him. “It would bu lots of fun to shoot at old man_Phinnoy” Ploas had said, and he had given Bill u harrow s a ro- ward for his company and subsequent dis- oretion. . All this was donjed by Dleas, but he was held to court without bail to await trial on the charge of murder, During the next six months Anderson was frequently visited m jail Dy the writer, to whom ho 1nvariably protested nis innocence, although on several occasions tacitly admit- ting he knew more about the cuse than he would caro to tell, But public opinion craily held that the murderer of C McCaulister was ut last safe o fail, Dan Miller fentenced, While this was in vrogress at Ottumwa, up at Albia the farmers and others who had been losers lu the Mouros County bank fuil- ure were making things mighty interosting for Dan Miller, tho cushier, and Sam Miller, sheriff of Montoe couaty, his partner. Dan Mills arrest charged with forgery and was held in jail at Ottumwa swaiting trial on some niuety-seven counts. He and Anderson had uuinterrupted conversation With each other for more than two months, when Miller was tried on three counts, and sentenced to serve out one-hall year's impris- onment st Fort Madison Dan Miller had been & Sunday school superintendent at Albia. aud was a promi- nent church worker. His wife was a gentle lady of refinement, ana he had two as sweet children as ever blessed a father's life, Much sympathy was felt for him in his trouble, s it wus almost universally believed that Sam Miller was responsible for the whole affair. Indced, Sam Milier's namo wus frequently mentioned in conunection with the murder of Chris MoCallister. Dan Mil ler's wife and babies wero in the court room on Saturday afternoon when Judge Burton passed sentence upon him There was & [ one of the most pathetic scones over onacti in n court room. In n very feeling mat nerJudge Burton addressed the prisond on his erime and the suffering he had brough! upon himself and others. Miler's fortitude gave way and, clasping his sobbing wife to his breast, ho'stood with bowoed hoad, his frame shuking convulsively with emotion, wiile Judwo Burton, tears streaming from his cheeks, sentonced him tothe penitentiary, [u a sbort time Miller was again behind the bars, and his final adiou being given his wife, was soon on tho way to a train to go to Fort Madison, Beforo starting he sent for a reporter on u local newspaper, saving he had something imnortant to communicate, L. D, Boswortn, deputy sheriff in_charge of the connty Jail, refused to allow Miller to talk to any one, An: Pleas Anderson said Millor had a confes- sion to make, Anderson remained in juil some four months longer and was then taken to Osknloosa for trial. Here, after a hearing which consumod eighteen = days, during which more than 100 witnesses were exam- ined, ho was acquitted, the jury finding & verdict in loss thau twenty-four hours, Anderson was then arraigned on a charge of shooting into old man Phinney’s hous Ho pleaded guilty and was sentenced to sixty days 1n jail, which ho served. On returning to his home at Biakesburg he wus informed by his neighbors that he was not considered asafe man for that community, and the peo- ple would liko it if ho moved. 'He agreed to leave, aud did look up a location in Texas, but not findine a ready purchaser for his farm, continued living thero quiotly with his wife 'and fawily. He put in a crop and hai vested it in peace, and was almost led to be- lieve that the feeling against him had died out. erson Acquitted, Judge Lynch's Court. One ovening in December, 1854, while Auderson was engaged in his barn yard, feoding his stock, four masked men drove up 10 the gate in a two horse sled, Two jumped out, and approachitg Anderson, covered him with revolvers, telling him thoy had been sent to arrest him and that he was to be taken to the school house for trial. The prisoner asked to be allowed to notify his family, but was told they would be informed of his whereabouts, ~ He saw resistanco was futile, and went with his captors. At the school house some half a dozen tal- low candies flickered and sputtered, casting a weird half light over ono of the most striking scenes of life's great drama. At the teacher's desk sat a man, while arrayed on two benches behind were twelve others, and still two more occupied seats in front. All were enveloped from head to foot in bed quilts. They constituted a court, which was to try Pleasant Anderson for his life on tho charge of killing Chris McCallister. With formality hideous in 1ts mockery of judiciul forms, the prisoner was arraigned and chavged with the crime of murder in tho first dogree. He was asked to plead, and pleaded not zuilty. Then he was removed by his captors o the rear of the room, where he spent the last moments of his lifo in matching pennies with some boys who bad been atiracted to the school bhouse by curiosity. In the meautime the tarcical trial was beiiig proceeded with solomuly, but with ntent. KEvidenco wuas submitted, argu- ments were heavd, aud with a gravity well nigh devilish the judge charged the jury. This body pretended to retire, but speedily returned with a verdict of guilty s charged, T'his, too, was couched in coldly formal legal verblage, and on its being read by tho clerk the judge bogan to ask the jury the sterco- typed query concerning tho fairness and unanimity of the verdict, and the jury an- swered h one for himself and not one for the other” that Pleasant Anderson was guilty of murder 1 the first deeree, the crime alleged being the killing of Christian McCallister Sentence Passed and Executed. Then the judge commanded the masked “builiffs” to “‘bring tne prisoner into court.” In a voico coldly dispassionate and with words as fow as they were cruel the juage informed Anderson of the result of the trial and then proceeded to sentence him to be hanged immediately. In'a twiakling tke court was transformed into a baud of execationers, Tho prisoner wus allowed to mako one request, which was granted, that his boots be vemoved. Then a rope 'Was thrown in a 10030 about his neck and Anderson, erect and unflinch- ing, marched barofooted behind his pitiless captors about 100 yards across the' frozen snow toa tree. Then he asked to send a message to his wife, but was told to “go to Overu limb the rope was thrown: a pull of the determinea men and another mysterious murder was udded to the list of Blakesburg’s erimes, Gently swaying in the winter's wind, cast- ing a startling black shadow across the moonlit wasie of snow, swung tho lifeless body of Plensant Anderson, and silently as they had gathered the members of the court slippod away to their homes. In a cheerless little . farm” house on a bleak hillside a wother and daughter saw the evening meal grow cola, watched tho twilight shadows deopen into the night, the stars come out and the night grow cold with the rising of the moon, znd wondered why the husband and father did not come to supper. When the Wapeilo county erand jury met the next month—January 1555—it ignored the case. ‘Those men who composed the body will always remember what Judge Burton sald to them in bis scathing rebuke to the body for its neglect, of duty. But the hang- ing of Pleasunt Auderson was uever in- vestigated. Confession Came at Last, Meanwhilo in his convict’s cell Dan Mil- let's health was fauing, **Confinement,” said his friends. Great effort to securo his pardon was wade, but failed. His “zood time'” secured him'a reduction of senten Then ho was tricd on more counts: but his health was brokon, and ho seemed about to die, 50 his prosecutors relontad, and ho was left to die u free man. Fow' pecple now thought of tae doath of Chris McCallister or that of Pleasant Anaerson. But Dun Mil thought of it always, He alone knew that Chris McCallister had drawn a large sum of money on thut October day in 1581 from the Monroo county bank; ne knew how much the run was; he kuew that its withdrawal would cripple the bank; that if he could cover it he might save the bank, or at least his reputution. He knew thav murder would be necessary, but ho had alveady stesped bis soul ia crime. If ne did not get that monoey back he would be vuined. To get it back would cost ono life, maybo two, but his repu- tation would be saved, S0 ho killea Chris McCallister, Then, when ho fuiled to got the money his bank wont under, his forgeries wero found out and he stood before the world a felon, When oo that September afternoon in 1853, he stood beforo the bar in the court roown and heard the fatherly words of tho judge who sontenced nim, his conscience nettled him and he resolved to confess his greater crime. ‘The stupidity of un officious deputy sheriff prevented, and au innocent man was hanged —by amob, it is true, but, nevertheless, hanged —for Dan Mitler's deed. No wonder his healtk broke in confine- ment, With the ghosts of two murdered wen forever poluting accusing flugers at his soul, with remorse and vain regrets for his evil decds forever with him, it 15 a wonder he stood it as long as he did, and when deatn finally came to rid hun of his weary life he called to his bedside the wife of Chris Mc Callister aud told hor how he had murdered her husband. His confession was telegraphed from hore ou the night of his death, last Tuesday. - RETICENT ABOUT Nothing Can Le Lesrned as to the (ruth of Recent Chilian lumors, Waseixaroy, D, C., Dae, 20,—No informa tion is obtuinable in WasHington tonignt concerning the report of the surrounding of the American legation in Sautiugo, Chili, by a mob on account of the refugees there. Sevoral dispatches bave been recelved from Minister E during the past week, but any attempt to learn the nature of their coutents meets with a refusal on the part of the State department oficials to say any- tning whatever on the subject. At the Chillan legation nothiug is koowa about the report. Senor Montt, the Chiliau minister and his wife. it was said at the le- i, NUMBER 1 = WHERE COVERNMENTS WHIRL ittle Revolutions that Ocoupy Laisnrs Time OF Central Amorican Politiofans, | "HINATIONS OF THE PRESIDENTS, 1 One Ruler Sceks (o Embarras sther — Disovery ‘erning Correspondant Tho, \ the Celebrated Chilian Romancer, (Copyrighted 1811 by James Gordon Bennett.) SAN SALVADOR (via Galveston, Tex.), Deo. 20.—([By Mexicau Cable to the New York Herald—Spocial to Tur Bek.]—The revolution in Honduras bogan the vory day that Ponciano Lovia was inaugurated prosi- dout and General Bogran retired to private life. The vast majority of the people in Honduras hate General Bogran, and although President Levia 13 conceded to be an honest mun, still he s rogarded ns a weak instrument in the hands of Presiaent. Buarillas of Guatomala, sad of General Bogran, Policarpo Bonilla was the people's candidate. After the resulyof the eloctions became kuown, and Bonilla’s defeat was as- sured a rovolt broke out. Failivg to capture Levia and Bogran at the meeting of congress in Comagogue, the revolutionists began fighting in the depart- ments of Lopaz and Tegucigalpa, but in a battie near the city of Tegucigalpe were beaten. They then retired into Chaloteca nnd captured tho towns of Garscoran and Corpus. The government troops pursued them to those places und again defeated thom, The insurgents then dispersed and returned into Nicuragua, San Salvador posted troops along its frone tier to keep the robels off its territory. It is reported that the Guatemalian governmont, following its custom, ntroduced its troops into Honduras, disguising them in Hondurian uniforms, and having them carry Hondurian flags, The idea was to aid in putting dJown the rebellion. Tho Guatemalian pross ac- cuses Presidout Ezota of Sulvador of fur- nishing arms and money to the revolution- ists, but it is utterly falso. Gener Antonio Ezeta arrived in this city yesterday, The political horizon looks just at present very cloudy. WRITTEN BY A WOM.AN. Lady Jordan the Author of the Lone don Times' Chili Letters. [Copurighted 1891 by James Gordon Bennett,] VaLraraiso, Chili {via Galveston, Tex.), Dec. 20.—|By Mexican Cablo to the New York Herald— Special to Tue Berk|— It now appears that the greater number of the letters which have been uppearmg in tho London Times, displaying so bitter a tone toward the United States government and its reprosentatives, wore written by a woman aud not by tho boastful Thompson. ‘The real author, 1t scems, was Lady Jordan, the wife of Deputy Consul Jordan, ut Sunt tugo, and wore forwarded to Lisbon, wtence they were sent to the Times. And yet during all ‘that time Thompson was claiming that they were bis cffusions. A few days ago the British minister, Mr. Kennedy, reseived a business visit from Miuister S¢an. This roaching Thompson's ears, he wrote a letter to Mr. Keunedy 1n- quiting what rizht Mr. Bgan had to’ visit bim and by what right he was _pevmitted to enter the British legation. Minister Kon- nedy sent a roply to this impudent lettor asking in no measured terms what right TEompson ha to designato the British loga- tion's visitors, Thereupon Thompson promptly apologized for s impudence, The Chihan government has paid Swedish minister £6,000 for the lo baric Arno, which was lost in Valparaiso bay owing to the refusal of the Balmacedist officials to clear her before the gale ap- poared. A message wi the of the s received by the Chilian government yestorday, in which it was stated that Seo Rlaine had assured Minister I’edro Montt that after a completo investigation of all the marters in dispute be- tween the two countrios he was confident that an amicable couclusion could be arrived at, Several prominent Clilians heve, in speak- ing of Miuister Matta's response to Presi- dent Harvison’s message, say that it was couched in somewhat undiplomatic language, but that in substance it was correct. 1t is probable that a new cabinet will be formea after Prosident Montt's inauguration, on December 20, when a more diplomatio note will replace Matta's dispatch. The question of the refugees in the American loga- tion with a few exceptions cannot be con- sidered by the ministers and the status of refugees must be determined by logal trib- unals under indictment of congress, The cruiser Esmeralda will rapresent Chill in the ereat nuval display in New York harbor in 18! Pavisian Small Talk, Compriah’ed 1891 by Jvnte (et Tanast,| Pamis, Dec. 20, New York Hoerald Cable Special to Tue Bee |—This (Mouday) morning the celebrated villa in the Avenue Montaigne, built for the lato Prince Na- poleon, about the sule of which I cavled the Herald recently, will be attucked by ick- axos and demolistied. 1n a few woeks More no trace of the graceful reproduction of Dlo- med’s villa at Pompeii will remain. On tho site will b orected a modern mansion. A law suit has begun over thu estete of Meissonnier, the paintor, growing out of the desire of the widow to 'sell all the pictures loft in his studio, This i3 opposed by the other heirs, who wish to proserve thew father's works to form a private wuseur, Tho heirs are Charles Meissonnier, sou, aud Mme. Egly, daughter by his lirst wife. 'The watter will have to be decided by the courts, The Gaulols announces the engagement of Duchess do Camposelice to Paul Sohoger. The duchess' first husband was Singer, the manufacturer of sewing machines, Solioger is a fashionable man, about wown, Argentine's Peculine Politics (Copurtghted 1891 by James Gordon Bennelt.] Buesos Avires, Argentine (via Galveston Tex.), Dee. 20.—[By Mexican Cablo to the New York Herald—-Special to Tite B The friends of General Roca are making a vigorous campaign in his bebalf, At La Pluta 1ast night the municipal secret police seized o large quantity of small srms, Krapp guns and other munitions of war which has been disembarked here. The gov- ernor has augmented the police ana military forces. A quuntity of arms bas been de- posited in the house of General Roc: It is ident that an uprising is expected and that geneorat alarns provails over these and similae warlike preparations. Fighting in o Grande do Sul. Loxboy, Dee A dispateh from Buenos yres suys: A skirmish bas ocoutred in Rio udo do Sul between federal troops and battalion of the nutional gusrd. The tele- graph line has been cut to prevont the seads ing of details of the enzagement. Another dispateh from Buenos Ayros says: The wsurgents, hoaded by Generul Saraiva, have surrounded Santa Victorin, the capital of the provinco of Espirito Santo. Keins forcoments are marching 10 the scene from Yaguaro, Arvested for Incitin ¢ Sedition [Copurtghted 1591 by James Gordon Bennett.) Moxrevibeo, Uruguay (Via Galveston, Tex.), Dee, 20.—|By Mexican Cablo to the Now York Herald— Special to Tur Bee,)— Colonel Herrera has been rearrested for incitiug & seditious movement agaiust the president, It is reported here that there is no abate.