Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-01
OBITUARY.

Ana sank among the past
OBITUARY.
Departed this life Sunday morning the oa,b n. Vim;
III years. ana alter having outiyed nearly oil his contem
poanes, Dr. JAMES DREW McCAw The death of mi, GEN.
aean. Semands something more than passing no
uSe' Inc eminent professional and social position tn
wheh he attained in this city, time when II, soe;.
Tor intellectual power and refined grace and elegance Of
unsurpassed perhaps by any other the world
he possession OF the friendship and confidence of such
master spirits OF intellect Bushrod Washington Jobn
Marshall John Wickham &c. &c. and Others of sucb INNS
.ue as me reverend John Blair. and Alex. Buchanan
Justify me opinion that the individual thus honored and
supported, could be common man. A sligbt sLs,cb
OF ms lie can not be unacceptable many who
~ nm uie INK which bound their memories by gone
days. when eyes that then shone brightly have dakened
ana voices that cheered have died away in the solemn
suness aud silence of the grave He was tho friend and
Pnysleh OF our iathers and mothers, nay, with many Of
grahoahes and grandmcthers, and shall such man mass
rom among US and no note be taken OF his departue1
Dr. McCaw was born at Cabin Point Surry county, Va in
the year l77l. '' - "
Az the period of the breaking on, of an. ,voIn,;o
war Df James McCaw his father "a native Of Scotand)
had removed Norfolk and was actually engaged in an.
pursuit OF his profession in that place. deci.
ded oyast' he promptly accepted the command Of com
pany offered him by the earl of Dunmore md served AZ
the battle Of the Bridge, fought the 9th of Dec l775 The
ms party, compelled hisreueat board the English
heeo winch eetby the same authority OF Lord Dun
more) ne was Immediately appointed Surgeon general
MS we' son. and infant daughter, compelled TO de-
SER the mouse and home their slaves all fed from Them
and her property OF every kind conscaied or other
wise destroyed In this destitute condition. his wife un
derwent painful imprisonment during il she had Sc
we're aack Of Illness upon recovery from which she sue
eeeueu IN making her escape in the night aided by
negro guide alone made her way the bay shore where
she was fortunate in finding watering party from the
ngsh SHIPS and In thus reoinng her husband on board
In THIS heet she continued for nearly twelve months
exposed TO all tho privatons incident to war and
was once shipwrecked. AT length accompanied by her
husband she reached England. After remaining with
her Tor come hme he again separated and
on duty TO New York. and died in six weeks afte
ms destination Such accumulated msfortunes did NOT
suthee 10 break down the spirit OF this admirable woman
10 much OF the talent OF her usIrous brother DIR lanes
MeClurg she added decision and energy rarely Cnd IN
female Under the advice of her past friends The Ear Of
Dunmore, and the famous blind poet. Dr. Bsekcock with
some assistance from the English government she took
such steps as would by and economy
the support and education Of her children. and devoung
herself TO them she settled in Whtehayen where young
McCaw passed through bis scholastic course.
AT the proper age still under the supervising care of hi.
judcious mother. he removed Edinburg and was ap
preniced as STUDENT and became the favoured pu
Pill o the distinguished Benjamin Bell TO whose care and
attention he owed much of his after celebrity Under HE
instruction and that Of those giants in Medicine and Sur
gerry OF the day, the Cuens. Blacks Greecry's John
Bell &C. after passing through tho regular curriculum of
that rst Of Institutions, he graduated with distinc,ion in
oil the branches OF his profession Chen rare thing 70 nc
complsh) al the early OF 20 years. Immediately after
which, he returned TO this country and commenced the
practice Of in this city.
Accurate IN observation discriminating in iudgment
perfect in his knowledge Of anatomy he addsd Ski in
"o use VI lnsuuupnls, and self possessed
made hm equal to any emergency in his profession These
quahcolons, exercised under the eye and aided bv the
advice OF his maternal uncle, the learned and brilliant
McCurg, rapidly obtained for him bipb dstnction no,
only 10 The city, but throughout the whole eastern portion
OF the State, IN the capacities alike Of Physician and Sur
geon.
ong and unbroken career Of more than so years prac
lce "os illustrated and adorned by series Of the most
brilliant trumphs in both departments Of his profession
Onamoous he never cared TO trumpet forth his yarou,
operations the number, variety. and importance
10 H.
national, N place Of provincial reputation genuine
oVe OF his profession, and kind benifccnt heart in
ouceo ms equal attention to rich and poor, and numerous
were the charities in this way conferred by him.
Apart from his profession, d.. MeCaw was eminep,lv
quaihed to shine in social life brilliant wit fine conyers.
honal taleni' and eIuberant anmS spirits made him
most agreeable and desirable cOnplnonto these he sd
ded the graces Of fine person. and eli the varied accom-
pshmens that constituted the educated gentleman Of ina,
day These versatle qualifications, were additionally
ADORNED by rehned taste, high Of honour ana m
mpetuous courage almost amounting 10 rashness fteoer
ed however, by great CALAMITY which commanded aks
the respect OF friend and foe An opportunity for their use
u exercise, promptly seized b. him. may be here eg6
malely mentioned. When the appalling burning of the
Richmond Theatre took place. the winter of 1911 Dr.
meVaw was present AZ the cry Of FIRE, recoleetng the
great crowd and narrow lobby, he eaped from Inc sids
box on the stage, In the hope Of securing the escape of b
party behind H. Pressing the curtain aside he discovered
such mass OF flame, efeetuay cut off all evrs.,
IN 'ns' way: Returning instantly by backward Iesp,
and supporting bis WIFE he forced his way to the ano9,
essi window, around which found clustering and so
catng crowd Of persons whoss every effort hsd p,o.d
unsuccessful IN opening the Vhuo VIII ch were strongly
baHieaded on the outside. BY effort OF strength AZ
most supernatural he dashed pieces the obstacle and
me hfst gosh OF fresh air life numbers who would
have perished without H. Taking bis stand then by te
hgh window he announced HE determination TO secure
the safety u every femae before any man should escsos
TINS he carried into y'et, and then literally surrounded
with hames) assisted the in tho same way Az Iss,
alter saving very many lives his clothing redueed n,
crisp, as tho floor sunk beneath bis feet he lenped C,
the window, the last human being that escaped tboBs
mat outlet His a produced injury Of the ,hgb ,bst
rendered him poworess for notion and he sy under tho
wan OF inc burning building, until hig own son IA mere
so1 recognised bis voice. crying for cid and dragged HIM
down the hill, out Of danger from the falling vail Mou,s
oisevee pain followed during the first few weeks Of which
be could not permit the removal Of single niece M H.
elohing-when o. length this done the very flannel
nest his ssin, was found hunt and universal ocsdr Of
the BACK, evidenced The o heat no had borne Inc
Panul eec Of he burn, having been completely cnaeea
ca ~ he groaier suffering from The torn muscles 1 the
ngF Fho hofolsm N this CONDUCT wss only equales BY
the modesy which prevented HE giving the details o OUR
lcation, often solicited from him.
HIS narrow escape on this OCCASION and m. be,vv d,.
cPine consequently undergone induced him 10 turn M.
thoughts 70 he Maker and Preserver. The seed ,hen
soWn, gIaduaily fpencd, and finally naufed iato fsjb
urn and abiding in the promises Of Saviour in which
nl,h' ~ MeCaw lived and died. His death wss calm
500 composed. lie enabled 10 observe and C,tceu
inc regular approaches Of the grim monster each fa.
Vmptom developed itself, until uttorancs failed him
llos hhul dream" over, he has gone 10 rest from
hlaeoqn We may fondy hope, 10 expectation Of joyful
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