The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-19


that in the mean time liawlins, one of the
oyerseers, should be summoned, to bleed
him before the d,ctor could arrive.
A gurgle was prepared for his throat,
/ hut whenever he attempted to swallow
anv of It. he Was conynlsed and almost
sua0cated Rawlins made his appearance
soon u,,er sunrise, but when the General $
arm was ready for the operation he
/ became agitated. "Don be afraid, " said
the General, as we'll as he could speak.
Rawlins made an iucision. The orifce
is not large enough sad Washington,
The blood, however, ran pretty freely,
and Mrs. Washington, uncertain whether
the treatment was proper, and fearful
that too much blood might be taken,
begged Mr.. Lear to stop it When he
was about to unite the string the General
put up his hand to prevent him, and as
soon as he could speak, murmured, "more
more but Mrs. Washington's doubts
prevailed, and the bleeding was stopped,
after about half u pint of blood had been
taken External applications were now
made to the throat, and his feat were
bathed in warm weather, but without
afording any relief rta
His old friend, DR. Craik, arrived be,
tween eight and nine, and two other
physicians, Drs. Dick and Brown, were
called in, Various remedies were tried,
and additional bleeding, but all of no
avail iIire,l sts t e7.tv aoi.# U q.
"About halEpast four o'clock" writes
Mr.. Lear "he desired Inc to call Mrs
Washington to his bedside, when he
requested her to 20 down into bis room,
and take from his desk two wills which
she would find there, ard bring them to
him, which she did Upon looking at
them, he gave her one, which nc observed
was useless, as being superseded by the
other and desired ller to burn it which
she did, and took the other and put it
into her closet.
''After this was done, returned to his
bedside and took his hand He said to
me Il find I am going; my breath can
not last long | believed from the first
that the disorder would prove fatal. Do
you arrange all my military letters and
papers. Arrange my accounts and settle
my books, as you know more about them
than any one elso and let Mr., Rawlins
finish recording my other letters, which
he has begun | told him this would be
done. He then asked me if recOllectcd
any thing which it was essential for him
to do, as he had very short time to con-
tinue with us. told him that | could
recDllect nothing, but that hoped he was
not so near his end He observed, smil.
Ing, that he certainly was, and that US it
was a debt we all must pay, he looked to
the event with perfect resignation,
In the course of the afternoon, he apr
peared to be in great pain and distress
from the difficulty Of breathing, and fire.
Quently changed his posture in the bed,
Mr.. Lear endeayored to raise him and
turn him with as much ease as possible,
W am afraid L fatigue vou too much, the
General would say Upon being assured
to the contrary, Well" observed he,
gratefully, 'itais. q debt we must pay to
each other, and J hope when you want
aid Of this kind, you viii find il" ~ ~
His serranty Christopher, had been in
the room durirg the day, and almost the.
whole time on his feet. The General
noticed 1t In the afternoon, and kindly
told him to sit down
About five o'clock his old friend, l'r.
Craik, came again into the, room, and ap
preached his bedside. Doctor said
the General, u die hard, but am not
afrdid to go 4 believed, from my first
attack, that should not survive it-mt
breath cannot last long" The doctor
pressed his hand in silence, retired from
the bedside, and Sat BY the fire absorbed
in grief E..r t'..# ..g..a ... .rr
Between five and six the other physi-
clans came in, and he was assisted to sit
up in his bed 81 feel | am going" said
he, "l thank you for your attentions, but
| pray you take no more trouble about
me let me 90 OF quietly Lean not last
long" He laid down again; all retired
except DR.. Craik The General continued
uneasy and restless, but without com
planning, frequently asking what hour it
was. - ..
Further remedies were tried without
avail, in the evening. He took whatever
was offered him, did as he was desired by
the physicians, and never uttered sigh
or complaint.
about ten o'clock" writes Mr. Lear,
'he made several attempts to speak to me
before lie conld effect it. At length he
said, q am just going. Have me decently
buried, and do not letmy body be put into
tn vault in less than three days after !
am dead. | bowed assent, for | could
not speak He then looked at Inc again,
and said DO you understand me 2 ~ l
replied, Yes "Tis well,' said he. n.hl.
about ten minutes before he expired
(Which was between ten and eleven Of clock
on the night of December IA, .l709, his
breathing became easier. lie lay quietly
he withdrew his hand from mine and felt
his own pulse | saw his countenance
change. | spoke to DIR. Craik, who sat
by the fire. He came to the bedside
The Generals hand fell from his wrist
| took it in mine and pressed it to my
bosom. Dr. Crak put bis hand over his
eyes, and he expired without struggle
or a sigh"
R9s@fhey tell good story Of Hallaln