Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-09-02
City and County.

TAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.-A gloom was cast upon
.,s community at an early hour on last Sunday morn
mo by an accident which occurred about O'Clock.
~ the foot of Main street, Mores creek and re-
Quilted in the death of Mr.. George Il. Washington, a
merchant of this CITY, universally respected for his
startling qualities of mind and heart The facts con-
racted with the sad affair, narrated by the only
living witness of the scene Mr.. R. NJ. Valentine, q
Young man engaged clerk in the large mercantile
house of vantine & Co., we here append:
IDAHO CITY, September 1, 1868
EDITOR IDAHO WoRLD:-I feel it q duty which owe
myself to correct the many incorrect statements in
c;rculation regarding the unfortunate accident
shifting in the death of Mr.. George H. Washington
on the 30th day OF August. On the morning OF that
day called upon Mr. washington, at his store to
purchase pistol for friend who is about returning
n the States-Mr. w. having shown one to the
evening before, and expressed desire to SELL The
article in question ''Sharp's fourshooter," and
not understanding them myself, Mr. w. proposed
gong down to the creek and instructing in their
nse: and as we left the store he made the remark
.there are but three loads in it-one has been dis
charged" We proceeded to the foot of Main street
discharged the three loads and snapped the fourth to
he sure that it empty, and taking the pistol from
him snapped all four barrels again, to make assu-
rance doubly sure and handed it back when he pro.
ceeded remove the barrel To do this it is neces
sary that the hammer should be put halfcock but
il appears that he had it at full cock immed-
atey that he as ignorant myselfin the manner
of working the piece, and requested him to let nae
try nv hand and he passed the pistol to holding
the muzzle pointed directly TO himself. In taking
he piece from him my finger must have rested upon
the trigger for had barely time to look at 1t when 1t
discharged. the contents lodging in his abdomen.
The remainder is known. All was done to make his
last moments comfortable that it was possible to do,
for il was evident from the moment he shot that
he was dying. He expired between the hours of ten
and eleven, on Sunday night, sensible and resigned
TO the last. Hoping my friends will give credence to
no other accounts of the matter,
N-.Nl,r OH
ROBT. NJ VALENTINE.
In addition to the above statement by Mr.. Valen-
tine, We are authorized by Mr.. J. G.. Bryant, heavy
merchant of this city, to state that few hours before
the death of Mr.. Washington, whilst he was making
statement of worldly affairs, &C., in the presence
Of Mr.. Bryant, Mr.. G. W. Graft, Mr. Hamlin. DR..
Belts and DR.. Zipf, he expressly declared that no
blame whatever was to be charged against Mr.. Val.
entine i'll the matter that the merta shot purely
accidental and he expressly wished his friends to
most fully absolve Mr.. Valentine from any eensure
in the sad event.
After he received the shot, Mr.. Washington walked
few steps, but his strength failed, and he was
taken by Charley who drives the ice wagon for Nc
Clntock Stewart, in that vehicle TO DR.. Belts Of
fee During the day he removed to a building
on the side of Main street, where he breathed
his last during the night The funeral ceremonies
were performed on Monday afternoon. At o'clock,
the coiiiped remains were conveyed to the Court
House, and there an impressive funeral sermon was
delivered by Mr. c. S. Kingsley after which the pro-
cession formed and marched to the cemetery on
Bonum HILL in which all that is mortal Of the dc.
ceased now reposes The majority of business houses
in this city closed during the funeral and nearly
all the citizens joined in the procession Many ladies
also attended.
Mr.. Washington, we are told, came to this Basin in
1863 and he has resided here ever since. We believe
he had not al enemy in the world. We are told he
a distant connection of the immortal Washington
and was native of Iowa. whence his family emigrat
ed from Virginia brother. Orion Washington, lives
in WeavervilIe, California, and married sister Mrs
John Cresap, resides in Keosauqua, Iowa His ag'
was So years.