The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-05-12
The Last Moments OF John RAN
dOlplf-A Dramatic Seenes


The Last Moments OF John Ram
dOiplr-A Dramatic Seenes
The scene at that moment is de-
Iscribed by DR.. Parrish, in papers
that he left, as being deeply affect
ing The dying man stretched forth
his attenuated hand and said, as the
will was read; Especially for this
boy John The latter, conscious of
his masters srapidly dly-approaching dis
solution, and overwhelmed with graf
.itude for this act Of kindness, burst
into tears. Dr.. Parrish states that
MIR Randolph said when he entered
The room: 81 know you through
Giles and the doctor supposed that
he alluded o the late Governor Giles
d it yill, " Ma b. . ' )
freqlentiy donsulted. The doctor
and the witnesses, remained with
the dying man untilhe had passed
away, as Mr.. Randolph said that this
was required BY the laws of Virginia
where testament was nude freeing
slaves and providing for their subse-
quent support. making his prep
arations to die Randolph had his
fathers old breast button or stud
brought to his bedside, and a hole
large enough for it to fit into was cut
into his shirt. DR.. Parrish's papers
state that he lay perfectly quiet for a
few moments, with his eyes closed,
and then very dramatic scene fol-
lowed. The room was hushed in
stiffness, when Mr.. Randolph sud
denly reused up and exclaimed
"Remorse!" 1t was repeated again
and third time at the top OF his
voice and with agitation. He cried
out: 'tLet me see the word; get a
dictionary; let me see the word."-
He was told that there was none in
the room. "Write it down then; let
me see the word" The doctor took
up from table card bearing the
words: Randolph, of Roanoke" in
which'the servant had punched a
hole that it might be tied to the bag
gage, and asked if he should write
on that, and Randolph responded
that there was nothing more proper.
Mr.. Randolph took the card in a
very hurried manner, and fastened
his eyes on it with great intensity.
@Write iton the back, he exclaimed,
and this was done, when the card
was handed back, to him. Hs was
very much agitated, and said: "Re-
morsel You have no idea what it is;
you can form no idea oft, whatever;
it has contributed to bring me to my
present situation. Now let John
take your pencil and draw a line
under the word" This was done,
and the doctor inquired: "what am
| to do with the card?" "Put it in
your pocket-take care of it. When
| am dead look at it," was the reply.
The lead pencil marks on the card
are nearly as plain as when first
written and the underscoring by
John upon its back shows that he
did it with a very tremulous hand,
as tho line is uneven. The lady who
has this card in her possession also
has number Of papers bearing up
on the death of Mr.. Randolph in the
form Of q correspondence with gen.
tlemen in Virginia, in which the
orthodox "thee" and thou" are in
variably used. In one of these, to
William Leigh, of Halifax county,
Virginia, DR.. Parrish says, in a de.
scription of Mr.. Randolph's actions
when he ordered his will to be read:
He appeared to me to rally all the
remaining energies ofmind and body
to accomplish this great and last act
of his life. His soul appeared to be
engaged in it, viz: The confirmation
of a will wherein he made provision
for his slaves.