The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-07
a Woman Who Knew Washington.

Mrs. Young, who has just died n. Rich
mond, Va, was probably the last-livint
person, says correspondent Of the New
York Herald, who had seen and talket
with George Washington. She was tn
lust surviving child Of Gen. Washington.
steward, Anderson, the honest and frugal
Scotchman who for so many years had con
troll Of his domestic affairs at Mount Yer
non. Her maiden sister, Nellie Anderson
died in Richmond more than fifteen years
ago at the advanced age Of 05, and now the
venerable survivor departs this lie alte,
having lived exactly the same length oil
time. She was born at Mount Vernon in
l1SI. Remarkable for strength OF body MS
well rs vigor Of mind she had perfectly re.
tanned until within the past few days recol.
lections retained until within the pas. few
days recollections OF the early part OF her
life ut the home OF Washington. To
all who conyersed with her on this
subject md all its interesting associations
she gave without ostentation, satisfactory
replies. She was thirteen years OF
nge. when the head Of the
bereaved household md the nation died,
and, OF course, could recall many incidents
Of her childhood. The account she gave OF
what she insisted was the real cause OF
Washington's death differs much from
that given by historians generally. AL.
though all agree that the attack which kill.
cd him was brought on by his exposure on
a cold day while taking his usual ride on
horseback, yet even this might have been
averted had not the incident occurred
which is now given as it came from the lips
Of Mrs. Young: +, "The General
had returned from his ride cold
and shivering, had retired to the
house and WIS actually about to take his
dinner when = message came to him from
cartwright whom he had employed, and
who desired immediate instructions before
he could finish the boat upon which he
was at work. Washington, probably some.
what fretted at the untimely interference,
hurried down to the river bank without hat
or overcoat and stood exposed 10 the chill
ing blasts that blew over the Potomac. His
anxiety to finish the business kept him
there too long. The consequence was n
violent accession to the cold he had already
taken, which during the following night
culm!nated in the attack which soon proved
fatal" i5''5g "a -, ll = f'2-
Mrs. Young always took great pleasuer
in dwelling upon the goodness and uni
form kindness Of General and Mrs. Wash
ing,on toall connected with their estab-
lishments. 1t must be remembered that
at that time the relative social position OF
dependents, domes,ics and the great pro-
prietors were strongly contrasted. The
aristocratic sentiment prevailed, and about
the great house" rs it was called, more
than ordinary sense OF awe presided.
With this were connected the strictest
rules OF decoflm, against which it was
more than treason to err. Notwithstand.
ing this the children OF the adjoining
households were Tree to 20 and
come; and Mrs. Young and her sister
often romped on the porticos and through
the hall ofthe stately mansion with the chill.
dren OF the Fairfaxes, Custises and I.ewises,
some OF whom were constant guests OF the
General and his wife. Indeed she has told
the writer that she and her aister were
rarely permitted 10 retire from the pres
ence OF alrs. Washington before having re.
ceived some token OF kindness III the way
OF fruit, cake and such like, and that on no
occasion did the General pass them with
out kindly greeting. She took special
pleasure in referring to an incident in
which Washington's step-son, young Gus.
It's, and Nawlins, and OF his managers, met
with sore discontinue. The two were in.
dulging their favorte pastime OF dancing
and tiddling, GUSTS being the dancer
and kawliDg the fiddler, when 10 their
surprise and disnay the General stepped
suddenly upon tile =. scene. We may
well imagine tue effect OF SO august pres.
ence at such moment. The air OF Mount
Vernon must have been conducive to
longevity. Washington's favoritc negro
hunter and body servant during the war,
viii Lee, lived TO be more than 100 years
old. Thomas Bishop, his English servant,
who had been with Braddock in the same
capacity on the continent and in America,
up to the time Of the latter's death, and
who, at the dreadful day OF Monongehela,
disenged Washington from his slaughtered
horse and lifted him, worn and weak, upon
the back OF another, also survived to near
ly the same length OF days, and so did old
Father jack" the African fisherman,
whose duty it was to supply the table at
Mount Vernon with fish from the waters
OF the Potomac.
Love Your NeIghbor.
When your friend or neighbor Is laboring