Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-19
OUR FIRST TWO PRESIDENTS.
Washington As a Nominal Christian
Adams Goes IN washing.

from u washington Letter.
Speaking Of George Washington to-day
an Old ex-senator was asked ''D0 you
think he was religious MANI"
NO" was the reply, 81 do not. He was
church member and a vestryman, but
the vestry in those days was u semi-p0lIti-
cal and charitable board. l have heard
old citizens say that Washington would
often leave the church before the services
were over. Communion, you know, is
served at the last OF the service. The fact
that Washington sighted communion is
evidence to my mind Shat he was not Il
Christian of the casJlr kind. Another
evidence is the fact that he had no preach
or at his bedside during his last sickness.
lie was sick for several days, and there
must have been ample time to have gotten
a preacher If he had desired 1t. He was
thoroughly conscious 10 the last, and ii is
said that he timed his pulse as long as the
breath was IN his body. AS it left him
bis hand dropped from his wrist, and be
sank back dead. During his last hours
he gave the most minute directions as to
business matters, directing his wife to get
the two wills which he had made, and
burn the one which he wished anuulled
Ho directed that bis corpse be kept for
three days, and Tobias Lear, his private
secretary, SAYS among his last words were
those in regard To bis burial. He died on
Saturday night, and ON the next Wedues-
Gay be WAS buried in walnut coffin lined
with lead. Many years after his body
was changed from this box to the marble
tomb IN which it now les
STORY OF ADAMS.
Talking about President Adams, the
gentleman told the following story: son
one occasion Mr.. Adams imperiled his
life by attempting 10 cross the Potomac
in "A small boat accompanied by his son
John and by his steward. Michael Antoine
Guista. VINO had entered bis service at
Amsterdam in 1874. Intending to swim
back, they had taken oil nearly all of their
clothes. which were IN the boat. When
about halt way across gust Of wind came
aweepiug down the Potomac; the boat
filled with water and they We're forced 10
abandon it and SWIM for their lives TO the
Virginia shore. BY taking what garments
each one had on Antoine managed 10
clOthe himself decentiy and started across
The bridge To Washington. During his
absence MIR. Adams and his son swan in
the river or walked 20 and fro on the shore.
At last, after they had been about three
hours undressed, Antoine made his APP
pearauce with "A carriage and clothing, so
they were able to return 10 Washington.
Mr. Adams purchased that day a watch
which be gave Antoine to replace one
which he had lost in the boat, and be al
luded to the adventure in his journal that
night as "a humilating lesson and sol
emn warning not TO trlle with danger
A few weeks later Revolutionary Vete-
ran named Shoemaker, who had been for
thirty years q clerk in the general post
oilice. went in 10 battle at MIR. Adams IA
vorite spot. the Sycamores, was seized
with cramps and WAS drowned. The body
was not recovered until the next morn
ing. while Mr.. Adams was in the water;
bur the incident did not deter him from
taking his solitary morning baths,
which he regarded as indispensable 10
health"