Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-19
WESTINGHOUSE DENISE.
The Quaint and Curious way In
which His Death Was Announced
in the Papers.


in the Papers.
The newspapers of Alexandria,
Georgetown, and Baltimore during
the week succeeding George Wash
ington's death, contained. says The
Baltimore Sun, the following reports !:
The Alexandria Times and District
of Columbia Advertiser, of Friday,
Dec. 90, 1899, of which one-half sheet
is all that is known 10 be in exis-
lance, thus announced Washineton's
death and funeral: "The effect of
the sudden news of his death upon
the Inhabitants of Alexandria can bet
ter be conceived than expressed. At
last general disorder, wildness, and
CONSERVATION pervaded the town
The tale appeared as an illusory
dream, rs the raving of a sickly i'm
aginatiOn. But these impressions
soon gave place to sensations of the
most poignant sorrow and extreme
regret On Monday and Wednesday
the stores were all closed and all bAsi-
ness suspended, as If each family had
lost its father. From the time Of his
death to the time of his interment the
bells continued to toll, the shipping
IN the harbor wore their colors half
mast high, and every public express
sion Of grief was observed. On We'd
nesday the inhabitants Of the town,
Of the county, and the adjacent parts
OF Maryland proceeded to Mount
Vernon to perform the last office to
the body Of their illustrioUs neighbor.
All the military within a considerable
distance and three Masonic lodges
were present. The concourse OF people
was immense. Till the time of inter
ment the corpse was placed on the
portico fronting the river, that every
citizen might have an opportunity of
taking a lasting farewell Of the de-
parted benefactor,"
a letter from Alexandra, dated
Dec. 10, communicated the intelli-
gence to Boston thus: SImention to
you the truly melancholy event of
the death of our much-belowed Gen.
George Washington. He made his
exit last night between the hours or
II and II, after a short, but painful,
illness of % hours. The disorder of
which he died is called By some the
crupe, by others an inhammatory
quipsey, disorder lately SO mortal
among children of this place, and,
believe, not until this year known to
attack persons of the age of maturity.
My information I have from DR..
Dick, who was called In at a late
hour. Alexandria is making arrange
ments to show its high esteem for
him We are all to close our houses
and act as we should do if one Of our
family had departed. The bells are
to tolI daily until he is buried"
The Georgetown Centinel Of Liber-
", a seni-weekly, in its issue of Dec.
IL, 1899, thus announces Washing
tons death; 'It is our painful duty
first to announce to the country and
the world the death of Gen. George
Washington. This mournful event
occurred on Saturday evening about
II o'clock. On the preceding night
he was attacked with violent infam-
matOry affection of the throat, which
IN less than twenty four hours put a
period to his life. IL a long life de-
voted TO the most important public
services; If the most eminent useful
ness, true greatness, and consummate
glory; If being an honor to our race
and a model to future ages; if all
these could nationally suppress cur
grief, never perhaps ought we to
mourn so little. But as they are the
most powerful motives to gratitude,
attachment, and yeneration for the
living and Of sorrow at their depar,
ture, never ought America and the
world to mourn more than on this
melancholy OCCASION
On the 20th The Cantinel reports
the funeral ''of the Father of His
Country and the Friend of Man. as
follows: "A multitude of persons for
many miles around assembled at
Mount Vernon, the choice abode and
last residence Of the illustrious chief.
There were the groves, the spacious
avenues, the beautiful and sublime
scenes. the noble mansion; but, alas
the august inhabitant was now no
more. The great soul was gone. His
mortal part was there indeed but, sd /!
how affecting how awful the specta-
Gle Of such worth and greatness thus
10 mortal eyes fallen Yes, fallen |!
fallen In the long and lofty portico
where oft tt hero walked in all his
glory, now lay the shrouded
corpse. The countenance, still COM
posed and serene, seemed to express
the dis entity of the spirit which lately
dwelt IN that lifeless form. There
those who paid the last sad honors to
the benefactor Of his country took an
impressive and farewell view"
After reporting the funeral cere-
menles, The CentiEel concludes
The sun was now setting. Alas! the
sun of glory was set forever. No, the
name of Washington, the American
president and general, will triumph
over death-the unclouded bright
ness Of his glory will illuminate flu.