Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01
FORMER PRESIDENTS.
Circumstances Under which They Have
Died, from Washington to Grant.

FORMER PRESIDENTS.
Circumstances Under which They Have
Died, from Washington TO Grant.
From the Baltimore Sun.
IN view Of the peculiar circumstances OF Gen.
Grants last illness, the following facts in rela-
ton to the deaths Of former Presidents will no
doubt be found to be of general interest:
"Gen. Washington, the first President, took
cold during nve hours ride over his planta-
ton on the 18th of December, 1899 during the
last two hours Of which he was exposed to q
severe storm Of snow, hail and rain. The cold
developed itself next evening, when he was
very hoarse, but ne made light Of 1t. 81 never
"a ssk IS anything for cold" he said; "let it GO
AZ physician lest the latter should take cold.
Mnen Washington's secretary was called at
dicrItx ne found him breathing with
meanwhile he was bled and q gargle was pre-
pared, but on attempting to use it he was con-
ava avail and at $50 pm he sent his wife for his
Two tv',s. Wills, had her destroy one and en-
trusted the other to her keeping, giving her
instructions as to his letters, papers and &C
counts; Between five and six, when assisted to
going thank you Sf for py your attentions, but
pray you to take no more trouble about me:
1st me go of quietly-I cannot last long,
In the evening. About TO-" writes his
secretary, The made several attempts to
spe sen,, to IL me . before he could effect it
decently buried, and do not let my body be put
mo the vault In less than three days after am
He then looked at me again and said: 30 you
nnderstand me?' I replied: Yes ''Tis WE'LL
sald ne. About ten minutes before he expired.
breathing became easier. He lay quietly; he
Withdrew his hand from mine and felt his own
to DR.: Craik, who came TO the bedside. The
generals hand fell from his wrist; took it
IN mine and pressed it to my bosom. DIR.
Craik put his hands over his eyes, and he ex-
pred without q struggle or . sigh" The body
was buried on the 18th, schooner being sta
t tioned on Alexandria to fire minuteguns while
the procession moved from the house to the
vault. The troops, horse and foot, led the way;
then came four of the clergy; then Washing
IONS horse, with his saddle, holsters and PTS
tolls, led by two grooms in black; then the body,
borne by the Masonic order (of which he was a
membero and officers, followed by the family
Alexandria. At the tomb the Rev. Mr.. Davis
read the funeral service and delivered a brief
address, aS after which the body was deposited in
the vault with Masonic ceremonies. Washing
TONS remains were deposited i'm their present
receptacle at Mount Vernon in 1887. The
visions of his will, and is of brick, with an
arched roof
JOHN ADAMS.
John Adams, the second President, died on
Independence. Adams at 81 preserved a re-
markable activity of mind. though his sight
was impaired SO that he could neither read nor
write: By April. 1926, it was evident that he
Mas Mas falling hdngsa though his neghbors in Quincy
attend the local 4th of July celebration. When,
however, it became apparent that he could not
attend In person, delegate was appointed to
VISIT MIN and beg last word or cheerful mes
sage. On June Both the delegate called on Mr.
ADAMS ana spent some few minutes with him
be presented on the 4th of July as coming from
him him" "l will give you," said he, Independ-
banquet, but as the guests left the hall news
came Of the death of its author. He had passed
away calmly ana without suffering at the sun
SET OF that brilliant and memorable day
Thomas Jefferson, still survives were the last
words he uttered. so far as could be gathered
the family vault in the cemetery, but upon the
completion of the Unitarian church of Quincy
In 1923, the body was removed from the vault
into the room beneath the church, where John
Quincy Adams was also buried in 1913. Their
wives are buried with them. The bodies lie in
!eaden baskets, placed in cases hewn from solid
blocks of stone.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declare
ton of Independence and the third President
died only few hours before John Adams On
the third of July he dozed hour after hour
under the influence of opiates. Rousing occa-
Si0na ny, ne lerventiy expressed desire to live
years before. At II o'clock ut night he whis
Pered to Mr.. n; P: Trist, his grandchild's nus
Mr irist remained Silent, being ; Unwilling I1t to
say mot YETI! This Is the Fourth" again
wnsRerea & en ss and when the watcher
with an expression of satisfaction upon his
countenance. His watchers thought him dying,
casionally indicating a desire by words or looks.
II resign my soul to God and my daughter to
my my country" isa popular version of his latest
book Jefferson wrote this: "Choose some un-
frequented vale in the park, where is no sound
to break the stiffness but brook that. bah
bling, winds among the wOods-no mark of
human shape that has been there unless the
skeleton of some poor wretch who sought that
place out to despair and die in. Let it be among
ancient and venerable oaks; intersperse some
gloomy evergreens. Appropriate one-half to the
use Of my family. the other to strangers SER
distant part of the Blue mountains" His
wishes have been we'll carried out His remains
lie H. f little insiosure to the right of road
An obel1sk nine feet high marks the spot.
.,,, JAMES MADISON.
James Madison, the fourth President and the
last survivor OF the signers of the United States
Constitution, died June %, 1885. During his
last illness, when the family and doctor were at
joining chamber: sDoctor, are YOU pushing
must mus cashier YOU" He is buried at Montpelier,
grave is in the center of a large field, in a lot
about one hundred feet square, surrounded by
s brick K wall On the gate is sign: Madison,
rises mound twenty feet high. A granite ODE
lisk bears the inscription: Madison. Born
March Is, 1851" By its side is a smaller shaft
Of white marble, inscribed: SIN memory of
Dolly Payne. wife of James Madison, born May
%, 1853; died July 8, 1S49."
JAMES MONROE.
James Monroe, the fifth President and the
third to die on Independence Day, died July 4,
1884. He passed away in New York city, at
the residence of his son-in-law, Samuel L. Cow.
erneur. His remains were deposited with pub
lie hon ors in the Marble cemetery on I'd street.
In New York, where they reposed until 1858,
when they were removed, under the escort OF
the 9TH regiment: to Hollywood cemetery. at
Richmond. Va. The remains rest on a beauti-
full site overlooking the James river falls above
Richmond, five feet under ground, in q vault of
bricks and granite.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
John Quincy Adams, the sixth President.
and 'the old man eloquent" was found by
death where he could have wished its an
proach-in the halls of Congress-. On February