Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-02-22
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The Death of Washington.

''Washin9ton is dead" were the
appalling words which with the fading
of the 18th century brought home TO
every Amarican heart the solemn les
son of lfe-that all men are mortal. -
On Thursday, Dec. II, 1893. George
Washington spent seven hours out IN
sun shower examining his farms
On Friday he surveyed the ground be
tween his house and the beautiful Po
tomac, and marked some trees that he
wished cut down. That night he awoke
his wife, with the remark, 81 have an
ague." He refused to allow his wife
to get up for fear she would take a
cold; but on the morning of December
IA, he ordered the family to send for
DR.. Craik and asked Rawlins, one OF
his overseers, to bleed him. Rawlins'
hand trembled as he undertook the
task, but the General said, Don't be
afraid" and when the flow of blood
alarmed his wife, SO she begged it 10
be stopped, the General exclaimed,
more, more"
When the doctor arrived he did all
IN his power to relieve the soreness at
the Generals throat and to ease his
heavy and labored breathing. To an
old and truSty servant he remarked
very III. IL Wilt lie u,
go to my desk-in the drawer are two
private papers, bring them to me. -
This was done. lie said, "Thess are
my wills, keeps this one and burn the
other.'' During all the afternoon he
suffered greatly, but complained IN no
way. In the evening DIR. Craik and
Drs. Dick and Brown came into the
room. He raised his head and said 10
them, ~ feel myself going; | thank
you for your attention; but pray you
to take no more trouble about me. Let
me go off quietly, l cannot last long,
Late in the evening after 10 O'Clock he
SAID to Tobias Lear, his private secre-
tary, Il am just gong. Have me de.
Gently buried; and do not let anybody
he put into the vault in less than three
days after 1 am dead.' Mr.. Lear
bowed his head and wept. Washing
ton asked HIM, "Do you understand
me7''
YES" replied Mr.. Lear.
"'Tis WELL" replied Washington;
the last words he uttered on earth. His
grief stricken wife exclaimed when he
died, ''All IS now over; l shall soou
follow him; 1 have no more trials tC
pass through"
His sudden death fell like a domes.
tic sorrow upon the hearts of the peo'
pie, lamentations and solemn obSequies
filled the land. Not only in his own
land but in every land his death pro.
duced the deepest emotion.
Napoleon announced his death to the
French army; announced that black
Grape should be suspended from al
French flags and standards for ten
days, and directed N. DeFontanes tC
pronounce funeral Grafton. Napoleon
| himself declared, 1.-The measure of Iii:
fame is full. Posterity will talk of hin
with reverence as the founder of q
great empire, when my name shall be
lost in the vortex of revolutions.
Lafayette said to Maria Antoinette,
Queen OF France, "He is greater thar
ali kings; Washington is the general OF
a free natlon.''
Lord ETskine wrote, 81 have large
acquaintance among the most exalted
classes of men; but you are the only
human being for whom l have ever
felt an awful reverence
In 1850 Frederick the Great, King
of Prussia, sent Washington his por-
trait with this inscriptions: From the
oldest general of Europe to the great
est general on earth"
And SO having been IN life "frst in
war, first in peace. and first in the
hearts of his couLtrymen, he became
in death,
"The first, the last the best,
The Cinclnnatus of the West"