Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-02
A HERDS LAST HOURS.
VIVID DESCRIPTION OF WASH.
INGToN's DEATHBED.
Catching Cold while Riding to His
Farm = The Doctors Could Not
Help Him-The Last Sad Scenes.

George Washington was noted by Tobias
Lear on the Sunday following his death.
which happened on Saturday evening,
Dec. IA, 1893, between the hours of 10
and IL:
On Thursday, December 10, the Gen
eral rode ont to his farms at about 10
o'clock and did not return home till past
4 B. Soon after he went out the weather
became very bad, rain, hail and snow
falling alternately, with a cold wind.
When he came in carried some letters
TO him TO frank, intending to send them
to the post-office. He franked the let
ters, but said the weather was too bad to
send q messenger to the office that even
ing.
observed to him that / was afraid he
had got wet; he said no, his great coat
had kept him dry. But his neck appear
ed to be wet the snow was hanging on
his hair. He came to dinner without
changing his dress. In the evening he
appeared as well as usual. A heavy fall
of snow took place Friday, which pre-
vented the General from riding out as
usual. He had taken cold, undoubtedly
from being so much exposed the day be-
fore, and complained of having a sore
throat; he had hoarseness, which in
creased in the evening, but he made
light of it, as he would never take any
thing to carry off a cold, always observ-
ing, "Let it go as it came" In the
evening, the papers having come from
the post-office, he sat in the room with
Mrs. Washington and myself reading
tba.,, All 81,
he met with anything he thought divert
ing or interesting he would read it aloud.
He desired me to read him the debates
of the Virginia Assembly on the election
of a Senator aud Governor, which did.
On his retiring to bed he appeared to be
in perfect health, except the cold, which
he considered as triting; he had been re-
marlSably cheerful all the evening.
About 2 or 3 o'clock on Saturday
morning he awoke Mrs. Washington
and informed her he was very unwel!
and had an ague. She observed that
he could scarcely speak and breathed
with difficulty, and she wished to get
up and call n servant, but the Gen
eral would not permit her lest she
should take cold. As soon as the day
appeared the woman, Caroline, went
into the room to make fire, and the
girl desired that Mr.. Rawlins, one of the
overseers, who was used to bleeding the
people, might be sent for to bleed him
before the doctor could arrive. WIS
sent for, and went to the Generals
chamber, where Mrs. Washington was
up and related to me his being taken i'll
between and 3 o'clock, rs before
stated.
/ found him breathing with difficulty,
and hardly able to utter word intelli-
gibly. ] went out instantly and wrote
line to DIR. Flask and sent it with all
speed. Immediately | returned to the
Generals chamber, where found him
in the same position [ had left him. A
mixture of molasses, vinegar and butter
was prepared, but he could not swallow
drop Whenever he attempted it he
was distressed, conyulsed and almost
suffocated. Mr.. Rawlins came in soon
after sunrise and prepared to bleed him.
When the arm was ready the General,
observing Rawlins appeared agitated,
said with difficulty, Don't be afraid,
and after the incision was made he OBJ
served the orifce was not large enough.
However, the blood ran rather freely.
Mrs. Washington, not knowing whether
bleeding was proper in the Generals
condition, begged that much might not
be taken from him, and desired me to
stop it. When was about to unite the
string the General put up his hand to
prevent it, and, soon as he could speak,
said, 'More.
Mrs. Washington, still uneasy lest too
much blood should be taken, it was
stopped after about half pint had been
taken. Finding that no relief was OBJ
tanned from bleeding and nothing could
be swallowed, proposed bathing the
throat externally with sal volatile, which
was done. A piece of flannel was then
put around his neck His feet were also
soaked in warm water, but it gave no re-
lief. 4. BY Mrs. Washington's request l
despatched a messenger for DR.. Brown,
at Port Tobacco. About . o'clock Dr.
Craik arrived and put blister OF can
tharides on the throat of the General,
and took more blood, and had some VIM
ecar and hot water set i'll teapot for
him to draw in the fumes from the noz-
zle. He also had tea and vinegar mixed
and used as gargle, but when he held
back his head to let it run down, 1T al
most produced suffocation. When the
mixture came out of his mouth some
phlegm followed it, and he would at /
tempt to cough, which the doctor en-
couraged, but without effect About II |
o'clock Dir. Dick was sent for. DR. Crnlk
bled the General again; no effect was
produced, and he continued in the same
state. unable to swallow anything. Dr.
Dick came in about 3 o'clock and Dr.
Brown arrived soon after, when, after
the General was bled /
again; the blood ran slowly, appeared
very thick, and did not produce any
symptoms Of fainting.
AT 4 o'clock the General could swat !
low little. Calomel and tarter emetlc
were administered without effect. About
/. 30 o'clock he desired me to ask Mrs.
Washington to come to his bedside
when he desired her to so down TO ms 1
room and take from his desk two wills
,,l;,b sba ,vonl1 find there and DrlnS I