The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-08
2732-Sea- with-wind.
2733--Iard, draw.
AT wAsHlNeToN,s pEATH-REp.
The Last Hours Of the Old Hero Describe
by an ye.Witness.

The Last Hours of the Old Hero Described
by an Eyewitness.
The following circumstantial account of the
last illness and death of Gen. George Washing.
ton was noted by Tobias Lear on the Sunday
following his death, which happened On Satur-
day evening, Dec. IA, 1899, between the hours
OF 10 and Il:
con Thursday, Dec u, the general rode out
to his farms at about 10 o'clock. and did not re-
turn home till past g. 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 postot-
fee. He franked the letters, but said the
weather was too bad to send a servant to the
Office that evening.
~ observed to him that was afraid he had
got wet. He said no, his great coat had kept
him dry. But his neck appeared 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 rs usual. heavy
fall of snow took place Oh Friday, which pre-
vented the general from riding out as usual.
He had taken cold undoubtedly from being so
much exposed the day before, and complained
of having a sore throat; he had hOarseness
which increased in the evening, but he made
light of it. as he would never take anything to
carry of cold, always observing, Let it go as
il came In the evening, the papers having
come from the postOfiice, he sat In the room
with Mrs. Washington and myself reading them
till about o'clock, and when he met with any
thing which he thought dlverting or interesting
he would read il aloud. He desired me TO read
TO him the debates of the Virginia assembly on
the election of a senator and 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 remarkably
cheerful all the evening.
about or 8 o'clock on Saturday morning
he md inf cd har
that he was very unwell and had an ague. She
observed that he could scarcely speak and
breathed with difficulty, and she wished to get
up and call a servant, but the general 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 10 bleeding the people, might be
sent for to bleed him before the doctor could
arrive. was sent for and went to the gener-
aPs chamber, where Mrs Washington was up
and related TO me his being taken i'll between 2
and o'clock, as before stated
81 found him breathing with difficulty and
hardly able to utter n word intelligibly. / went
out instantly and wrote line to DIR. Flask and
sent it with all speed Immediately l returned
to the generals chamber, where / found him in
the same situation | had left him. A mixture
of mOlasses, vinegar and butter was prepared,
but he could not swallow drop. Whenever
he attempted il he was distressed, convulsed
and almost sutfocated. Mr.. Rawlins came in
soon after sunrise and prepared to bleed him.
When the arm was ready the general, observing
that Rawlins appeared agitated, said with diff
Guilty, Don't be afraid and after the incisiOn
was made he observed the orifce was not large
enough. However, the blood ran pretty freely,
Mrs. Washington, not knowing whether bleed
ing 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 as 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 obtained from bleeding and
nothing could be swallowed, | proposed bath
ing 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 relief. By Mrs.
WashingtOn's request dispatched messenger
for Dr. Brown at Port Tobacco. About 9
o'clock DIR. Craik arrived and put blister of
cantharides on the throat of the general and
took more blood, and had some vinegar and hot
water set in a teapot for him to draw in the
fumes from the nozzle. He also had tea and
vinegar mixed and used as a gargle. but when
he held back his head TO let il run down it al
most produced sutfocation. When the mixture
came out of his mouth some phlegm followed
it, and he would attempt TO cough, which the
doctor encouraged, but without effect About
IL o'clock Dr. Dick was sent for. DIR. Craik
bled the general again; no effect was produced
and he continued in the same state unable 70
swallow anything. DR.. Dick came in about 8
O'Clock and DR.. Brown arrived soon after, when,
after consultation, the general was bled again !;
the blood ran slowly, appeared very thick, and
did not produce any symptoms of fainting.
"At o'clock the general could swallow lit