The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-29
HOW WASHINGTON died
Graphically and Faithfully Told by
His Secretary, Col.
Tobias Lear.
From Almost the First Moment OF
Sickness He Knew That His
Hour Had Come.
Upon Learning of His Death His
Wife Said Twas Well and
She Would Soon Follow.

w SA~ 0s~A>~ w
- She Would Soon Follow.
Only those who have access to the
diary of his secretary, Col. Tobias Lear
have had the privilege Of description OF
the death of Washington at first hand. II
has always been at second, or third, o.
fourth hand. But by the Kindness G!
Lear, the New York Sunday Press is ena-
nled to present to its readers the very
words of the report that Washington S
secretary made in his private diary at the
time. This IS getting close to that saa
bedside. 1t cannot but increase ones rev
erence for the splendid man who then
died to the world, but who yet lives in all
hearts, to read Col. Lear's records Of the
beginning and end of the sickness:
On Thursdey, Dec. II, the general rode
out to his farm about 10 o'clock, and did
not return home till past 3. 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, in
tending to send them to the postoffice N
the evening. He franked the letters, but
said the weather was TOO bad to send q
servant to the Office that evening. / OBJ
served 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
and the snow was hanging upon his hair.
He came to dinner, which had been wait
ing for him. without changing his dress.
In the evening he appeared as well as
usual.
A heavy fall of snow took place on Fri
riding out as usual. He had taken cold
Undoubtedly from being so much ex-
posed the day before) and complained of a
sore throat: he, however, went out in the
afternoon into the ground between the
house and the river to mark some trees
which were to be cut down in the i'm
provement Of that spot. He had a hoarse-
ness, which increased IN the evening, but
he made light OF 1t. In the evening the
papers were brought from the postoffice,
and -heAssR in the parlor, with Mrs. WASH
ington and myself, rea ding them till about
ao,clock, when Mrs. W. went up into Mrs.
Lewis room, who was confined IN child
bed, and left the general and myself read
Ing the papers. He was very cheerful.
and when he met with anything interest
ing or entertaining he read it aloud as
we'll as his hOarseness would permit him.
He requested me to read to him the de-
bates of the Virginia Assembly on the
election of a senator and a governor: and
on hearing Mr.. Madison's observations
suspecting Mr.. Monroe he appeared much
affected and spoke with some degree Of
asperity on the subject, which l endeav-
ored to moderate, as I always did on such
occasions. On his retiring I observed to
him that he had better take something to
remove his cold. He answered no, "You
know l never take anything from cold.
Let It go as 1t came"
Between 2 and 5 o'clock on Saturday
morning he awoke Mrs. Washington, and
told her he was very unwell. and had had
an ague. She observed that he could
scarcely speak. and breathed with difficult
ty, and would have got up to call a sery
ant, but he would not permit her lest she
should take cold. AS soon as the day
appeared the woman (Caroline> went into
the room to make a fire, and Mrs. Wash
ington sent her Immediately to call me-
I got up, put on my clothes as quickly as
possible, and went to his chamber. Wash
.ngton was then up. and related to me his
being taken i'll, as before stated. found
the general breathing with difficulty, and
hardly able to utter a word intelligibly.
He desired that Nh. Rawlings Zone of the
overseers) might be sent for to bleed him
before the doctor could arrive. I d.s-
patched a servant instantly for Rawlings,
md fo, Nv. IL ,,,l ,Sf, RI
again to the generals chamber. where I
found him I'm the same situation as | had
left him. A mixture of molarses, vine
gar. and butter was prepared to try its
effects on the throat; but he could not
swallow drop; whenever he attempted It
he appeared to be distressed. convulsed,
and almost suffocated. Rawlings came in
soon after sunrise and prepared to bleed
him. When the arm was ready the gen
elal observing that Rawlings appeared to
be agltated, said, as we'll as he could
speak, Don't be afraid and after the in
cision was made he observed: "The orr
fice is not large enough However, the
blood ran pretty freely. Mrs. Washing
ton. not knowing whether bleeding was
proper or not in the generals situation,
begged that much might not be taken
from him, lest it should be injurious, and
desired me to stop it: but when I was
about to unite the string. the general put
up his hand to prevent it, and as soon as
he could speak, said: More. more" Mrs.
Washington being still uneasy lest too
much blood should be taken, It was
stopped after taking about half pint.
Finding that no relief was obtained from
bleeding. and that nothing would go down
the throat, I proposed bathing it exter-
nally with salvolatila, which was done,,
and IN the operation, which was with the
hand, and in the gentlest manner. he OBJ
served: 'Tis very sore" piece Of
flannel dipped in salvolatila was put
around his neck and his feet bathed in
warm water. but without affording any
relief. ~.
In the meantime, before Dr. Craik ar
rived. Mrs. Washington desired me to
send for DR.. Brown, of Port Tobacco,
whom Dr.. Craik had recommended to be
called # any case should ever occur that
was seriously alarming Idis spatched a mes
senger Cyrus smmed diate.y for DR.. Brown
(bebWeen 5 and 8 o'clock). DR.. Craik
came II soon after and upon examining
the general he put blister of cantharides
en- the throat, took some more blood from
him, and had a gargle Of yinegaf and sage
eeEs alld ordered some yinegar and hot
Tor him 10 inhale the steam which