The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-22
HIS LAST MOMENTS.
Scenes at the Death Bed Of George
Washington.
Surgeons Bled Him Four Times Trying 10
Cure the Cold.

have had the privilege OF description
of the death OF Washington at first hand.
1t has always been at second, or third, or
fourth hand.
by the kindness of Mrs. Wilson Eyre,
granddaughter Of Col. Lear, the New
York Press has presented TO its readers
the very words OF the report that Wash
ington's secretary made in bis private
diary at the time.
On Thursday, December II, the general
rode out to his farm about 10 O'Clock. and
did not return home till past 5. Soon
after he went out the weather became very
bad-rain, hail and snow falling altern-
aiely, with a cold wind.
When he came in / carried some letters
to him TO frank, intending 10 send them
to the postoiiice in the evening. lie
franked the letters, but said the weather
was too bad 10 send a servant to the office
that evening.
i 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 and the snow was hanging
upon his hair
A heavy fall Of snow took place on Fri
day, which prevented the general from
riding out as usual. He had a hoarseness
which increased in the evening, but he
made light of 1t.
In the evening the papers were brought
from the postofiice, and he sat in the
parlor with Mrs. Washington and myself,
reading them till about 8 O'Clock, when
Mrs. w. went up into Mrs. Lewis room,
who was confined in childbed, and left
the general and myself reading he papers.
He was very cheerful, and when he
met with anything interesting or enter
tanning he read it aloud as well as his
hoarseness would permit him.
He requested me to read to him the de-
hat 81 he. .f,.fo Aaaa In
election of Senator and Governor; and
on hearing MIR. Madison's observations
suspecting Mr.. Monroe, he appeared
much affected, and spoke with some de-
gree of asperity on the subject, which 1
endeavored to moderate, as / always do
on such occasions.
Between and 3 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
difficulty, and would have got up to call
a servant, but he would not permit her
lest she should take cold.
AS soon as the day appeared the woman
(Caroline) went into the room 10 make a
fire, and Mrs. Washington sent her inn
mediately to call me-
i got up, put my clothes on as quickly
as possible, and went to his chamber.
Washington was then up, and related to
me his being taken Ill, as before stated.
He desired that Mr.. Rawlings Zone of
the overseers) might be sent for to bleed
him before the doctor could arrive. i dis
pate he'd a servant instantly for Rawlins.
and another for DIR. Craik, and returned
again to the generals chamber, where
found him in the same situation "a
bad left him. mixture Of molasses,
vinegar and butter was prepared to try
its effects on the throat, but he could not
swallow n drop; whenever he attempted
il he appeared TO De distressed, convulsed
and almost suffocated. Rawlings came in
soon after sunrise and prepared to bleed
him. When the arm was ready the gen.
eral, observing that Rawlings appeared
to be agitated, laid, as well as he could
speak, "Dont be afraid" and after the
incision was made he observed: "Ihe
orfce is not large enough"
However, the blood ran pretty freely
Mrs. Washington, not knowing whether
bleeding was proper or not i'm the gen.
erals 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- ito 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.
In the meantime, before DIR. Craik
arrived, Mr.. Washington desired me to
send for DIR. Brown of Port Tobacco,
whom DIR. Craik had recommended to be
called il any case should ever occur that
was seriously alarming. / dispatched a
messenger (Cyrus) Immediately for DR..
Brown between and 9 o'clock.
DIR. Craik came in soon after and upon
examining the general he put blister of
cant ntharides on the throat. took some
more blood from him, and had a gargle
of vinegar ana sage tea and ordered some
vinegar and hot water for him TO iphale
the steam, which he aid. But in at
tempting to use the gargle ne was almost
suffocated.
About IL o'clock DR.. Craik requested
that DIR. Dick might be sent for, MS he
feared DIR. Brown would not come in
time. A messenger was accordingly dis
patched for him. About this time the
general was bled again.
DR.. Dick came in about 3 O'Clock snd
DR.. Brown arrived soon after. Upon DIR.
Dicks geefng tho general and consulting
q few minutes with DIR. Craik he was bled
again. DIR. Brown came into the cham
ber soon after, and upon ing the gem
erals pulse, etc., the physicians went out
together.
About 43o o'cl6ck he desired me to call
Mrs. Washington to his bedside, when
he requested her to 60 down into his
room and take from his desk two wills
which she would find there and bring
them to him, which she did.
Upon looking at them he gave her one
which he observed was useless, as being
superseded by the other, and desired her
10 burn it, which she did, ard took the
other and put it into her closet.
After this was done ! returned to bis
bedside and took his hand. He said to
me:
"l find i am going; my breath cannot
last long. j believed from the first that
this disorder would p rove fatal. DO you
arrange and record all my late military
letters and papers. Arrange my accounts
and settle my books, Gs YOU know more
about them than any one else, and let Mr..
Rawlins finish recording my other letters
which he had begun
i told him that this should be done.
He chen asked me IL | rCcollected any
thing which IL was essential for him to
do, as he had but very sho-t time to
continue amongu us.
! told him ! could recollect nothing,
but that / hopes he was not so near his
end. He observed, smiling, that he cer-
tainly was, and that as IL was the ce't
Al - Al