The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10
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great mans death was his most constant
attendant. TO Mr.. Lear poStel7ty ID In
debted for an accurate description at the
last illness Of Washington.
II was Thursday, December II, l700 that
the general mounted his horse and rode
started at 10 In the morning, . morning Of
sleet. snow and rain, and did not return
until In the afternoon. tired and soaked
with water. As dinner had besn waiting
his appearance for some moments, he went
to the table attired as he was The next
morning Washington awakened with =
sore throat. Snow was falling heavily, 10
he did not venture out Of doors until the
afternoon when he went into the yard to
marx some trees which were to be cut
down on the morrow. At about or 3
O'Clock Saturday morning he was attacked
by a severe aEue Mt and at daylight ply
scians were summoned, who bied him
ly all through the day. At liS0 IN the
afternoon he called his wife 10 his bed
side and told her where she would fnd
two Wills. one Of which she was to de-
stroy. the other to keep. request she
Immediately complied with.
story of the Secretary.
after this was DONE" says Mr. Lear.
II returned to his bedside and took his
hand He said to me: 4 And am goingi
my breath cannot last long. believed
from the first that the disorder would
prove fatal. DO you arrange and record
all my late military letters and papers.
Arrange my accounts and settle my books.
as you know more about them than any
one else, and let Mr. Rawlins finish re-
cordng my other letters which he has be-
gun told him this should be done. He
then asked X l could recolect anything
which IL was essential for him to do, as
he had but a very short time to continue
with us. told him that could recoliect
nothing which 1t was essential for him to
do. but hoped he was not so near his
end. He observed. smiling, that he GER
tainly was and that. as 1t was the debt
which we must all pay. he looked to the
event with perfect resignation.
"In the course of the afternoon he APP
peared to be In great pain and distress
from the difficulty of breathing, and fre-
uuently changed his posture In the bed.
On these occasions I lay upon the bed
and cndeavored to raise him and turn him
with as much ease as possible. He ap-
peared penetrated with gratitude for my
attentions and often said I am afraid I
shall fatigue you too much and upon my
assuring him that could feel nothing but
a wish to give him ease, he replied:
Well. 1t is debt We must pay to each
other. and I hope when you want aid Of
this kind you will find it.
Not Afraid TO GO.
"About s o'clock DR.. Craik came again
into the room, and upon going to the bed
side the general said to him: Doctor,
die hard but am not afraid to go. be-
Heved from my first attack that should
not survive 1t. My breath cannot last
long The doctor pressed his hand. but
could not utter a word. He retired from
the bedside and sat by the fire, absorbed
in grief.
Between and 9 o'clock DR.. Craik DR..
Dick and DR.. Brown came again into the
room and went to the bed, when DIR.
Craik asked him II he could sit UP In the
he'd He held out his hand and raised
him up. He then said to the physicians:
I feel myself going; thank you for your
attention but pray you to take no more
trouble about me. Let me 20 on quietly.
I cannot last long They found that all
which had been done was without effect,
He lay down again, and all retired except
DR.. Craik. He continued in the same sit
uation, uneasy and restless, but without
complaining. frequently asking what hour
1t was When helped him to move at
this time he did not speak. but looked at
me with strong expressions Of gratitude.
about o'clock the physicians came
again into the room and applied blisters
and cataplasms of wheat bran to his legs
and feet after which they went out, ex-
cept DR.. Craik, without a ray OF hope. I
went out about this time and wrote line
to Mr. Law and Mr.. Peter requesting
them to come with their wives CMrs
Washington's granddaughters) as soon as
possible to Mount Vernon
about 10 o'clock he made several at
tempts to speak to me before he could
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