The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-10
WAsHINGTON's FUNERAL.
The Account of Tobias Lear, Wash
ingtOn's Secretary.

ingtOn's Secretary.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press
Probably the best account of Washing
tons funeral is contained in the diary of
Tobias Lear, Washngtons faithful sec
rotary. although the newspaper accounts
published from a week to a month after
the mournful event are similar. Some OF
the accounts run more to lament and POM
pous expressions of regret than to a newsY
description of the event Probably the best
of these newspapers articles is that which
is now displayed hanging on the wall of
the room in the mansion in which WASH
ington died. II was printed in the Con
tIeetleut Journal of the date of Jan. 2
1900, only nineteen days after the funeral
Here is one paragraph from this article,
which, by the way, appears under lNe sin
gle headline of washington Entombed.
1t is dated Georgetown, Dec. 20:
ION Wednesday last the mortal part of
Washington the Gteat-Father of his Coun-
try and the friend of man, was consigned
to the tomb with solemn honors and tuner
al pomp. A multitude of persons assem-
bled for many miles around Mount Yer
non. the choice abode and last residence
of the illustrous chief. There were the
grovcs-the sDecious avenues the beauti-
fur ana sublime scenes, the noble man
sion-but, alas! the august inhabitant gone
His mortal part was there, indeed; but an!
how affecting! How awful The spectacle OF
such worth and greatness thus TO morla-
eyes fallen-Yes, fallen! fallen"
Tobias Lear in his loving tributes TO MS
master. ana who so faithfully recorded the
minutest details connected with Washing
toms last illness and death, relates that
the funeral had been set for y o'c.ock,
but as a great part of the troops did not
get down from Alexandria in time, IT d!d
not occur until three. The country people
began 70 assemble as early as il CLOCK
and there Is no reason 10 suppose lhat the
gathering differed greatly from The run
eral Of some well-known man in taT-ofi
rural community in the present day
Eleven pieces of artillery were used m
the demonstration, and the schooner r.
r.. Hamilton. which lay off Mount Yer
non fred minute guns during the cere-
monv. The funeral services We're con-
Quoted under Masonic auspices, and the
ritual Of the order was read at the vault.
Rev. Mr.. Davis Of Christ Church. AleNan-
dria, read the Episcopal burial service
ana made an eXtemDoraneous address.
George Washington's body was orlgl-
nally Inferred in the Old family vault,
hill. scarcely $50 yards away from the
mansion 1t was his request, however,
that another family tomb be built after
mis- decease, and he picked out The spot,
which lies 10 the south and west of the
grounds and buildings, and about 200
yards back from the brow of the river hill
ard from the old vault.
The new vault WAS not built and occu-
pied until 1881. It's construction is said 10
have been compelled by the fact that the
old tomb fell into such condition that
discharged servant, as an act of revenge,
broke into it in 1850 and stole from it a
skull, which he supposed was tina, of
George Washington He took his grew
some prize TO Alexandria, where he got
drunk and told the story. The skull prov
ed to be that Of Lawrence Washington,
and was returned to the tomb
The new family vault is filled with the
remains of the Washington family. Those
of George and Martha Washington are not
placed in the regular vault, but lie in
marble sarcophagi in front of the vault
and just within the iron railing that fences
off the tomb from the public.