The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-07
DIED \ CENTURY AGO
This VIII be Said of Washing
ton Next Thursday.
H0N0RS WILL BE PAID HIM
News of His Death Spread
Slowly in 1899.
H0N0RS WILL BE PAID HIM

Chicago, Ill, Dec. 4.-Scores Of patriotic
societies throughout the country are pre-
pairing to commemorate, on Thursday.
Dec. IA, the centenary of Washington S
death. This widespread remembrance of
the anniversary of a great mans career
ts'piShes a snIaue sac acle in the long
lines of celebrations with which the cen
fury has been filed. A birthday is US
ually the time selected to honor the life
and deeds of a worthy citizen and, in
the case of Washington, that has been
done ever since 1888; but now, as the
hundredth anniversary of his death is
approaching it has seemed good TO rec
ognize that event by appropriate servic-
es, which, in some respects, will be char
acteristic of the closing days of 1899.
The news of the first Presidents Illness
was not learned on the following morn
ing throughout the length and breadth
OF the sixteen states which then COM
prised the union. News Travelled slowly,
the roads were none too good, even in
the best parts of the country Philadel-
phia. the seat of the national govern
ment, where the Sixteenth Congress had
just assembled did not hear the news I'M
til Tuesday evening, Dec. II, when a
traveller from Baltimore who had passed
through Alexandria two days before,
brought the intelligence.
The Alexandria Times was the first
newspaper to print the announcement of
the sad event, contained in the following
simple paragraph on Monday morning,
Dec. 16:
1T is our painful duty first to an
nounce to our country and to the world
the death Of General George Washington
This mournful event occurred last Sat
urday evening about II o'clock. On the
previous night he was attacked with a
violent infammatory affection in his
throat, which, in less than twenty-four
hours, put period to his life"
The New York newspapers did not get
the news until Dec. 10, and it was CUR
days later before the Boston papers ap-
peared with borders of black around
their columns. One of the New York pa
pers published an extract from a letter
received by a subscriber from a friend in
Alexandria, written on Sunday, Dec 15
saying:
This is a day OF mourning to us, and
will be so to the United States when the
cause is known. General Washington is
no more. He died last night about Il
o'clock"
Most of the towns in Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine did not learn The
tidings until after Christmas, and, in
deed, is was well into the new year be-
fore all the inhabitants went into mourn
ing for Washington. Political hatred,
from which Washington had by no
means escaped was quelled Those an
ti-Federalist papers that two years be-
fore when Washington retired from the
Presidency, poured forth walls of wrath
upon his administration, now appeared
with black borders and expressions of
eulogy and sorrow.
Benjamin Franklin Bache's Philadel-
phia Aurora which was famous for its
hatred of the Federalists. had said on
March 6. 1891 IF ever there was per-
Tod for rejoicing this is the moment Ev-
cry heart in unison with the freedom |
and happiness of the people ought to beat |
high with exultation that the name OF |
ceases from this day to |
give currency to a political iniquity and |
to legalize corruption
On Dec. 10, 1893. the same paper gave /
utterance to the following expression, |
more good toward Washington |
than had ever before been pointed in its |
columns:
Communicated of the American
armies during the revolution caused by |
the tyranny of Great Britain. In this
distinguished character his name will live
II the latest posterity among the great
est men who have Ornamented history
by the support of liberty and their coun-
try against tyranny. As we can offer no
higher eulogium to the memory of a
character elevated by fortune. talents
and the voice Of his country, to so high
a station among the benefactors of man
kind, we conine ourselves to that alone.
the principles for which
ne fought with so much honor to himself
and his fellow citizens and to the free
dom of his country and to the careful
and steadfast conservation Of those who
survive him"
On the morning Of Dec IS John MAJ
shall, then a member from Virginia. end
afterward Chief Justice Of the United !
States. announced the death Of Washing
.on in Congress and an adjournment was
Immediately tdke1. Tha resolutions
adopted by the Horse and the senate a
NV OF two later were q1iC'ly ioiiovoI
~ similar expressions OF so--ow from ev-
sry STATE in the 1niol AMI rom Scores
# military a d social organizations Thc
neu- ..ers Of the ',iac .11ti rcoiety wen
HrJ Z burning for * r-0a,as. Tie Senate
.her Der in Phi'i's ~, : was dared N
black. and Mrs. Adams Presidential le-
-aa MAS r0strora5 or,a vraat- Na-irs- I