Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-15

| ington. The cut made did not allow the
blood to escape with sufficient free
dom. Washington said, the orifice is
not large enough" Mrs. Washington
in fear lest too much blood should be
taken, urged Mr.. Lear to unite the
string which bound Washington arm.
but the old general held up his hand,
and said hoarsely: More, more,
more" Only about half a pint of
blood had been taken when the bleed
Ing was stopped at the urgent solici-
tation of Mrs. Washington
Hot Gnaments were then applied to
the throat and his feet placed in warm
water, but Washington still continued
In pain, and breathed with difficulty.
Hurrying from Alexandria at sunrise
DR.. Craik reached his iliustrious pa
tlent soon after 6 o'clock, and later in
the day came Dr. E. G. Dick, the health
officer of Alexandria, and DR.. Gustayus
t. Brown of Port Tobacco. BY their
advice, and in evident accordance with
Washlngton's desire, the lancet was
again put in requisition, and more
blood taken. Soon noon passed. and
the sun was already nearing it's setting
When, about 80 o'clock Ms. WISH
lngton was called to the bedside of her
husband, and he begged her to take
from the desk two papers. each marked
j will" and bring them to him. He
TOOK both in his hands, being evidently
IN great pain, but he looked at them,
and said of one of them: This is
useless; it has been superseded: burn
1t. He handed that paper to her and
! She put it into the open fire. and as il
curIed up in the flames she took the
other and placed it in her closet. Mr.
Lear IN a few moments came forward
and took the hand of his rat. on Wash
lngon said: Il find I am going; nv
breath cannot last long Do you ar
( range and record all my late military
letters and papers Arrange nv ac
counts and settle my book, as you
know more about them than any one
else; and let Mr.. Rawlins finish record
ing my other letters which he has be-
gun. Mr.. Lear replied this should be
attended to. Washington then said. in
choklng voice, DO you renemner
anything that ought now to be donee
nave only short time left to do it,
Mr.. Lear said he recollected nothing
but he hoped that the end was not so
! Thn
It's debt we have all to pay. and I
am content to pay it."
The difficulty in breathing continued
and his throat was evidently filling I'm
but seeing that the colOred servant in
the room had been on his feet a long,
time, he said: christopher. sit down -
Just about sunset he sad to Dr. Craik:
Doctor, [ die hard, but | am not
afraid to die. | believed from the first
that | should not survive it; my brea th
cannot last long Half an hour after
ward, as the other physicians gathered
around his bed, he said, hoarsely: Il
feel | am going. | thank you for your
attention, but please take no more trou-
BILE about me; cannot last long" When
the clock struck 10 in the evening he
attempted to speak. but his voice was
clogged and inaudible. At last, sum-
mOnlng, apparently, all his energies,
he said: Il am just going; have me
decently buried and do not let my body
be put in the vault in less than three
days after | am dead. Do you under
stand me?" Yes replied his attend
ants. and then in a clear voice came
the last words of Washington, "'Tis
well"
Shortly before II o'clock his counte-
mace changed, overspread wit the
death pallor. His right hand which
had been employed in feeling the pulls ;
of his left hand fell from his wrist Dr.
ICraik closed his eyes. rs he gomez"
said Mrs. Washington, from the foot of
the bed. DR.. Craik gave token of as
sent 'Tis WE'LL she said The
physicians returned to Alexandria, but
it was church time before the news
that Washington was dead became
generally known. The bells ceased 10
minutes and then began to toll, and
the tolling continued night and day
until Washington was buried When
one hand tired another took the rope
and the little town was filed with
sounds Of mourning
Funeral Services.
His relatives were summoned His
remains were inclosed in a coffin o.
lead, which was placed in an oper
casket and, in accordance with his
wish that his body should not bs
placed in the vault earlier than tire
days from the time of mis- death, the
afternoon of Wednesday, December e
was appointed for the funeral.
. early as IL o'clock in the morning III
assembling at Mount Vernon begar
The civic, military and Masonic ass