Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-04

confidential relations with both Secretaries
Benjamin and Hunter. Toward the close Of
the war Col. Washington was acting as
Sistant secretary of state of the confed-
eracy. The intimacy established during
this period by Col. Washington with lead
ing southern men was continued through
out his life, and his correspondence with
prominent men was of the most confiden-
tial nature.
His Services as Correspondent.
After the close of the war he returned
to this city. and during the balance of his
lifetime acted as correspondent for news
papers, chiefly of the south, and wrote ex-
tensvey on political matters. He wrote
life of Hunter, under whom he had
served in the state department of the con-
federacy. He entered the press gallery in
1869 writer for the National Inteiligencer
and correspondent for the London Tele-
graph, the latter connection being retained
during many years. For some years he
was correspondent of the New Orleans
Picayune and other newspapers of the
south.
Colonel Washington never married, and
for fifty-five years had lived at the home
of his brother-in-Iaw, DR.. Warwick Evans,
with the exception of the war period, dur
ing which he was absent in the south. His
bachelor apartments were filled with rare
books and he spent much of his time read
ing them. His knowledge of southern his
tory from early colonial times was very
complete and exact. In past years he fire.
quently entertained some of the most dis
tinguiShed statesmen of the country at
his table, and his hospitality, while always
simple in its nature, was greatly enjoyed
by his friends. His wide store of general
information and his ready memory made
him extremely entertaining converse
tionalist.
In-Health Cause Of Retirement.
During recent years Colonel Washington's
failing health made it necessary that he
should give up the work of an active cor
respondent and a year and a half ago he
was confined to his room, and except to
go out riding a ,uple of times, he has
been in his home ever since. His last Ill
ness had confined him to his bed for five
months He was conscious to the moment
of his death. During the last week he had
been preparing for the end and had de-
stroyed la.ge quantities of his private pa
pers. This included correspondence he had
had during many years, together with his
personal journal. the latter being burned by
him few hours before he died. Shortly
before the end came he spoke to his niece,
saying he knew he would die just his
mother had died-that he would choke to
death Only a few minutes later he was
seized with convulsive choking and passed
away.
Perhaps no one could boast a larger cir
Gle Of friends than had Colonel Washing
ton A typical southerner in his manner
and language, he attracted men and formed
lasting friendships. His father. Mr.. Lund
Washington, ST., of Chotank King George
county, Va, was frequent visitor to
Mount Vernon, the home of his distin-
guished relative, and his mother was
known before her marriage as Sally john
son. She was the daughter of Captain John
Johnson of Worcester county, Md
Eastern Shore Planters.
Col Washingtons maternal ancestors
| were planters OF the Eastern Shore of
| Maryland and Virginia in the colonial pc
| Rod His father was a typical Virginian
OF the old school. was born in 1867 and was
named for his uncle. Mr.. Lund Washington,
| the neighbor. kinsman and confidential cor
| RESPONDENT Of George Washington for many
| years.
| All of the family were identified with the
| revolutionary cause. one of them, an uncle
| of Col. Washington. dying as prisoner In
| the British pest ship Jersey, at the age of
| seventeen years. rather than to take the
| oath of allegiance to the crown. Through
| his father. Col. Washington was related to
| the Mason family of Gunston, and the
| Stuart. Dade. Foote. Strother, Lund and
| Townshend families of Virginia.
| ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral have not
| yet been made.
| A meeting of Washington correspondents
| will be held tomorrow morning at II o'clock
| at the Baltimore Sun bureau f street be-
| tween 18th and 14th streets, for the pur-
| pose of taking appropriate action with ref
| erence to the death of Col Washington.