Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-02-19
v he following circumstantial
account of the last illness and
death Of General Washington

| account of the last illness and
death Of General Washington
was noted by Tobias Lear, his
miVau secretary, on the Sunday fol
loviDg his death, which happened on
Saturday, December IA, 1899, between
tbe hours of 10 and II, and is a very
rare and valuable record:
On Thursday, December II, the Cen
era1 rode out to his farms about 10
o'clock and Gid not return home tia
mast three O'Clock. Soon after he
went out the weather became very bad,
rain, hail and snow falling alternately,
with cold wind. When he came in
carried sGTne letters to him to frank.
intending TO send them to the post
office in the evening. He franked the
letters. f!l!t said the weather was too
bad to send a servant I'D to the office
that evening | observed to him that
was afraid he had gotten Wet, the
snow Was hanging on his hair He
came ID dinner without changing his
dress
Ahout , Or 3 O'clock on Saturday
morning. he aWoke Mrs. Washington
and told her lie was very unwell and
had III ague. She observed that he
could scarcely speak and breathed
with difficulty, and would have gotten
up to call servant. but he would not
permit her lest she should take cold.
As soon as the day appeared the
fN1rNIInT, inf
to make fire and he desired that Mr..
RaWlns, one OF his overseers, who
was used to bleeding the people, might
be sent for to bleed him before the
doctor could arrive. The woman Caro-
line caTI1e to my room, requesting that
might go to the General. who was
very Ill. got up, put on my clothes
as quickly as possible and went to his
chamDer. Mrs. Washington was then
up and related to me his being taken
Ill about or 3 o'clock. as before
stated. found him breathing with
dlflcuity and hardly able to utter a
Nord 1ntelliglbly. I went out instantly
aHd wrote q line to DR.. Craik, which
senf OF by my servant, ordering him
10 90 with all the swiftness his horsa
could carry him, and immediately re-
mrned to the Generals chamber.
"here found him in the same sit,la-
ton | had left him.
a mixture Of molasscs. vinegar and
outIer was prepared to try it's effect
Ill the throat. but he could not swallow
ofoD. Whenever he attempted it lie
appeared to be distressed, conyulsed
'nu alrnost suffOcated Mr.. Rawlins
caihe n soon after sunrise and pre-
pafed to bleed him. When the arm
was ready, the General, observing that
hawllns appeared to be agitated, said
as Wen as he could: Don't be afraid,
'Du after the incision was made he OBJ
sefFed: The orifice is not large
enougn However, the blood raj
pretty freely. Mrs. Washington, no
moving whether bleeding was prope
" not IN the Generals situation, begge,
.nat much might not be taken from
lih lest it should be injurious, an,
uesifed me to stop it, but when wa
aoout TO unite the string the Genera
PUT up Ills hand to prevent il. and a
sooh as he could speak he said: @sMore.
MRS. Washington being still uneas
.eSt TOO much blood should be. taker
II was stopped after about half "A pin
was taken from him.
hiding that no relief was Ol,taine
'lo'h Needing, and that nothing woul
90 down the throat. I DroD0Sed hail