Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
FELL WHILE SPEAKING
Mrs. J. H. GilIenwater Victim Of
Paralysis
DURING RECITAL OF POEM
Before Local Organizations Of Con-
federate Veterans
AT LEE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Was Telling Dramatic Story of
Mothers Loss-Meeting Comes
to an Abrupt End.
AT LEE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

While approaching the climax in her re-
cital Of a dramatic poem before a large
audience last evening in Confederate Vet
Grams Hail. Mrs. J. II. CLEARWATER of I6I3
street northwest was stricken with pa
rslyss. Col. John 7. CaIlaghan, who pre-
sided at the meeting caught her in his
arms. During her recitation no SUSPICION
OF anything wrong was aroused, although
she would hesitate and drop her head oc-
casionally as If to catch her breath for
she acted the story in realistic manner
before she grew deathly pale and fell. A
crowd which taxed the proportions of the
hall was gathered for the purpose of COM
memorating the valorous deeds and devo-
ton of Dixie's soldiers. The occasion
marked the celebration Of Gen. Robert Il.
Lees birthday anniversary, an event which
Is observed annually with fitting exercises.
A distinguished speaker had just concluded
his remarks and medals had been pre-
scented by the Daughters of the Confeder-
acy, when Mrs CLEARWATER mounted the
stage. She had been speaking but a few
minutes when she reeled and fell, and the
elaborate exercises which had been plan
ned were abruptly terminated.
physician who was seated in the front
part OF the hall hurried to the platform
and found Mrs. CLEARWATER suffering In
tense pain. An examination showed that
she had suffered paralytic stroke, and
her condition was pronounced serious. The
Emergency Hospital ambulance was sum-
moned and she was taken away from the
hall in an unconscious stupor. She was
afterward removed to her home, where
this morning her condition was said to be
serious owing to the fact that she had
only partially recovered from a recent ac-
cident which weakened her vitality.
Told Story of Her Friends.
Mrs. CLEARWATER is a member of the R.
E. Lee Chapter, Daughters of Confeder-
acy. and was scheduled to recite battle
poem of the south supposed to be based
on an actual occurrence. The principals
OF the drama were her personal friends.
The conflict which she described occurred
on the plantation of the family. The
poem told OF the ordeal of a mother and
sister who knew that the company to
which their son and brother belonged
was on the fighting line engaged in bat
tie The speaker was telling of the misery
and despair felt by two helpless women
who left their home together in search
of their loved one. Up to this moment
Mrs. Gillenwater's vivid portrayal of the
two women struggling TO find the lost
boy had produced no little nervous eX-
element In the audience Suddenly the
soldier was found on the battlefield. The
daughter cried in agony and fell dead
over the body of the soldier in gray. The
mother, alone and forsaken sent up a
prayerful appeal to God for mercy. The
mothers part was being acted by Mrs.
Gillenwater. Immediately before she col
lapsed persons in the audience noticed
that her voice was weak, and once or
twice she was seen to stagger. A gentle
man near the stage rushed up thinking
she was III, but she replied, Nothing is
wrong; | am acting" But her voice grew
constantly weaker, and becoming pale
she reeled backward and was caught in
the~arms of Mr.. Callaghan. "A delightful
program of speeches and music which
had been arranged had to be abandoned
Presentation of Crosses.
Representative John Sharp Williams,
minority leader of the national House of
Representatives. delivered the principal
address last evening. John T. Callaghan,
commander of the local Confederate Vet
Grams, presided and made short intro
ductory speech before introducing Mr..
Williams. The fact that Mr. Williams
would be present was responsible for an
outpouring of people. An interesting fea-
ture of the vening, besides the speech of
Mr.. Williams, was the presentation by
the Daughters of the Confederacy of
crosses or honor to thirty-two descend
ants of distinguished confederate SOL
dfers. Southern medals of honor were
also presented TO a number of confederate
veterans
Representative Williams assembled the
rostrum and spoke extemporaneousIy.
After a careful and logical discussion of
the causes which precipitated the struggle
between the north and south he launched
into a beautiful tribute to the southern
soldiers chivalric devotion and acclaimed
him a martyr in what he termed right
cause"
Causes Of War.
The speaker was not blind to the terrible
realities of the period which brought about
the clash between the states, but the tri-
bunal of war had settled these differences
and they were now in the buried past
Secession, he declared, was non-essential
The code of ethics, however, was essential.
The principals upon which the conflict was
based were elemental and fundamental
But he thanked God that the Union was
not severed. The white mans supremacy,
when questioned, was enough to stir the
hearts of every true southerner and fur
nished inspiration to fight for family
and home. Many wanted war and many
were opposed to it. But when the call to
arms was sounded and the troops were
marshaled to the firing line, they all stood
shoulder to shoulder in the roar Of cannon
and musketry and bravely confronted the
shot and shell of the enemy
Mr.. Williams declared that this southern
patriotism would never die. 1t would be
handed down from generation to genera
ton and children will be taught as long
as the south endures to revere these
cherished memories.
Mr.. Williams address was frequently ap-
plauded and he was tenoered a reception
before he left the hall