Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-09
|ONLY living PERSON
WHO saw WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Stricker
by paralysis two weeks after his
eighty eighth birthday, John Lane
said to be the only living man VINO
has locked upon the face of George
Washington, first President of the
United States, is lying at the point
OF death at his home, 1916 p street
northwest.
Mr.. Lane was in the back yard OF
his home Wednesday morning wlen
he was stricken. His daughters
Miss NJ. L. Lane and Mrs. Clarence
Cullen, who were in the house at the
time, found their father IN critical
condition and hurriedly summoned
DR.. NJ F. Cuthbert OF 1862 Rhode Is.
land avenue.
1t was learned that Mr.. Lanes
right side was paralyzed. Only his
wonderful vitality and strength of
will are keeping him alive.
What is more remarkable than
anything else is the fact that this is
the first time in his Lightweight years
that Mr.. Lane is ever known to have
spent a day in bed because Of ILL.,
ness, or has ever been afflicted with
any sickness.
Several years ago he injured his
foot severely. but insisted upon dress
ing as usual andS sitting up in chair
although suffering excruciating pain
HIS daughters said he had rarely
been known to suffer even from a
headache, and that his attack We'd
nesday came as a great surprise to
themselves as we'll as to Mr.. Lane,
In Possession Of Senses.
He is in perfect possession of his
senses, except for occasional NOM
ents when his mind wanders, and yes
terday ,,.-Aed freely with his nurse,
telling her Of "reminiscences of Henry
Clay and other statesmen Of his time.
However, DR.. Cuthbert., his attend
ing physician, says there is little
hope for. his recovery on account Of
his age.
This morning he was able to rec.
ognize the members if his family and
smiled and chatted with them for a
short while.
Mr.. Lane, it is claimed, is the oalv
living man today who can remember
actually seeing the face Of George
Washington He has carried with
him a vivid recollection of the time.
1t happened in 1888, when the body
of General Washington was taken
from the old grave In Mount Vernon
and placed in the vault where it now
rests At the time Mr.. Lane was but
a boy and SO small he had to perch
himself up on the wagon seat before
he could look over the heads of the
crowds.
The Roman nose and striking feat
ures Of the face and the white hair
impressed him so that he never for
got the scene. On one side of the
face was dark blotch, he said,
caused by air penetrating through
the coffin.
During the civil war Mr.. Lane was
drafted into the Union army, but
purchased substitute, as he was
not in sympathy with the Union
cause, being native Virginian.
He was born in Richmond, Virgin
Ia, in 1923 but came of old New Eng
land ancestry. He came to this city
when six years old and at the time
of the war he owned flourishing
wholesale foreign fruit business
For many years. until his retirement
in 49, when he was crushed in the
great panic, he was one of the best
known business men in the city.
Was An Inveterate Smoker.
Mr.. Lane is eligible to almost ev'
eryery patriotic society of promt
hence in the country, but he has new
er Joined any During his lifetime in
the district he was familiar with
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C..
Calhoun and other prominent states.
men. and his recollections date as
far back as when he did snipe shoot.
ing in that part of the city where
Franklin Square is now situated.
Mr.. Lane. according to his daught-
eighty-eighth birthday December II
er, was an inveterate smoker and
took his toddy three times day u1.
til a short while ago, when he de-
cided to live up both. His health
was remarkable, and it is due to his
vitality that he has so far been able
to withstand the severe attack of
paralysis. Mr.. Lane celebrated his
last