Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-02-18
How How General Gene ~ .-.., /.
WASHINGTON Died

washington Dle0
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Story of His Last Days Told by His Sec.
rotary. Suocumbed to a Cold Resulting
From Exposure in a Storm. Desired
That Physicians Let Him Die Quietly.
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@ EoRGE WASHINGTON died at
W Mount Vernon, Va, on the night
OF Dec. IA, 1893. His death followed
brief but painful illness of but two
days and was due to a cold which
he contracted by exposing himself to
| severe snowstorm on Dec. 10. Gen.
Washington had retired from the
Presidency giving place to John
Adams, two years and few days
more than ten months before. Though
actually engaged in the Improvement
Of his estate to the time of his death,
he was when he died commander of
the forces of the United States, with
the rank Of Lieutenant General, hav.
ing accepted that trust at the urgent
request of President Adams in the
preceding year in order to reorganize
the army in anticipation of war
with France. The cold which resulted
In Washington's death was contract
ed while he was riding over his es-
tate directing some of the improve
ments. A cold northeast storm, &C.
companied by snow and sleet, over
took him and continued for nearly six
hours. Throughout the greater part
of the storm Gen. Washington rode
about protected by only great coat.
When he returned to the house in the
afternoon, according to Col. Tobias
Lear, his secretary, he was wet and
considerable quantity of snow and ice
covered his hair. He developed
hoarseness that evening, but neverthe.
less read aloud to his family from the
papers that had that day arrived from
Philadelphia. He declined to take any
medicine for his cold, replying to Col.
Lear's request for him to do so by
saying: Let it go as 1t came" At
few minutes after o'clock the next
morning, which was Friday, Dec. 13,
he awakened Mrs. Washington and
told her that he had mad an ague. He
would not consent to calling medical
aid until daylight, when he was so ill
that he could hardly speak. DIR.
James Craick, of Alexandria, the fam
ily's physician, was hastily summoned
and arrived after the General had
been bled by one of his overseers by
the name of Rawlins. DR.. Craick
reached Mount Vernon shortly before
noon and at once summoned DR.. Eli
sha c. Dick, Of Alexandria, and Gus.
tavus Brown. of Port Tobacco. The
three physicians remained at Mount
Vernon with Gen. Washington until
his death. .,.I. 4.
The account of the events immedi-
ately attending Washingtoms death
was written by Col. Lear, and is as
follows:
About o'clock DR.. Dick came
again to the bedside. The General
said to him: Doctor, l die hard, but
/ am not afraid to go. believed from
my first attack that | should not sur
vive it. My breath cannot last long.
Between and o'clock DIR. Dick and
Dr. Brown came into the room and
went with DR.. Craick to the bed.
When DR.. Craick. asked him If he
could sit up in the bed, he held out
his hand and | raised him up. He
then said to the physicians: i feel my
self going; / thank you for your at
tentions, but l pray you to take no
more trouble about me. Let me go
off quietly; l cannot last long About
10 O'Clock he made several attempts
to speak to me before he could effect
it. At length lie said: 4 am just 60
ing. Have me decently buried, and
40 not let my body be put into the
vault in less than three days after
am dead l bowed assent, for could
not speak. He then looked at me
again ana said: Do you understand
me?' l rerlied Yes ''Tis well,' said
he"
These were Washingtons last
words, for he died few moments
later in an interval of easiness from
his pain, without struggle or
sigh" says Col. Lear
The burial took place at Noun. Yer.
non on Dec, 1S. Gen. Washington's
body was attended to it's resting place
in the old family vault by detach-
ment of cavalry, another of infantry,
a military guard of honor, and the
members Of a Masonic lodge to which
the General had belonged. Besides
there were his friends and relatives.
six colonels of the army. The Rev.
Thomas Davis rea,. the church SER
vices and the Masons also held their
services. Both ceremonies took place
at the vault, while from schooner at
anch0r nn tho pptnman p,innta pi,no