The Ordway new era., 1919-02-14

bedside the general said to him. Doc
tor. / die hard. but / am not afraid to
go. l believed from my first attack
that l should not survive it. My breath
cannot last long The doctor pressed
his hand, but could not utter n word.
He retired from the bedside and sat
by the fire absorbed in grief.
&c p. m.-Doctor Dick and Doctor
Brown came into the room, and with
Doctor Craik went to his bed, when
Doctor Craill asked him If he could sit
up In bed. He held out his hand. and
| raised him up. He then said to the
physician, I feel myself going. thank
you for your attentions, but pray you
take no more trouble about me. Let
me go off quietly. / cannot last long,
They found that all which hdd been
done was without effect. He lay down
again, and all retired, except Doctor
Crnik.
Physicians Abandon Hope.
"S p. m.-About eight o'clock the
physicians came again into the room
and applied blisters and cataplasms
of wheat bran to his legs and feet,
after which they went out, except Doc
tor Craik. without ray of hope.
40 p. m.-About ten o'clock he
made several attempts to speak to
me before hescould effect 1t. At length
he said. I am just going. Have me
decently buried. and do not let my
body be put into the vault In less than
| three days after am dead.' / bowed
assent. for could not speak. He
then looked at me again and said, DO
you understand me?' l replied. Yes
''Tis well,' he said.
"About ten minutes before he ex-
pired (Which wns between ten and
eleven o'clock his breathing became
easier. He lay quietly; he withdrew
his hand from mine and felt his own
pulse. / saw his countenance change.
spoke to Doctor Craik, who sat by
the fire. He came to the bedside. The
generals hand fell from his wrist /
took 1t in mine and pressed 1t to my
bosom. Doctor Craik put his hands
over his eyes and he expired without
struggle or sigh.
while we were fixed in silent grief,
Mrs. Washington. who was sitting at
the foot of the bed. asked with firm
and collected voice: Is he gomez
could not speak, but held up my hand
as signal that he was no more ''Tis
well,' she said in the same voice. All
is over now. shall soon follow him.
| have no more trials to pass through
AT the. time of his decense Doctor
Crnik and myself were In the situation
above mentioned. Mrs. Washington
was sitting near the foot of the bed.
Christopher was standing near tho bed
side. Caroline. Molly and Charlotte
(servants) were In the room. standing
near the door.
At the time of Washington's death
congress was In session In Philadel-
phia. When the news was received
both houses Immediately adjourned. A
Joint committee of the two houses was
appointed. which reported resolutions
recommending that a marble monu-
ment should be erected to commemo-
rate the great events in the military
and political life of Washington that
an Grafton suited to the occasion
should be pronounced in the presence
of both houses of congress; that the
people of the United States should
wear crepe on the left arm 80 days
as badge of mourning. and that the
president, in the name of congress-.
should be requested to write letter
of coincidence to Mrs. Washington.
From thnt time the American people
have honored the father of their coun-
try on his birthday 20 demonstrate by
speech and act their appreciation of
his virtues and to reaffirm the eternal
principles of liberty and democracy, Of
which he was the folemost Champion