The Ordway new era., 1919-02-14

lx.sAEsl last days of George Wash
ington. first president of
the United States. was writ
q ten by Tobias Lear, who
OA was his private secretary
and intimate companion for many
years. This account. which was the
only one written. has been preserved.
and as 1t has been garbled and dis
torted in the biographies of Washing
ton 1t Is herewith presented as mat
ter Of historical reference. For the
| sake of briefress, however. minor de-
| tails will be summarized. Mr.. Lear
dates his account Mount Vernon, Sat
| urday, December II, 1709." and he
| wrote as follows:
This day has been marked by an
| event which will be memorable in the
history of America. and perhaps of the
world. 1 shall give n particular state
ment of II, to which l was an eyewit-
ness.
"On Thursday, December 10, the gen
eral rode out to his farm about ten
O'Clock and did not return home until
past three. Soon after he went out
the weather became very bad-raln,
hail and snow falling alternately, with
n cold wind. When he came in car
| ried some letters to him to frank In
tending to send them to the post office
In the evening. He franked the let
ters, but said the weather was too bad
to send servant to the office. OBJ
served to him that was afraid he had
got wet. He said no; his greatcoat
had kept him dry. But his neck ap-
peared to be wet and the snow was
hanging upon his hair. He came to
dinner (Which had been waiting for
him) without changing his dress. In
the evening he appeared as well as
usual.
Friday, December 13. 1899. A heavy
fall of snow took place on Friday.
which prevented the general from rid
ing out as usual. He had taken cold.
undoubtedly, from being so much ex-
posed the day before, and complained
of sore throat. He, however, went
out In the afternoon into the ground
between the house and river to mark
some trees which We're to be cut down
for the Improvement of the spot. He
had hoarseness. which increased In
the evening. but he made light of 1t.
Became III In Night.
Saturday, December IA. 1793, 2 80
a. IN. Between two and three o'clock
Saturday morning he awoke Mrs.
Washington and told her he was very
unwell and had had an ague. She OBJ
served that he could scarcely speak,
and breathed with difficulty, and would
have got up to call servant, but he
would not permit her lest she should
take cold. AS soon as the day ap-
peared the woman (Caroline) went into
the room to make fire. and Mrs.
| Washington sent her Immediately to
call me. l got up, put on my clothes
as quickly as possible and went to his
chamber Mrs. Washington was then
up, and related to me his being III. as
before stated. 1 found the general
breathing with difficulty. and hardly
| able to utter word intelligibly. He
desired Mr.. Rnwlins Gone of the over
| seers) might be sent for to bleed him
before the doctor could arrive. l dis
patched servant Immediately for
Rawlins and another for Doctor Craik,
and returned again to the generals
chamber.
"a mixture of molasses, vinegar and
butter was prepared to try its effects
| on the throat. but he could not swal-
low drop. Rawlins came In soon
after sunrise and prepared to bleed
him. When the arm was ready the
general, observing that Rawlins ap-
peared to be agitated. said, as well
as he could speak, Don't be afraid
And when the incislon was made he
observed, The orifice is not large
enough However. the blood ran pret-
ty freely. Mrs. Washington, not know
Ing whether bleeding was proper or
not In the generals situation. begged
that much might not be taken from
him, lest 1t should be Injurious, and
desired me to stop 1t; but when l was
about to unite the string the general