The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-02-19

US,u
Q!gg@AD was written by Tobias Lear, who
was his private secretary and intimate COM
panion for many years. This account,
which was the only one written, has been
preserved, and as it has been garbled and dis
torted in the biographies of Washington it
is herewith presented as matter of brief
ness, however, minor details will be sum-
married. Mr.. Lear dates his account
Mount Vernon, Saturday, December II,
1799," 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. shall
give particular statement of it, to which I
was an eye witness.
"On Thursday, December IL, 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-rain, hail and snow falling alter
nately with cold wind. When he came in
carried some letters to him to frank, in
tending to send them to the post office in the
evening He franked the letters, but said
the weather was too bad to send servant
to the office. l observed to him that | was
afraid he had got wet. He said no; his great
coat had kept him dry. But his neck
appeared to be wet and the snow was hang
ing upon his hair. He came to dinner
(Which had been waiting for him) without
changing his dress. In the evening he ap-
peared as we'll as usual.
Friday, December 13, 1899. A heavy
fall of snow took place on Friday which
prevented the general from riding out as
usual. He had taken cold, undoubtedly,
from being so much exposed the day before,
and complained of sore throat. He, how
ever, went out in the afternoon into the
ground between the house and river to mark
some trees which were to be cut down for
the improvement of the spot. He had a
hoarseness which increased in the evening,
but he made light of it.
Saturday, December II, 1899, 2:30
a. m. Between two and three o'clock Satur
day morning he awoke Mrs. Washington
and told her he was very unwell and had
had an ague. She observed 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 appeared
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 i'll, as before
stated. l found the general breathing with
difficulty, and hardly able to utter word
intelligibly He desired Mr.. Rawlins Zone
of the overseers) might be sent for to bleed
him before the doctor arrive. l dispatched
a servant Immediately for Rawlins and an
other 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 swallow a drop.
Rawlins came in soon after sunrise and pre-
pared to bleed him. When the arm was
ready the general, observing that Rawlins
appeared to be agitated, said, as well as he
could speak, Don't be afaid.' And when
the incision was made he observed, The
orifce is not large enough However the
blood ran pretty freely. Mrs. Washington,
not knowing whether bleeding was
proper or not in the generals situation,
begged that much might not be taken from
him, lest it should be injurious, and desired
me to stop it; but when l was about to un-
tie the string the general put up his hand to
prevent it, and, as soon as he could speak,
said, More, more Mrs. Washington be-
ing still very uneasy lest too much blood
should be taken, it was stopped after taking
about half pint. Finding that no relief
was obtained from bleeding, and that moth
ing would go down the throat, I proposed
bathing it externally with sal volatile, which
was done, and in the operation, which was