Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-26
DIED OF DlPHTHERlA
Or. Walsh Says II Killed Washing
ton-Dr. Da Costa and His Memo
ries Of Samuel J. Randall.
The Retreat From
Germantown
BY GEORGE SOx MCCAIN


in the life Of the Father Of His Country are
more prone to be discussed.
| Washington's death has been variously
| aScribed to acute inflammation Of the larynI,
| o guinsy or tonSillitis.
DR.. Walsh tells me that Washington died
| Of diphtheria
The authority for this is the late DR..
William OSlcr, who. evidently had made
study OF the case from all available his
| torical evidence on the subject
In DR.. Oslcr's Practice Of Medicine, :"
seventh edition, 1909, that very eminent
authority briefly but emphatically says,
Washington died of diphtheria''
49, The one thing that impresscs me in the
life Of Washington" said DR.. Walsh, who
| is student Of Washingtonia, "is that he
| never fought back those who assiied him.
lie went right straight ahead attending to
the business in hand and ignoring his de-
tractors.
He had a great work on hand and he
knew 1t, and he apparently determined to
let no personal interests or affairs interfere. :"
DR. J. CHALMERS DA COSTA rcmcm-
- bers Samuel J. Randall with admiration
and affection.
A little incident in the lives of the two
men, one statesman, the other n young
chap just graduated from the University
had a controlling influence on the career Of
Or. Da Costa.
His recollcctions of the famous Pennsyl-
Randall.
Even in the Democratic party, upon whose
history he bestowed the lasting honor of his
name, he is but memory now.
!, And yet Samuel J. Randall was, possibly,
the greatest Democrat Pennsylvania ever
produced.
He was man Of stainless integrity and
hlgh purpose, and as courageous as q pan
ther at bay.
IN PERSONAL appearance Randall was a
l. triiic above the medium as to height He
was smooth shaved, Of full face, with mas
sivc jaw, heavy eyebrows, keen dark eyes
He was trihe careless as to dress and
when deeply in earnest upon any given sub
Ject spoke with what might be termed grim
determination.
lie entered Congress from the old Third
district poor man, and at the time of his
death, more than twenty five years after,
was but little better off than at the be-
ginning.
Senator J. C. s. Blackburn, Of Kentucky.
said:
The Lord never made man more honest
nor man more courageous. He never knew
me name OF fear. Though u broken orb
should fall, fearless he would stand amid
the ruin
', 1t cpitomized the political career of Sam
Randall.
TIE WAS too big man for his party.
IL In the. last few years of his life his
party drew away from him. The southern
Democrats objected to his strong tariff prn-
ciples. AT his death he stood practically
alone like the last massive column of
ruined temple.
His party never forgavc Randall and
nty-hvc other members who had been
elected as Democrats who fell in behind Con-
gressman William Mckinley and helped to
make vote Of 154 to 40 against going into
committee of the House to consider revenue
bills. which meant the tariff. 1t saved the
tariff bill of that day. for it was test vote
Many stories used to be told Of his indc-
pendencc of character. One Of the best was
when he was candidate for speaker.
y great western railway magnate called
on him and said:
mr. Randall, you want to be speaker.
1t Is in my power to elect whom ] please and
you know it.. II You will allow me to name
majority Of tho Pacific Railroad committee
you shall be the man. Will you do it?'
No. was the quick reply; "Ill see you
''Is that your last word?"
Then you shall not be the speaker"
But Randall fooled him. lie became
speaker.
ENRANClS c. COLLINS. Of Conshohocken.
J. tells me that in n recent paragranh in
| this column there was an error Of one word
| which rendered my statement historically
| incorrect.
1t was about the retreat Of Washington's
army to PCnnypackcr's Mills on the Perkio.
! mon after the battle Of Germantown.
Mr.. Collins suggests that If the battle Of
| the Rrandywine were inserted instead of that
Of Germantown it would cover the inaccuracy
| of the statement.
Following the battle o! tho Rrandywino.
| Mr. Collins says. the Continental army re-
! treated to Phladrphia, crossing the Schuyl-
| Kill at East Falls and then marching ND to
! Watson s ford they crossed to the west side
| of the river.
Continuing their march through paol,
! they loft Wayne's division there and contin-
| ucd on to what Is now Pottstown.
From Po'tStown they continued across TO
| Pcnnypackcr's Mills ana thence to White.
! marsh. From Whit"marsA they moved 70
attack the English Mt Germantown and re
treated again to WhitcmarSh.
! THE late Governor Samuel W. Penny.
J. packer. historian. author. president Of
| the PENNSYLVANIA Historical Society. was
also the historian Of the PcrkiomNn valley,
! in way.
Speaking of Pcnnyparkrr's Mills and the
battle Of Germantown, Governor Penny
! packer in his Autobiography says:
"Pctcr Pennypackcr bought 80 acres M
| this place in l1i1. and There had grist mill.
| saw mil fulling mill and probably country
store. IT was the terminus Of the SkippNck
road, and is referred To in William brad
ford's little book published in 1884 as one Of
tho noted places in the province.
'WaShington took the Continental army
there September 2G, III, and there held the
council Of war which determined to fight the
| battle Of Germantown.
after the battle tot Germantown he re-.
treated TO the same camp. bringing with him
his wounded men.
So. according 10 The historian Penny.
packer. the present owner of the historic
site, Washington s soliicrs did camp on the
hills around about after the battle Of Ger.
| mantOwn.
tC tDv Of mol ;r,,y>