Evening star., 1948-12-26
Death Of George Washington
Bv John CIaoett Proctor


If one were to ask the average
school child the date OF the bith
of George Washington, the chances
are that the answer would be
prompt and correct, a contributing
reason being the fact that February
% Is a general holiday throughout
the United States. But ask the
same child the date of the death
of this illustrious man and the
chances are that no answer will be
given, or, If given, would be wrong.
Washingtonians, with Mount
Vernon so close to our very door,
should know most about this great
man, who indeed was largely re-
sponSible for the selection of the
site of our beautiful city and who
was a frequent visitor. here during
his lifetime. So we should be able
not cnly to answer the first question
correctly, but the second one as well.
George Washington was born
February 20, 1882, and died at Mount
Vernon, Va, December IA, 1899,
149 years ago. He was 81. His
passing always was mourned by
grateful people, whose Republic he
so ably and materially assisted in
founding and establishing and to
whose hearts he had 50 sincerely
and affectionately endeared himself.
Washington was always active
and industrious, and, like all sue
cessful men, left little to the imag-
nation, but saw for himself what
was going on about him. And so
it was that during one OF these In
spection visits over the farm, on
Thursday, December IL, 1899. that
he contracted the cold that resulted
in his death two days later.
Got Wet on Farm Tour
Upon this occasion, as was his
practice, he took to his horse about
10 o'clock that morning and did not
return until five hours later, al
though the weather was cold and
a slight snow was falling when he
left home, which later turned to
hail and rain with the addition OF
a cold wind that aggravated condi-
tions. When he returned nome IT
was observed that he was wet and
snow was hanging from his hair.
His secretary, Mr.. Lear. called his
attention to this, but washington
said his greatcoat had kept him dry.
Some letters being brought to him,
he franked them, but would not let
the servant take them to the Office,
as he said the weather was too bad
to send them that evening. Soon
thereafter he went to dinner without
changing his damp clothing.
The next day, Friday, he was pre-
vented from going out early, but a
hoarseness had developed overnight
which was quite noticeable and un-
doubtedly the result of getting wet
the day before.
Between 2 and o'clock on Satur-
day morning, December IA, he awoke
Mrs. Washington and told her ne
was very unwell and that he had
had a chill. He then breathed with
considerable difficulty and could
scarcely speak above whisper. MRS.
Washington wanted to call a servant
but the general would not permit
her. for fear that she herself might
take a cold in doing SO.
Sent for Doctor
However, as soon as 1t was day
light a servant was sent for MI.
Rawlings, one of the overseers on
the place. to bleed him, q practice
then generally followed in illness OF
this kind. Another servant was dis
patched for DR.. James Craik IN
Before DR.. Craik arrived, at Mrs.
request, DR.. Gustavus
Brown of Port Tobacco also was sent
for. Upon DR.. Craik's arrival he put
a blister of cantharides on the
throat, took some more blood from
him, had a gargle Of vinegar and
sage tea prepared and ordered some
vinegar and hot water for him to
inhale the steam from.
AS DR.. Brown was seemingly long
in coming, DR.. Craik had DR.. Elisha
Cullen Dick sent for. Again the
general was bled, without. however,
any noticeable improvement.
DR.. Dick came about 8 o'clock and
DR.. Brown soon thereafter. After a
consultation he was bled again.
Knew Illness Was Fatal
About 5 o'clock DR.. Craik again
came into the room and, upon going
to the bedside. the general said
to him: Doctor, I die hard, but I
am not afraid to 60. I believed
from the first attack that I should
not survive 1t. My breath cannot
last long"
The doctor pressed his hand but
could not utter a word. He retired
from the bedside and sat by the fire
absorbed in grief.
He lay down again and all re-
turned except DR.. Craik. About 8
o'clock the physicians came again
into the room and applied blisters
and cataplasms Of wheat bran to his