Maung Thein Lwin - Believe It or Not (7)

1799- A Grave Fear

George Washington was not afraid of dying, but he was afraid of being buried alive - a fear that was quite widespread before embalming became common practice. Less than an hour before he died on December 14, Washington told his secretary. "Don't let my body be put into the vault less than two days later I am dead."

1799 - Fear of the Grave

George Washington was not afraid of dying, but he was afraid of being buried alive...

This concern is a fear that arose long before the practice of embalming the dead became widespread...

George Washington died on December 14. Less than an hour before his death, he instructed his secretary, "Do not let my body be taken to the cemetery (church, burial ground) for about two days after my death."

1826-leaf

Heat -

John Adams (left) and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third presidents

the United States, shared a friendly rivalry all their lives. Minutes before he died, John Adams sat up in his bed and whispered, "Jefferson survives," unaware that Jefferson, too, had died that same moment - July 4 - 50 years to the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence!

1826 - Parallel flowering

John Adams (pictured) and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third presidents of the United States, were close friends and rivals throughout their lives. Minutes before his death, John Adams sat up in his bed and whispered, “Jefferson is alive.” That morning—unbeknownst to him—Jefferson had also died. On July 4th, 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, he died.

1841- Long and short,

On March 4 , William Henry Harrison took almost two hours to deliver his 8 , 445 word inaugural speech, the longest on record. It was a cold, nasty day, but Harrison wore no overcoat, hat, or gloves, and he caught a severe cold that turned into pneumonia. He died exactly one month later, after having served the shortest presidential term on record.

1841 – Speech is long, life is short

On March 4, William Henry Harrison delivered his 8,445-word inaugural address (almost two hours long), the longest in history. It was a very cold and unpleasantly dangerous day. But Harrison was not wearing a long coat, hat, or gloves. He caught a bad cold, which turned into pneumonia. He died just one month into his presidency, making him the shortest president in history.

1945- ......

Known as a champion of the common mas, Andrew Jackson died on June 8 from here fail ure. His pet parrot was allowed to stond the fwneral but had to be removed because it wouldn't stop cursing!

1945 - Rough Mouth

Andrew Jackson, known for his ability to inspire ordinary people, died of a heart attack on June 8.

His beloved pet parrot was allowed to attend the funeral.

But the parrot was removed from the ceremony because it wouldn't stop cursing.

1848- Outsized

The coffin chosen for John Quincy Adams was so big that it would not fit into the vault. So his funeral had to be stopped for stonemasons to make the vault wider.

1848 - Larger than normal head

When John Quincy Adams died, the head chosen for him was so large that it wouldn't fit in the tomb. So his funeral was halted so that masons could enlarge his tomb.

1850 - Rumor Had It

Zachary Taylor was the second president to die in office, but he is the only president to have been exhumed. Rumors that he was poisoned persisted until he was dug up in 1991 and tests proved the theories were false. The real cause of death, however, remains unknown.

1850 = Rumor

Zachary Taylor was the second president to die in office. But... he was the only president to have his body exhumed for an autopsy.

Rumors persisted that he was poisoned. Until his body was exhumed in 1991, and until tests proved these theories wrong, these theories persisted. But the exact cause of death remains unknown.

1865- Train of Death

Abraham Lincoln's funeral train passed through more than 400 towns and cities on its 20 day journey from Washington, DC to Springfield.

Himois, a distance of 1,654 miles . Along the way, at least a dozen funerals were held for the assassinated president

1865 - Funeral train

The hearse carrying Abraham Lincoln's body passed through more than 400 cities and towns.

It was a 20-day, 1,654-mile journey from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois.

At least 12 funerals were held for the president who was assassinated along the way.

1881- Bad Medicine

On July 2 , James Garfield was shot, but he died because of medical incompetence. Sixteen doctors poked around in his body, trying unsuccessfully to find the bullet, without having washed their hands or sterilized their instruments. On September 19 , Garfield, his heart probably weakened by more than two months of infection, died of a heart attack.

1881 - The black potion

On July 2, James Garfield was shot. But his death was due to poor medical care. Six doctors searched his body, looking here and there, trying unsuccessfully to find the bullet. They did not wash their hands when they searched. They did not sterilize their equipment. More than two months after his illness, Garfield's heart began to fail. On September 19, he died of a heart attack.