Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-21
TIE Pre.Iaen.,. sEsusshola.

From the Selma DispAtch.I
The late sad accident and terrible hereave.
ment auherad by ths Presf5snt AID faEaiiy,
called forth the deepest sympathies of tho pub
lie. From = private letter of a Confederate
~ofieer-th0ugh not intended for publication
We copy the following description of the scsue
of the accident, and the Presidents household,
when struck with the sudden affection:
FLORENCE, S. c., May 81 left Richmond
on Sunday morning, LIST of May. On the even.
ing before I found myself at the Presidents
house, up stairs, by a ssd and singular accident
Having hDished all my buainess with the De-
psrtment, / s.rolied with Judge FL. of Missis.
sippi, to look at the city, and passing tho Pres.
idenfs mansion, wepaased to look at the scenery
beyond, whom q little girl ran ont of the house
crying to tho next door aad pulled the bell
violently in a minute she was followed by
another, and then by q little boy, tho picture of
the most utter desOlstion and despair, and then
BY : negro woman, from whom we learned that
the Presidents little son was badly hurt, and no
white person except these three little children
at home.
We at ones ran in and found the little fellow
(sbout 1--we years old in the arms of q negro
man, Insensihle and almost dead. DispAtchine
a~servant for 4 doctor, we began to rub him with
eAmphor and brandy, and pat muatsrd on his
teet and wrists, and IA a shcrt time be begsn 10
breathe better, and opened his eyes, and we all
tnought no WSS neFlYingY but It WAS the last
6righs cleaning of the wick in the socket be-
forethe bgnt IS extzguished for ever.
M. aud Mrs. Davis came IN while we held
the lttle fellow rubbing him. She relieved her-
sell IN q hood OF tears and wild lamentations
ne knelt-by bs side and clasped the diving bovIs
banda in his own thin attenusted Gneers AS
he thus held his hands and watched the bow dje.
sucn q loek Of petrIhed, unutterable anguish [
never saw. Ills pale, thin, intellectual face.
already oppressed with a thousand national
troubles, that now SO imminentlv threatan on-
existence, seemed suddenly ready TO burst with
uospeakAble grief AID thus trsnsixed into !
stony Eigidity.
Ths little boy had fallen from 4 rallsYv .bar.
fifteen feet, on a brick aveinen sud lsv thew
some time before be was discovered. Hia head
WAS confused, and I think his chest much IN.
IuTed internally. The little boy who died wa.
named Joe. he had beautiful black ewes and
BAR and was a very handsome bov. The otber
little fellow, so stricken with grief, named .JsF
was some SIX or seven years old, an intelIjoert
independent little fellow, with the tepderest
heart under s rough exterior.
When | recall the picture Of our Door Prea;-
0ent grlet-str1cken, speeehless, sesrless and
crushed, 4 can scarcely refrain from feara nv
self, even now. No man could have Eitna,ssa
that seene, and ever ind il In his heart s0s;n ~
abuse thai great and pure man, who. in tba -
ercise Of great powers conided to him bv a oar.
erous people, has shown more confluence ard
moderation than Washington.
The PresldentB little h0ya were dgesssd !,
grey jeans, and barefo0fed, and JEFF. tha atnrS~ (
little fellow, had on q broad brim hat of d[t
The President himself Vas dressed IN 4 !
suit Of gray.