The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-16
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sources Of information able command there Is
10 doubt JEFF Dayis IS slowly but surely declining n
health from his proraeted Imprisonment. He #i not
even avail himself Of the opportunities Of exercise sf
forded hira and he has space of about twenty By
twenty feet he could walk aboat in L he chose but sl
The long hours of each weary day be sta at tie barred
enbrss1re Of his casemae, s1ea, SILENT speeches.
1 With his chin alternately resting on one hand and
then on both he looks unintermittiuEy through this
opening Where rest his eyes, and what thougbts sir
that brain 10 one can tell Before lin the cay
and the passing ships and the Rip RsPs EEogi each
day into Eoadro1s work Of mprek a4ols strength
and beyond the blue sky and fleeing cqds and Eild
sezbrds enjoying the bogadless eedsE4 Of tie outer
air And IniBgiag With these sghtz CONES that per
0etaal ourntuE refrain, the sound OF the waves 4ssb
ing upon the beach Here he Is prisoner. and under
what crcuns;anc and under via: terEele charges
hanging over him2 No: q moment is be left alone-
not moment passes that he S under the TigiiaDt
eye Of soldiers. There Is ne egress through those
strong iron bars. There Is no sscePs through t5ss
Gordon Or nazketz There be no st.eG1p. zt
cue from without Whist wonder Is :. that that form
has groBn more emscia.ed those cheeks more Eunken
those e7es more l-ztroEs, the brow wri1kled-
MS hair Fhiter his words fever, his spirits sank IN
perugtual gloom2 Health has left hinl-hope is gone;
hat proud spirit Is broken and the end Is rot far
an writing no fancy sketch haze been told today
that JEFF Davis if he keeps up his presea. prson h4b-
is and despoude1cv, viii not i've six #eekE Longer
Yesterday 4r. Davis requested permission for a
chaplain 10 see rim This i the second request Of the
kind ne has made since his arrival Chaplain Kerfoot
vas sent 70 bis cell He greeted the chaplain With
warmth 1T is 70 vou and to this book1 SaojinE the
bible in his hand u must look, be said "for eonso
lali0a now The chaplain talked 10 Rim Of h:s spir
iual condition, read TO him passages from the bible
and prayed with bin. After the Chaplin left. Davis
appeared TO be in much better pirts than he has been
in for some lime past.
He reads the bible morning and eTeains Recent
= h.,
than at the commencement Of Lis imprisonment. He
processes his belief in the bible and processes 70 have
made i: the ruling guide Of bis life It is evident tia.
he does not fancy being confined exclusively to read
ing the Scriptures for he sometimes cla1noEs Tor df
teTens Etye OF literature but his request IL this re
gard, thus far, has not been complied With This
refusal to extend lis reading privileges and per
hitting him to write his wife or zee letters from Der
have formed the burden Of lis complaints.
i permission we're given him to have all tie books
be wished, he could read much himself and for
the comfort derived from them, would nave 70 rely
mainly others reading to him. One ere IS low al
most totally blind, and the other gives indication OF
rapidly becoming SO. He has complained lately Of
seeing objects double. He still wears his goEgIas dur
ing the day time.
Life in prison Is necessarily monotonous With few
has i e7er been more so than with Mr.. Davis He /,
rises pretty early usually g: Eve O'Clock in the morn
ing. He takes bath the first thing, using salt water
at first and winding up with fresh water. His bathing
facilities limited, consisting Of a common wash
tub, half filed with salt water wash basin Of fresh
water, coarse towels and soap. An army blanket be
converts into temporary screen aud battles behind
this. He Is not very particular about his toilet the
fashion Of c0mbBg his hair and all that but is exact
upon the subject OF cleanliness Of his undercoshing
sheets, towels, etc. Bath and toilet completed, Be .
reads his bible and at halpast o'clock has bis break
fast. THIS is served him from DR. CFavens table
Tho statement in some of the papers that daughter
of DR. Craven brings him Lia food il
soldier brings his meals to hin. Tea toast and an egg
or two, or broiled steak usually make up bis break
fast. his appetite is very variable. Gen. Miles NAV
call IN 70 see him and pass few words or the officer
Of the guard may have something 70 say for only these
two, except the physician and Craven and tie chap
lain, Of course when he calls are allowed 20 speak
to him. In conversation &c has betrayed an anxiety
and determination TO discuss the subject Of the
mp0ssibilty OF ever convcting him Of treason He
throws himself back upon the question Of State rights
IS his main point Of defence. For some time finding
hat all the discussion vas his own side he has
Kept silent on the subject Except these Interrupt
ions in the way Of conversation, which il will be IN.
ierstood, not daily By any means be passes most
i his time I'll 81 p m, his dinner hour 10 looking
int at the window He smokes his pipe questionable
ut IS great smoker He says that much smoking
makes him neryoUs After dinner he passes the time
: before. He has supper at 81 o'clock, and then d
.ectlg goes to bed. He sleeps pretty soundIy, but
more formerly than atteTly At first the light ke,t
turning tht room troubled MIN,
become used to it and makes complaint on the sub
ect now, as perhaps he knows it would do no good if
lie did.
In previous letters have described Mr. DaTis quar-
ers and the guard placed over him. Both continue
he at first. He has been urgen. to haze the
uard in his own room, the rear room OF the case
late-tEo are kept constantly in both front and back
DOM and an officer with them-renoyed and kept in
he front room. But his entreaty was OF 10 avail-
ext be desired that the guard in his nigh,
e allowed to stand instead Of being kept walking but
ere too, his request has not been complied with.
There is every to believe that the execution
the assassination conspirators in Washington has
cen communicated to Mr. Davis within the past three
four days 1t s certain that great and marked
aange has come over hin, and to this uudosbted
no#edge Of this execution the change is attributed.
His food is Of the best quality he has abundance Of
1re air and there is special reason otherwise ac
bunting for present goomness and decreasing health
Correspondent \. Z. Herald.
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