The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-27
Prison Life OF Mr.. Davis.

May 27.-Called in the morning
with the officer Of the day, Capt.
Titlow. Found Mr.. Davis in bed.
very weak and desponding. He had
not slept. Had been kept awake by
the heavy surging of the wind through
the big trees on the other side of the
moat. Appeared much relieved when
l told him the breeze was nothing like
storm, though it blew North -easterly,
which was favorable to the ship con
tanning his family.
He expressed great concern lest his
wife should hear through newspapers
Of the scene in his cell when he was
ironed. Would it be published, did
think? And on my remaining
sient-for I knew it had been sent to
the newspaper on the afternoon of
its transpiring-he interlaced his
fingers across his eyes, and calculated:
"Oh, my poor wife, my poor girl!
How the heart-rentling narrative will
af1ict her!"
He remained silent for some mo-
ments as 1 sat beside his bed; and then
continued, extending his hand that I
might feel his pulse:
II wish she could have been spared
this knowledge. There was no
necessity for the act. My physical
condition rendered it obvious that
there could be no idea that letters
were needfu1 to the security of my
imprisonment. It was clear, there
fore, that the object was to offer an
indignity both to myself and the
cause / Representatives. the less
sacred to me because covered with
the pail of a military disaster. 1t was
for this reason I resisted, as duty to
my faith, to my countrymen, and to
myself: 1t was for this reason I
courted death from the muskets of
the guard. The officer of the day
prevented that result, and, indeed
bowing to Capt Titlow-cbsl1aved
like 8 man of good feeling. But, my
poor wife! l can see the hideous an
nouncement, with its flaming capitals,
and cannot but anticipate how much
her pride and love will both be shock
ed. For myself / am resigned, and
now only say, tthe Lord reprove
themr The physical inconvenience of
these things still feel, tclanking his
ankles together slightly under the
bed-clothes,) but their sense of humi-
iiataon is gone. Patriots in all ages,
to whose memories shrines are now
built, have suffered as bad or worse
indignities.
He thanked me for the breakfast
that had been sent him, expressing
the hope that would not let nv wife
dc put TO too much trouble making
broth and toast for one so helpless
and utterly wretched,
Il wish, Doctor" said he, 81
could compensate you by getting we'll :;
but my case is most unpromisine.
Your newspapers, he went on-this
with q grim smile should pray for
the success OF your skill. If you fail,
where will their extra editions be
their startling headlines? My death
would only give them food for one or
two days at most; while my trial for
l suppose shall be given some kind
of trial-would fatten them for q
months crop of lucrative excite
ment."
f1ndlng the conversation, or rather
his monologue, running into q chan
nel more likely to excite than soothe
him-the latter being the object for
which was always willing to listen
during the fifteen or twenty minutes
those interviews usually lasted while
awas seriously I'LL now rose to
IKE my leave, gently limiting that he
should avoid such thoughts and topics
as much as possible.
He took my remark in wrong
sense, as if L had been hurt at his
saying anything that might cast a
reflection on the justice that would
be dealt to him by my Government,
or upon the style Of journalism in
Northern newspapers BntI explain
ed That nothing could be farther from
my thoughts; that my counsel was
purely medical, and to divert him
from theme that must re-arouse the
cerebral excitement we were seeking to
allay. -
Called again at 8 p. M same dav.