Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-11-05
a CURIOAITr or LITTER A.
TCRR.
na1Dfne's Prison Life ~r mavls.
Truth Stranger shnu Fiction.

tFrom the CHARLESTON ksroury. Oct. asi
II 10 asserted that the book entitled
"Prison Life of Jefferson Davis" and pur-
porting to be the work OF DIR. Craven, was
written In nine days by tho late Gen. c. G..
Halpine
The above paragraph 10 going the rounds
ofthe press as an item Of strange news.
The bouls, our readers will remember.
camo out in New York soon after the rel ease
OF Mr.. Davis on bail from his imprison-
ment at Fortress Monroe. It was the sen
sstion OF the day aud excited deep internst
Tor the famous prisoner. Whole story Of life
u assumed TO give. While il stirred the
hearts Of the Southern people, Of whose
lost cause 10 was the Official head, il awsk-
sned the curiosity, removed the pref udicss
and enlisted the sympathiss OF Northern
men in behalf Of one fallen from high rs
ia.e, weary, feeble captive, who yet ehal-
lenged ad@iration for the squsnimity Of
his bearing and the accomplishments Of his
mind
Our readers will bs astonishsd to learn
that the statement. 10 true, and tina. this
popular hook, over which 90 much Of feel
ing, OF indignation, pity, interest ard adj
mirati>n has been crested and expended, 10
. work OF iiuag instion- woven upon
slender threats OF fact.
Soon after the admission of Mr. Dawn 10
bal, Craven, tue surgeon OF the post, went
to New York, where he met hi. quondam
messmata Of tho sane staff, Gen. Halplne
This literary friend Congratulated him
forthwith en- this opportunity he had 10 i'm
mortslize himself in print and at the same
time make money by book en- JEFF. Davis
The idea seemed new to Mr. Craven, and
he said il Was impossible. Iialpns asked
him whore were his notes. Ito replied hs
had mono ard could not do it. Then, said
Hsipne. give me whatever mAterials yor
have and will write in your name, and v,
will share the profits. This was agreed to
Craven furnished three letters Of Mrs
Davis 10 him and some notes written or
the margin Of . Herald BY Ar. Davis
touching the points he desired Revsrd]
Johnson 70 make in defending him 70
treason. This was all the authentic matte
supplied.
Al the request Of Gen. Halpins, Gravel
also made out . list Of officers Of the pos
aud their days for going on duty, and oshe
little details Of tho pest and garrisen, Az
! Of Mr.. Davis.
ueIpino tHeu Ceit0u W sc oevctel con
fsderatss in New York, and, among other.
Gen. Dick Taylsr. He pumped them ~
: Mr.. DAVIS, his views and opinions on psbli
4: matters afro in regard TO leading Sou,t
. sln men and Mr.. Davis relations and fee
ings towards them, &c.
III A Philadelphia publishing house no.
advertised that it was sson to put forth
J hfs Of Davis and lialpine saw the in por
"a tanes OF anticipating this publication b
a HE book. II was arranged in New Yor
10 get it out Immediately. He agreed
) furnish his publisher forty pages Of fool,
II cap manuscript daily. And hs:sat dow
9 to writc-and wrote forty pages daily f
}, nine days, when the book was complete
the web Of his fertile and aecomplishe
mind.
Q The book vas Of great service TO NJ,
DAVIS and zen. Halpines share OF III
profits was $1,000 last March, when Ii
communicated 10 US The above facts fTol
; his own graphic and eloq lent lips.
- This 10 one Of the curiosi,ies Of litcra
ture and illustrates the talents Of tho III
who could so plsu,ibly manufacture out
I whole cloth the prison Life Of Jsasrso
: Davis, with his private views and opiuio'
concerning men and things.