The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-08-10
THE TRUE STORY OF JEFF. DAVIS

cd-NGmeS, Dates and Circumstances.
Correspondence to the indianapolis Journal
MEMPHIS, July 10, 1871.
Nothing is talked about here, except
the late sleeping car performance of Mr..
Jefferson Davis. OF course many false
reports are afoat [ have taken the trou-
BILE to get the facts from witnesses,
and give them just as they actually oc-
Cured.
For year past Mrs. Bias been
boarding at the Overton House in this
city. She is very handsome, of splendid
form, is accomplished, and very fascinat
ing conversationalist. Her husband is
travelling agent for the Southern Express
Company, and is the most Of his time alb
sent His wife is very am bilious, but he
is poor. Mr.. Jefferson Davis and his wife
have been boarding at the Peabody,
House, three squares from the Overton
For some months past it has been observ-
ed that remarkably intimate friendship
has existed between Mr.. Davis and Mrs.
B. He paid her constant visits at her
hotel, always going direct to her room,
instead of seeing her in the parlors Mrs
B-has also frequently visited Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis at their hotel. Through the
ex,President's influence she has been
introduced into the best class of society,
and has recently become member of the
choir ofthe st. Lazarus Episcopal Church
of which Mr.. Davis is prominent and
deyOut CD member. Now Mr. Davis is
sixty-four years old +; the fascinating Mrs.
BIS twenty eight. \ most beauti-
full thing is this intense friendship be-
tween youth and age. What could be
more natural, or more proper, or more
beautiful, than the spectacle of this young
and attractive lady, in the absence of her
husband, leaning for protection and coun-
sci upon this wise and great man? But
people will talk, and rumor has been
busy, and frequently whispered questions
have been asked about some little peculi-
arities cropping out along the even tenor
of this touching friendship. In May last,
Mrs. Jefferson Davis went to Baltimore
on visit, where shpent the summer and
still remains. About the first of July,
the ex-Presldent made a visit to Colonel
Jett, who resides in the country about
seven miles from Memphis On this visit
Mr.. Davis was accompanied by Mrs,
and the two remained there over a week.
Colonel Jett is a very wealthy gentlemen
of the highest standing, and entirely
above reproach. At the end of this pleas
ant visit, Mr.. Davis and Mrs. B--re.
turned to the city, and the next day to.
gether took the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad and started East. Mrs. B
was going to Chattanooga on a visit. The
ex-President was going to Baltimore to
bring his wife home. So By this fortunate
little accident, Mr. D. was to have the
pleasure of Mrs. BIS company for three
hundred miles of his journey. And what
could there be wrong in this beautiful
young wife travelling under the protection
of the sage of Richmond, while her hus-
band was necessarily away on business Z?
All day the train thundered along, and
the dust few 4; but there were two passen-
gers who took no note of time. Mr.. d.
and Mrs Is. were so wrapped up in each
others society that they were, by some
of the unsophisticated passengers, mis-
taken for father and daughter, and by
others and still for husband and wife
At one time his venerable arm was around
her waist, and on several occasions her
head rested on his shoulder. The shades
of evening overlook the weary travellers
just beyond Huntsville, Alabama The
ex-Presideut is in the habit of travelling
over that road frequently, and has never
been known to take an upper berth in the
sleeping car. He is always very particu-
lar on this point, and has positively refus-
ed to sleep anywhere except in lower
berth.
On this eventful evening (the 10th of
july he took a whole section, including
both the upper and lower berth The
section is No. 5, in car No. 80. Mr..
Haines is the train conductor, Mr.
George Trice is conductor of this sleeping
car, and Charley Pullen, an intelligent
young colored gentleman, is porter Il
have seen these gentleman personally, and
L am giving the facts as they occurred on
their train, just as they have reported
them in writing to their superior officers,
and just as they stated them to me. After
securing his section, Mr.. Davis informed
Mrs. b.. and she undressed and retired
into the lower berth. Mr.. Davis went to
the porter and requested to have the
central lamp extinguished, stating that it
shone down into Mrs. BIS bed, and was
disasrceable to her, as she was little
nervous. The conductor, Mr.. Triee, was
consulted, and the lamp was not extin
guished, as it was entirely contrary to
their custom. The conductor went into
the next car forward. The porter was at
the rear end of the car Mr.. Davis un
dressed, and got into the same berth with
Mrs. B. In order to be certain the
porter quietly looked between the curtains,
and there they were. He Immediately
reported to Mr.. Trice, who then came and
0uletV look ed hatUaan the cnrtoinS-ond