The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-06
JEFFERSON DAVIS DEAD.
The Father Of the Confederacy
Passes Peacefully Away.

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. @, 1Ss9.--The death
Of Jefferson Davis, the ex-President of
the Southern Confedefacy, at quarter of
one o'clock this morning, created pro-
found sensation in this city and was i'm
mediately telegraphed to all the leading
cities of the South.
The death of Mr. Davis had been ex-
pected at any time within the last month.
Four weeks ago, while travelling on
river steamer, he caught cold, and his
condition became so serious that his
physicians refused to allow him to re-
turn to his home in Mississippi Mrs.
Davis was sent for eand Immediately
joined her husband and remained with
him constantly until the end Mr. and
Mrs. Davis were as much devoted TO each
other as when in their younger days they
eloped to get married.'
For the last three days Mr.. Davis had
been getting steadily better, and was
much improved, so the physicians
thought. All day yesterday The favor
able symptoms continued, and in the
afternoon, as late as four o'clock, Mrs.
Davis sent such a cheering message to
Mrs. Stamps and Mr.. aud Fenner that.
they decided for the first time since Mr..
Davis had been taken Ill, to attend the
French opera.
At six O'Clock yesterday afternoon, with
out any assignable cause, Mr.. Davis was
seized with a congestive chill which
seemed to absolutely crush the vitality
out of his already enfeebled body. So
weak was Mr.. Davis that the violence of
the assault soon subsidized for lack of vital
ity upon which to prey.
From that moment to the moment of
his death the history of his case was
characterized by gradual sinking At
seven O'Clock Mrs. Davis administered
some medicine. but the ex-President de-
clined to receive the whole dose.
She urged upon him the necessity of
taking the remainder, bur, putting it
aside with the gentlest of gestures. he
whispered, Pray excuse me-"
These were his last words. Gradually
he grew weaker and weaker, but never
for an instant seemed to lose conscious
ness. Lying peacefully upon his bed and
without trace OF pain apparent in his
features. he remained for hours Silently
clasping and tenderly caressing his wife's
hand, with undaunted spirit he awaited
the end.
By half-past eleven o'clock there were
assembled in the death chamber Mrs.
Davis, Drs. Chaille and Bickham, Asso-
ciate Justice and Mrs. Fenner, Miss Nan
ME Smith, grandniece of the dying ex-
President, and Mr.. and Mrs. Z. H.
Farrar.
Finding that Mr. Davis was breathing
somewhat heavily as he lay upon his
back, the doctors assisted him TO turn
upon his right side. With his cheek rest
ing upon his right hand like sleeping
infant, and with his left hand dropping
across his chin, he lay for some fifteen
minutes breathing family. More and
more feeble became his respirations till
they passed into silence. and then the
watchers knew that the father OF the.
Confederacy had passed away.
From many cities have come messages
of respect for the dead Confederate and
of sympathy for Mrs. Davis in her at1iic-
tion. The remains will probably lie in
state at the City Hall here previous to
their removal to Mississippi for burial.
The general sentiment among ex-Confed-
crates is that the obsequies of Mr.. Davis
should be the most imposing ever wit
messed in the South.