Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-12-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Continued from First Page.)
gentlest of gestures, he whispered, "Pray ex-
cuSe me-"
These were his last words. Gradually he
grew weaker and weaker, but never for an in
slant seemed to lose consciousness. Lying
peacefully upon his bed and without trace
of pain in his look he remained for hours.
Silently clasping and tenderly caressing his
Wifes hand, with undaunted Christian spirit
he waited the end From the moment of the
dread result of the congestive chill those
gathered around his bedside, who had been
watching and noting with painful interest
every change of the symptoms for the past
month, knew we'll that the dread messenger
was even at the door.
HURRYING TO HIS BEDSIDE.
About half-past 10 O'Clock Associate-Justice
Fenner went to the French Opera House to
call to Mr.. Davis's bedside Mr.. and Mrs Far
rar and Mrs. Stamps. As soon as the message
the dying ex-President. BY halt-past II
O'Clock there was assembled in the death
chamber Mrs. Davis, Messrs. Challie and
Bickham, Associate Justice and Mrs. Fenner,
Mrs Mamie Smith. a grandniece OF the dying
ex- President, and Mr.. and Mrs. E. II. 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 resting upon his right 1t
hand like a sleeping infant, and with his left
hand dropping across his chest, he lay Tor
fifteen minutes breathing softly but family.
IN DEATHS EMBRACE.
More and more feeble became his respira-
ton until it sank into silence, and then the
watchers knew that the silver cord had been
| loosed and the golden bowl broken. The
Father of the Confederacy had passed away
LAS calmly to nights repose as flowers at set of
sum-"
DESPITE the fact that the end had come slow
lv and peacefully and after she had been face
| to face for hours with the dread reality, the
| blow fell with crushing force upon the at
ficted widow. AS long as there had been
work for either head OF hands she had borne
up bravely, and not until the sweet uses
| for her tender ministratiOnS were lost, did she
seem to realize the terrible force OF the dow
| that had fallen upon her.
Knowing her prediSpoSition to heart atfec-
ton the doctors were at once grayely alarmed
for her They promptly administered COM
posing draught and at a Late hour this morn
ING she was resting quietly.
1t is believed that the foundation of the eX-
Presidents last illness was malaria compli-
Gated with acute bronchitis Careful nursing
and skilled medical attention mastered the
chill, which was the immediate cause OF
death, was attributable to the return OF
malaria.
HIS APPEARANCE.
After death the face of the deceased, though
looking slightly emaciated, showed no trace
of suffering, but more nearly resembled that
of a peaceful sleeper than the dead. When
the family had partially recovered from the
terrible shock Mr. Farrar went to the Yves
tern Union telegraph Office and sent dispatch
es to Miss Winnie Davis, who is in Paris with
Mrs. Pulitzer; Mr.. Davis's sOn-in-laW, who is
in Colorado City, and also notified Governor
Lowrey, of Mississippi, as he deemed it but
right that the Executive of that State should
know of the death of one of its most distin-
guished sons,
Senator Jones, who started from Iowa some
DAYS ago to pay visit to his old friend and
comrade, did not arrive yesterday, as was eX-
pected, and when he reaches this city to-day
will only behold the remains of him whom in
life he esteemed and to see whom he travelled
from far off Iowa to the sunny South
THE BODY LYING IN STATE.
On Friday night about Ills all that was
mortal of Jefferson Davis was carried from
the Payne mansion to the City Hall in a
! hearse. 1t was a weird and solemn scene.
The affected widow of the great statesman
took a last farewell OF his ashes; one kiss was
imprinted on the pale cold lips, and then she
turned sorrowfully away to the solitude of
her own apartment The hall was heavily
draped in black which was relieved with the
red white and blue of the stars and stripes.
There were also rich floral decorations every
where, beside crossed swords and othsr mill
tary devices. At the head of the hall hung
the portrait of the dead chieftain, richly
festooned with Grape through which sparkled
incandescent sparks like tiny stars. The
catafalque was draped in plain black. The
coffin was covered with black plush edged
with broad black braid. The top Of the cas-
ket is covered with one sheet OF heavy plate
glass which extends its entire length, and
rests on the thick copper lining. The interior
of the casket is lined with white satin, and
beneath it upon the catafalque is spread a
thick Turkish rug of black hair.
The casket has silver plate upon which is
the simple inscription, jefferson Davis, At
rest, - with the date of death added. Badges
of the Confederate Associations, the flag of the
| Washington Artillery carried through the
war, and bunch Of wheat fastened together
with purple ribbon, are the only ornaments.
Since early morning, people have been eel pouring
in to obtain last look at the dead: The mourn
ing is general and every place OF prominence
in the City has put on black A telegram was
sent Friday morning by Mayor Shakespeare
notifying him of the death of eX-Secretary
Davis and the date Of the funeral.