The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-12

$1,000
o'clock, of this 9Th day of December,
death came to the venerable leader.
q There was nothing remarkable about
! his death-bed scene. The departure of
4 the spirit was gentle and utterly pain
less.
8 There were no dry eyes in the little
{ assembly about the bed, and every
heart bled with the anguish which
g found vent in Mrs. Davis sobs and
gcries.
q MRS. DAVIS GRIEF.
q Immediately after the death Mrs.
s Davis was led upstairs to the bedroom
$of Mrs. Fenner, where the ladies tried
g to assuage her grief.
8 She bore the awful blow bravely, but
3 her breathing was labored, and her con-
gdition so weakened that the two doe
Etors attended her.
q They pronounced her weakness to be
Sonly the consequence Of the strain and
gthe grief, and said nothing was to be
8 feared.
q PREPARING THE BODY.
8 In the meanwhile the body was be-
s ing Strengthened and bathed. 1t will be
6 'elnbalmed early this morning.
5 IL the limited time of last night no
arrangements for the funeral could be
Ethought of.
8 Mrs. Davis signified her wish that
sJudge Fenner and Mr.. Farrar should
q take entire charge of all matters con-
Snected with the burial.
s 1t is probable that the municipal
8 authorities, acting conjointly with civil
! 8associations, will decide to-day upon
Sthe ceremony, the funeral procession
g and the place of burial.
81 His Life.
g Jefferson Davis, statesman, born in
Z. that part of Christian County, KY,
(Which now forms Todd County, June
S, 1908. His father, Samuel Davis, had
e served in the Georgia cavalry during
E the revolution, and, when Jefferson
swas an infant, removed, with his fam
gily to a place near Woodville, Wilkin.
& son County, Mississippi. Young Davis
tsentered Pennsylvania college at Ken
5, lucky, but left in 1924, on his appoint
s ment by President Monroe to the Uni
Sted States Military academy. On his
5 Sgraduation, in 1923, he was assigned to
gthe First Infantry, and served on the
sfrontier, taking part in the Black Hawk
= war of 1922. He was promoted to
girst lieutenant of Dragons on March
"a, 1888, but, after more service against
sthe Indians, abruptly resigned on June
ESQ, 1885, and having married, after q
8 romantic elopement, the daughter Of
& Zachary Taylor, then colonel in the
army, settled near Vicksburg, Miss,
Eand became Gotten planter. Here be
q spursued life Of study and retirement
Esuntil l845, when he entered politics in
Athe midst of an exciting gubernatorial
&contest. He was chosen an elector on
Sthe Polk and Dallas ticket in 1874,
iSnade reputation as popular speaker,
sSand in 1916 was sent to Congress. TAX
4 ling his seat in that year. He at once
s:atook an active part in debate, speaking
sson the tariff the Oregon question and
81 military matters, especially with refer
sence to the preparation for war with
S Mexico. On the sixth of February,
8lS46, in a speech on the Oregon ques-
stion, he spoke of the "love of Union in
Hour hearts," and, speaking Of the bat
@tles of the revolution, said: 'They
S form a monument to the common
$glory of our common country"
s In June, 1916, he resigned his seat in
@the House to become Colonel of the
sFirst Mississippi Volunteer rifles,
q which had unanimously elected him
ssto that office. Having joined his regi-
s ment at New Orleans, he led it to rein
6 force Gen. Taylor on the Rio Grande.
Eat Monterey he charged on Fort Lene-
sria without bayonets, led his command
8through the streets nearly to the Grand
ssPlaza through a storm of shot, and
5afterwards served on the commission
{ for arranging the surrender of the place.
Cat Buena Vista his regiment was
Hcharged by a Mexican brigade of lancers
sgreatly its superior in numbers, in a
@last desperate effort to break the Ameri-
sScan lines. Col. Davis formed his men
Z lin the shape of the letter V, open to-
Mwards the enemy, and thus by exposing
4his foes to q covering fire, utterly
g routed them, though he was unsup-
ssported. He was severely wounded,
@but remained in the saddle till the close
#of the fight, and was complimented
sfor GOODNESS and gallantry in the COM
g smander-in-chiefs dispatch of March 6,
E1S47. His regiment was ordered home
Z ion the eXpiraticn n of its term Of enlist
ssm ment, and on May II, 1917, Col. Davis
S was appointed by President Polk a
sbrigadier general, but declined the
Il Hcommission on the ground that a mill.
Stia appointment by the federal execu-
sative was unconstitutional. He was ap-
81 pointed by the Governor of Mississippi
Ito fill a vacancy in the United States
MSenate III August, lS47, and in Janu.
ssary, ls4S the Legislature unanimously
Nelected him Senator, and reelected him
hin 1850, for full term. He was made
Echairman of the Senate committee on
IS military affairs, and here, as in the
@House, was active in the discussion or
Hthe various phases of the slavery ques
Mtion and the important work of the
s. session, including the fugitive slave