Huntsville gazette., 1889-12-14

New ORLEANS, La, Dec. 6.-At 12:45
O'Clock this morning the Hon. Jefferson
Davis, ex-Presdent Of the Confederate
States, died at the residence of his life
long friend, J. U. Payne.
From the beginning of his fatal illness
Mr. Davis had insisted that his case was
nearly or quite hopeless, though the dread
of pain or fear of death never appeared to
take the slightest hold upon his spirits,
which were brave and even buoyant from
the beginning of his attack.
In vain did the doctors strive to impress
npon him that his health was improving.
He steadily insisted that there was no i'm
provement, but with Christian resignation
he was content to accept whatever Provi-
dence had in store for him. Only once did
he waverin his belief that his case showed
no Improvement, and that was at an early
hour yesterday morning, when he play
fully remarked to Mr.. Payne: 'I am afraid
that l will lie compelled to agree with
the doctors for once and admit that am a
little better"
All day long the. favorable symptoms
continued, and late in the afternoon, as
late as O'Clock, Mr.. Davis sent such a
cheering message to Mrs. Stamps and
Mr.. and Mrs. Farrar that they decided, for
the first time since Mr.. Davis has taken i'll,
to attend the French opera.
At 6 o'clock last evening, without any
assignable cause, Mr.. Davis was seized
with congestiye 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 the lack of vitality upon which
to prey.
From that moment to the moment of his
death the history of his case was that of a
gradual sinking. At O'Clock Mrs. Davis
administered some medicine, but the ex-
President declined to receive the whole
dose. She urged upon him the necessity
of taking the remainder, but 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 in his look, he re.
manned for hours. Silently clasping and
tenderly caressing his wife's hand, with
undaunted Christian spirit he awaited the
end.
From the moment of the dread assault of
the congestive chill, those gathered around
his bedside, who had been watching, notic-
ing with painful interest every change of
symptom for the past month, knew we'll
that the dread messenger was even at the
door. About half past 10 O'Clock As
sociate ,Iustice Fenner went to the Frenc ch
Opera house to call to Mr.. Davis's bedside
MIR. and Mrs. Farrar and Mrs. Stamps. AS
soon as the message reached them they
hurried to the bedside of the dying ex-
President.
By 1880 O'Clock there were assembled in
the death chamber Mrs. Davis, Drs. Cahille
and Rickham, Associate Justice and Mrs.
Fenner, Miss Mamie Smith, grandniece OF
the dying ex-President, and Mr.. and Mrs.
E. Ell. 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 hand like a sleeping infant, and
with his left hand dropping across his
chest he lay for some fifteen minutes.
breathing softly but faintiy. More and
more feeble became his respirations till
they passed into silence, and then the
watchers knew that the silver cord had
been loosened and the golden bowl broken.
The father of the Confederacy had passed
away
"As calmly as to a nights repose,
Or flowers at set OF sum-.