Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS DEATH
THE FAMOUS LEADER OF TIE
"LO5r OAU bE.1
A Graduate of West Point, soldier of
g ,yO Wars. Statesman md Prcsi-
dent of the Ili-starred Southern
GOnfcderacy-SkeLc of His Life,

dent of the ui-starred Southern
Onfcderacy-Sketch of His Life,
NEW ORLEANS, LA, Dec. Cat I2.45 this |
moialntt Hon, jeff tson Davis, sx-presi. |
dent nf the Confederate States, died AT the |
residence OF his lifelong friend, ]. v.
Payne. From the beginning of his fatal |
Illness MIR. Dhvi' had Insisted that his case |
was neatly or quite hopeless, though the
dread of pain Or fear OF death never ap- /
lcared to take the slightest hold upon his |
Hplrite, which were brave and even buoyant
from the beginning of HIS Ettack.
In vain did tue doctors strive TO Impress
unon him that his health W As improving.
H. steadily Insisted that there was no iul-
prOvemens, and with Christian resignation
hD WAS content to accept whatever Provi-
dance mad In store for him. Only onae did
he ~avsr In bis belief that hts case showed
no Improvement and that was at an early
hour yesterday morning when he playIully
rema ked TO Mr. Payne: 81 am afraid that
1 hall DO compelled to agree with the doc
tors for once and admit that Am q little
better" "u.
All day long the favorable symptoms con-
tlnuod and iate III the afternoon, as late %
4 o'cI3cx, Mrs. Davis sent such cheering
message o MIS-. Stamps and MIR. and Mrs.
Farrar that they decided for the Frat time
since Mr. Davis has been taken Ill to attend
the Fraach opera.
At O'Clock last evening, without any as
Piguapla cause. Me. Davis was seized with
congestive ehiils which seemed to abso-
lutely crush the vitality out OF his already
enfaebled body. SO weak was he that the
violence OF the assault soon subsided for
lack OF vitality upon which to prey. From
thar moment to the moment OF his death
the history OF his case was that Of grad
utlly sinking man. At 7 o'clo1s mrs.
Davis I'D administered some medicine, but the
OK President declined to receive the whole
dose. She urged upon him the necessity
OF taking the remainder but putting It
nell with the gentleSt " gestures ne
whispered: 'Pray excuse mr."
These were his last words. Gradually he
grew weaker and weaker. bu. never for an
Instant seemed to lose consciousness.
Lying peacefully upon his bed and without
Il trace OF pain in his look no remained ior
hours. Siently clespinR and tenderly
cGregsint his Wife's hand, witch undaunted
Christian apiglt he awaited the end.
by 1l.3D o'clock there were assetnbleJ In
the death chamber Mrs. Davis, Dss. Chhille
and Blcknaui, Associate Justice and MRS.
Feuner, Miss Mamie smith, grand niece OF
tho dgtug eX. President, and Mr.. and Mrs.
u. Il. L rrar. Finding that Mr.. Davis was
breathing somewhat heavily as he lay upon
his back, the doctors assisted hin to turn
upon his right side. With his cheek rest-
lug upon his right hand like sleeping In
FAINT and with ms left hand dropping across
Ills chest he lay for some ID minutes,
breathing softly but family. More and
more feeble became his respirattons till
they passed into silence and then the
wafchars knew that he was dead.
Despite the TACT that the end had come
slGWiy and peacefully and after she had
Leen taee 10 face for hours with the dread
rehtiy, the blow fell with crushing force
GpDn the afflicted widow. Knowing OF q
ne dIgpt Htior TO heart affection the doctors
were ~ once greatly alarmed for hec. Ihey
! Observation-Disclosures composing drau9hl
aud az . late hour this morning she was
iN resting qNie,lY.
g h IL believed that the foundation OF the
ex IRE. iAant's last Illness was malarif
# complicated with acute bronchitis. Careful
3 IIrsiEe and skilled medical attention had
lna-,eed ihe latter but It Is supposed ina
IN tie eungestive chill which was ths inmedi
". ate cause of death was attributable TO u re
IN tutn Of tho malaria.
e After death the face Of the deceased
although looking slightly enacated
showed no traca Of suffering more nearl!
"A M sembllpS ;hR Of u peaceful sleeper thai
~ tho dead. Whom the family had par
TALLY recovered from the terrible shock
4 Mv Fafrar went to the Western Union tele
MA. II ohlce and sent dispatches to MIS-
WuAia Davis, who ls in Paris with Mrs
lu;Haer; to hr. Davis son-ini law, IN Col
otHdo CITY, aud also notified Governo
Lowry OF Mississippi, as he deemed It bu
Iicht that the executive OF thar state shout,
n know of the death OF one OF Its most dis
Il ttnpu shed sons.
Stilhtuf IDleS, WHO elai'tu libE1 AoW
some days ago TO pay II visit to his OIL
friend and u0mtatt, did no arrive yester
day, as WIS expected, and when ne reHche
this city to-day will only behold the rf
mains OF him whom In life he esteeme
md TO see whom he travelled from far O
Iowa to the sunny spnyh.
Mrs. Hayes, MIR. Davis daughter, VIII
was due ere yesterday, was detained las
night AT Fort Worth and Is, not expected
be In the city until Saturday morning.
Judge Fdnner and Mr.. FArrGr mad IN
affairs Of the dead statesman IN h1nd, br
tine latter gentleman lust night stated thi
he and Judge Fenner would not tnke an
steps looking to the funeral until they hA
held n consultation with Mrs. Davis. VT
Is at present too much Rrteved by ht
severe loss to be approached on the subiec
MIR. FArrar Is fully acquainted Will Il
the details of MIR. Davis Will, bat he state
that he did not know but Mrs. Davis
ceived some final wish from her husbat
regarding The place of burial. Mr. Fdrr'
did not know Ii the burlal would take plal
in this city or elsewhere anu although
and Judge Fenner had been requested
net us Ihry saw fit In the premises M
Davis had not intimated whore she desift
tho inferno mt to be mHds.
Mayor Shakespeare has Issued procl
IA nation announcing MIR. Davis death al
inviting the presidents Of the various 9
changes and commercial bodies nnn
number OF prominent citizens to meet
Inents may be- made for the funeral.
The mayor says: sit Is with the deept
regret that announce to the people OF Il
t city OF New Orleans the departure ire
this life OF Jefferson Davis. He needs
euIogy from me. His life Is history, al
" Lis memory ts or shrined In the heart
every man, woman aud child in this bro
snnth. We ell loved him and we oil o'
Him honor and rever nee"
Messages have been received from
lGnta, Eioxl, Memphis, Louisville, a
many ot6er points, all expressive OF resp
for the dead and VI sympathy Tor M
VA Davis In her affection.
fE a'Ae illness OF Mr. Davis had been watch
with deep anxiety here and arrangelnel
had been made to announce his death
tie r!rEing OF the lire bells. Word y
Therefore telephcnnd TO the central stftl
at 1850 this morning and Id II few nome
the mourntuI notes OF the bells convey
the Intelligence OF the death to the 81
Many people gathered ut the hotels and
@ 8 o'clock hundreds were discussing
event.
4 w. WILL Not HALF MAST THE FLAG.
WAsnISdroS, Dec. 6.--Ths war dapa
rnent up to noon to-day has not otiicih
been informed OF the death OF Jener'
Davis, aud has taken no action with resp
to It, A large oil painting of the decea
hUngs on the wall Of the chief clerks roc
g. Weicn Immediately adiolns tho Office OF
Secretary. 1t IL surrounded by portraits
B other ex-secretarie5, including simon o.
nv eIon, General Srhoileld, and Messrs. Eli
IA end ConrnL. Ii bears the following
IA 6c.iption: Jefferson Davis, Secretary
fa piArnptl administrations