The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07
PROFOUND SENSATION
CAUSED BY MR. JEFFERSON
DAVIS DEATH,
How the News was Received In Richmond
and she state and the Country at Large
Bodies.

'"'iof tnt ~ ftblutDt VI iHt tonl'utl" "'
S'ste-, aied here at ~: 4j o'clock this morn
Ing at the residence of his lifelong t'ipiid
u. ". Payne. The arwe"HSeinent Of th
event created rsoiOusd sensation in thi
city, e''d Was telegraphed to all the leadin
cities Of the south. The death Of pr. Davi
had oeen expected at any time within ~
last month. -Four weeks ago, while travel
ing on steamer, he caught cold, and hi
condition became 50 seiions mat his pbysi
cian refused 20 allow him to return TO hi
home in Miasissippi.
MIS-. Davis was sent for and immediatell
joined her husband, and remained with bin
constantly until the ead,
sffADY IMPROVEMENT.
FOR the three days previous Mr.. Davis hat
been getting steadily better and WAS iirci
improved. so the physicians thought. Al
day yesterday the favorable symptoms con
tinue,l, and in tho afternoon, as late as ,
O'Clock, Mrs. Davis sent such a cheering
message to his relatives, Mrs stamps, aht
Mr.. and Mrs. FaTsr. that they decided fol
the first time since Mr. Davis had been takei
i'll to attend the French opera. At o'clocl
last evening, without any assigna bic cause
Mr.. Davis was seized with
A CONGEsTIvE CHILL
which seemed 10 absolutely crush tho vital
ity out Of the already cnfeeblpd body. s.
weak was Mr., Davis that the violence o.
the assault soon subsidized Tor lack Of vitality
upon which to feed. From that moment t.
the moment Of his death the history Of hi.
ease was that Of gradual sinking. At
O'Clock Mrs. Davis administered some medf
cine, but the ex-President declined 10 re-
ceiye the whole dose,
tNDAtNTED TO THE END.
She urged upon him the necessity Of TAX
ing the remainder, but putting il aside witt
the genilest Of gestures, he whispered
pray, excuse me- These were his lasl
words. Gradually he grew weaker and
weaker, but never for an instant seemed to
loose consciousness. Lying peacefully
upon his bed, and without trace of pain
in his look, he remained for hours silently
claspng and tenderly caressing his wife''
hand, and with undaunted spirit hC
awaited the end. From the moment O
the assault Of the congestive chill, those
gathered about the bedside, who haC
been watching and noting with painful in
terest every change of symptom for the las
month. knew well that the dread messenger
was at the door. About 1890 O'Clock Asso
ciate Justice Fenuer went to the Frcncl
Opera-llouse 10 call 20 Mr.. Davis bedside
Dir. and Mrs. Farrar and Mrs. Stamps, AZ
soon as the message reached them they
hurried 10 the bedside of the diving eX
President. BY II 80 0o'clOck there were Assem-
hled In the death-chamber Mrs. Davis, Drs
Chaile and Bickham, Associate Justice
and Mrs. Fenner, Miss Naunie smith
grandniece Of the dying ex-President, ant
Mr.. and Mrs. J.. II. Farrar. Finding that
MIR. Davis was breathing somewhat heavily
as he lay upon his back, the doctors assist
ed him 10 turn upon his right side. Will
his cheek resting upon his right hand, like q
sleeping infant, and with his left hand
dropping across his chin, he lay for some
fifteen minutes breathing family. More and
more fcebly became his respiratiOns unit
they passed into silence, and then the
watchers knew that the silver chord had
been lOOsed and the golden bowl broken.
The father Of the COnfederacy had passed
away as calmly as a nights repOse OF
flowers at set Of sun.
Despite the fact that the end had
come slowly and peacefully, and after sht
had been face 10 face for hours with the
dread reality, the blow fell with crushing
force upon
HIS AFFLICTED WIFE.
As long as there had been work fol
either head or hands, she had born,
up brayely, and not until the sweet
uses for her tender ministratiOn,
were lost did she seem 10 realize the terri
bic force of the blow that had fallen upor
her. knowing Of a presisposition to hear
affection, the doctors were at once gravel,
alarmed for her. They promptly admins
tered a composing draught, and she war
resting quietly.
CAUSE OF HIS ILLNESS.
1t is believed that the foundation of tn,
ex-Presidents last illness was malaria, com
plicated with acute bronchitis. But it il
supposed the cOngestiye chill was the I'M
mediate cause Of his death.
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.
Messages have been received from At
lauta, Biloxi, Memphis. Louisville, and
many other points, all expressing respect
for the dead Confederate leader and sym
pathv for Mrs Davis i'm her afilictlOn.
The remains will lie in state at the City
Hall here previous 10 their removal to Mis-
sissippi for burial.
IMPOSING OBsKQUIKs.
The general sentiment among ex-Confede
rates is that the obsequies of Mr.. DaNi,
should be- the most imposing ever witnesse
i'm the south. and il is believed the eX-sOl
diers at the funeral will be numbered by
thousands.
FIRE BELLS RUNG.
The illness of Mr.. Davis had been watched
with deep anxiety here, and arrangement
had been made 10 announce his death by tht
ringing Of the fire bells. Word was there
fore telephoned TO the central station al
1850 this morning, and in few minutes
the mournful notes of the bells conveyed The
intelligence of the death 10 the city. Man,
people at once gathered az the hotels, and
al o'clock this morning hundreds wer,
the event.
THE FUNERAL NEXT WEDNESDAY.
A large meeting was held at the City Hal
this noon, and 1t was decided 10 embaln
the body Of ex-President Davis and have II
lie i'm state until next Wednesday, when
the funeral will take place. Preparations
are being made on the most elaborate scale.
and the funeral will DE the grandest dem
Of love and reverence 10 any
American citizen ever held in this country
The Governor has already received nu'
lnerous kilograms from troops from all sec
tions of the South who will be here 10 par.
tcipate in the demonstration being provided
for the troops. Governor Gordon, com
mandant of the United Confederate Veteran
has issued a request To all the
Governors OF the Southern states TO make
the day Of the funeral one Of general OBJ
seryance. All the public buildings are
draped in mourning, a. we'll "a many pri-
vate residences. All business Will be sus-
pended on the day Of the funeral.
SORROW IN NEW ORLEANS.
The expressions Of sorrow among the peo-
ple over the death OF Jefferson Davis IL az
sincere as il is general. To-day fags were
suspended at halt-mast from all the city and
state buildings, newspaper offices, banks
and insurance companies. IL has been sug'
gestcd that Governor Nichols issue a
setting apart day Of mourn.
Ing, and that the people Of the city drapt
their houses with Grape, out Of respect t6
the distinguished dead. A number Of resi-
dcnces have alrt ady been draped.
The Supreme Court Of the state decided