The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-07

from me. His life is history, and his
memory is enshrined in the heart of every
man woman and child in this broad
South. We all loved him and we all owe
him honor and reverence"
Jefferson Davis closed his eyes in death
at fifteen minutes before one o'clock this
morning, surrounded by all his friends
and relatives who were within call. The
handsome residence of ]. H. Payne at
the corner of First and Camp streets is
at present the object of ofinterest to every
friend of Mr.. Jefferson Davis because it
is in the pleasant guest chamber OF this
elegant home that the beloved old con-
federate chieftain passed away. This
residence, built by Mr.. Payne, is one of the
most comfortable and artistic in all the
city. 1t is of brown stone stuCcO, two
stories high with broad verandas and
set into lovely grounds where camellia
bushes are spiked with bloom, and
oranges hang in clusters on the trees.
The house has a wide hall running
through the centre with drawing rooms
on one side, a library on the other, and
on the rear corner of the house is a lovely
and CHEEKY apartment into which the
southern sun streams nearly all day
lay the patient and distinguished invalid.
1t is a wonderfully pretty room with
rich toned Persian hued carpet on the
floor, shades and delicate lace curtains
at the four windows two fronting to the
east and two to the south. Pictures are
on the walls and there are lounges, easy
Turkish chairs and pretty carved tables
and huge carved oak victoria bedStead
on which the ex-president of the Conteder-
acy lies in the embrace of death. His
Stant attendant has been Mrs. Davis.
who has never left his bedside since his
illness began. In comfortable house
wrapper of gray and black this gentle.
minister was always at the invalids
side, and if she left him for moment he
asked for her and was iretted or uneasy
until she returned. Friends constantly
sent beautiful flowers of which Mr.. Davis
was very fond, but these were not al
lowed to remain in the sick room for any
length of time At the outset, jellies,
fruits and all manner of invaid's dclica-
cies were prOffered, until Mrs Davis was
compelled to decline them. The sick
mans food was only milk, ice, beef tea,
and rarely broied chop. Mr. Davis
remained in bed all the time, and was
never left alone, being guarded lovingly
by his wife and n capable quadroon hired
nurse, Lydia, and Mrs. Davis own little
brown eyed hand maiden Betty, who, at
all times had the entire to the sick room
But little talking was allowed, and
newspapers, letters and kilograms were
tabOoed.
On Wednesday afternoon a reporter
had few moments conversation with
Mrs. Davis. She was worn and wcaried
with service at the sick bed but which
she would not allow to any other, and
her step was tagging as she came into
the dining room. She was very hopeful,
however, of her husbands ultimate re-
covery Mr. Davis has always been an
exceedingly temperate man," said Mrs
Davis. "He has never abused his physi-
cal powers, and no one could have lived
more moderately than he. Of course all
of this is in bis favor. do not mean to
say that there would be no danger if a
door were left open or the fire i'll his
room allowed to go out. He is as trail
as lily, and requires the most attentive
care That he has. l believe he would
not be alive to-day had this illness came
upon him at Beauvoir where he could
not possibly have had the constant care
of such physicians as DR.. Bickham and
Dr. Chaille, and the intelligent love, ten
derness and luxury that surrounds him
in this home"
Mr.. Davis seemed much better during
the early part Of yesterday and his I'M
proved condition was remarked by the
doctors and his family. He had a pain
in the bowels during the day, but the
serious feature appeared just few min
uteS before six o'clock. Then the illus
trious patient was stricken with severe
congestive chill. The doctors were not
present at the time, but Judge Fenner's
family and Mrs. Davis did everything to
sooth the sufferer. 1t was 7 O'Clock be-
fore Dr. Bickham and DR.. Chaille, two of
the most famous practitioners in the
South, arrived and consulted over the
condition of the patient. His change
was a surprise totally unexpected to
those in constant attendance, and the
skilled eyes of the medical men saw in it
the beginning Of the end. They continued
with the patient until his death, how
eyer, and made every possible effort to
avoid the inevitable. Mr.. Davis remain
ed in a comatose condition, and the at
tendants could see no signs of conscious
ness. Mrs Davis said she occasionally
felt return of the pressure of the hand
she held, although he could neither speak
nor make a sign. This was the scene in
the sick chamber as the hours passed.
The only variation was the arrival of
Mr.. Edwin II. Farrar, husband of
Mr.. Davis niece, and of Judge and
Mrs. Charles E. Fenner, who had
been sent for at the opera.
At the bedside when the end came were
Mrs. Davis, Mr.. J. U. Payne, Mr.. and
Mrs. Judge Charles E. Fenner, Mr.. E. H.
Farrar, Mrs. Smith, a grand niece of Mr..
Davis, Mr. E. d. Fenner, son of the
justice, DR.. c. ]. Bickham and DR.. S. Z.
Chaille.
The lamp of life waned low as the hour
of midnight arrived, nor did it flicker
into the brightness of consciousness at
any time. Eagerly, yet tenderly, the
watchers gazed at the face of the dying
chieftain; his face always calm and pale,
gained additional pallor, and at a quar-
ter of one O'Clock of the morning of this
the sixth day of December, death came
to the venerable leader. The departure
of the spirit was gentle, and utterly pain
less. There were no dry eyes in the lit
tie assembly about the bed and every
heart bled with anguish which found
vent in Mrs. Davis sobs and cries. I'M
mediately after the death, Mrs. Davis
was led up stairs to the bedroom of Mrs.
Fenner, where the ladies tried to assuage
her grief She bore the awful blow
bravely, but her breathing was labored,
and her condition so weak that two doc
tors consulted and, they pronounced her
weakness to be that only consequent on
the strain and grief, and said that moth
ing was to be feared.
Messages have been received from At
lanta, Biloxi, Memphis, Louisville, and
many other points, all expressive Of res
pect for the dead and of sympathy for
Mrs Davis in her af1liction