Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-06
DIED In PEACE.
The End Of a Notable Ca
reer.
JEFFERSON DAVIS Is DEAD.
The ex-President of the C0nfederaey
Passes Peacefully Away at
New Orleans.


ASSOCIATED Press Dispatches to the HERALD
New ORLEANS, December Sat IL AS
O'Clock this morning Jefferson Davis, ex-
President Of the Confederate States, died
at the residence of his life long friend
]. A. Payne. From the beginning of his
fatal illness Mr.. Davis had insisted that
his case was nearly or quit,
hopeless, though the dread of pain or
fear of death never appeared to take the
slightest hold upon his spirits. In vain
did the doctors strive to impress upon him
that his health was improving he stead
lily insisted that he was making no inn
provement, but with Christian reeigna-
tion he was content to accept whatever
Providence had in store for him.
At O'Clock last evening, without as
signable cause, Mr.. Davis was seized with
a congeetive chill, which seemed 'abso-
lutely to crush the vitality out of his
already enfeebled body. So weak was
Mr.. Davis that the violence of the assault
soon subsidized for lack of vitality on
which to prey.
From the moment of the dread assault
of the congestive chill, those gathered
about the bedside who had been watch.
ing and noting with painful interest
every change OF bis symptoms for the
past month, knew well the dead mes
senger wss ever at the door.
About 80 o'clock Associate Justice
Fenner went to the French opera house
to call to Mr.. Davis bedside Mr.. and
Mrs. Farrar and Mrs. Stamps. As soon
aa the message reached them they hur-
ried to the bedside of the dying ex- Pres
ident. By II 80 o'clock they were as
sembled in the death chamber.
From that moment to the moment Of
his death the history of the case was that
Of gradual sinking. At 2 O'Clock
Mrs. Davis administered some
medicine, but the ex-President
declined to receive the whole
dose. She urged upon him the neces-
sity of taking the remainder, but. setting
il aside with agentle gesture, whispered,
"Pray excuse me-" These were
his last words. Gradually he grew
weaker and weaker, but never
for an instant seemed to LOSE
consciousness. Lying peacefully On hii
bed, and without trace of pain in hif
looks, he remained for hours silently
clasping. and tenderly caressing hi
wife's hand, awaiting the end.
Jefferson Davis was born in Christia,
county, Kentucky, June 8, 1908. Durinl
his childhood his father removed int
the State of Mississippi. Jefferson
graduated at West Point at the age of 20
served in the army during several In
dian wars, and resigned his commission
in 1885. He soon after married 1
daughter of Gen. Zachary Tay
lor subsequently President Of tn
United States), and became
cotton.p planter. He was elected to Con
gress in 1874, and in 1845 he was chosen
Colonel of Mississippi regiment, will
which he served in the Mexican war
He was elected to the United Sate
Senate in 1847, and became Secretary o
War in the Cabinet of President Pierce
in 1851. He was elected in 1858 to IT,,
United States Senate, from which ht
withdrew after the election of Mr.. Lin
coin, in 1860. Mr.. Davis was the LEADING
spirit in the Secession movement, ant
in February, 1861, was inaugurated pro
visionel President of the Confederate
States. and the year following wat
elected President for six years. Aftel
the fall of Richmond he was captured
and imprisoned in Fortress Mon
roe for two years, was ther
admitted to bail, and was included in
the general amnesty of 1868. After his
release he visited Europe and on hi
return took up his residence at Memphis
Tennessee, whore he was for time
President Of life insurance company
In 1881 he published "The Rise and Fal
of the Confederate Government" in two
volumes. His later residence was a.
Beauvoir, Mississippi, whence he seldom
emerged from retirement, although sew
eral speeches delivered by him in 1884
and at subsequent dates, created some
interest. He had been in feeble
health for some weeks rat, ant
short time ago went to New Orleane
for medical treatment, where he died
the infirmities of age having proved be
yond the physicians skill to cure. The
crowded condition of the HERALD's col
umns this morning makes the publica
ton ola moro extended biography at this
time impossible; the history OF the man
however, is so we'll known, and his ca
reer 80 elaborately treated in all curren1
works Of history and biography, as te
make an exhaustive newspaper repor
thereon unnecessary.-EDIToR]