Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-06
a9(@z g5z:sszE
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT DAVIS

this morning Hon. J.tlers,n Davis, ex.
President OF the Confederate States, died at
the residence of his life long friend J. U
Payne, in this city. From the beginning OF
his fatal Illness MIR. Davis had insisted that
his case was quite hopeless. though the dread
of pain or fear of death n3yer appeared to
take the slightest hold upon his spirits
All day yesterday the symptoms were so
favorable that Mrs. Davis decided for the
first time since Mr. Davis had beer taken i'll
to attend the French opera. Al six o'clock
last evening without any assignabie cause,
Mr.. Davis was seizsd with coneestive chill
which seemed to absolutely crush the vital
ity out of bis already eufeebled body. From
that moment to the morning of his death
there was gradual sinking. At o'clock
Mrs Davis administered some medicine, but
the ex-Presideut declined to receive the
whole dose. She urged upon him the ne
cessity of taking the remainder, but putting
it aside, with the gentlest of gestures, he
whispered, "Pray excuse me-" These were
mis- last words. Gradually he grew weaker,
but never for an instant ieemed to lose con
sciousness. Lying peacefully upon his bed
and without tracs Of pain 10 MS look be
remained for hours. Silently olaspiDg and
tenderly caressing his wife's hand with I'm.
daunted christian spi;it he awaited the end
By half past II o'clock Mr. Davis wa
breathing softly but family. More aud
more feeble became his respi:ations Till they
passed into silence, and then the watchers
| knew that "the father of the confederacy"
mad passed away. Tae blow fell with crush
ing force upon. the afflicted widow not I'm
| til the sweet uses for her tender mipistra
| tons were lost did she seem to realiz, the
| terrible force Of the blow that had fallen
| upon her.
II is believed that the foundation of the
| exPresident's last illness was malaria conc
plcated with acute bronchitis, Careful
nursing and skilled medical attention had
| mastered the latter, but it is supposed that
the competitive chill, which was the immed.
ate cause Of death, was attributable to re
! tn n of the malaria. After death the face
of the deceased, though looking slightly
en- aciated showed no trace of suffering,
mora nearly resembling that of peaceful.
sleeper than of the dead. When the family
had partially recovered from the terrible
sh ock, telegraphic dispatches we're sent to
Mss Winnie Davis, who is in Pars; to Mr.
D ,vis's son-n law 10 Colorado City, and also
to Governor Lowry, of Mississippi.
Mrs. Hayes, Mr.. Davis's daughter who
was due here yesterday, was detained last
night at Fort Worth and ia not expected to
be in the city until Saturday morning.
No arrangements for the funeral will be
made uotil q consultation has been had with
Mrs. Davis, who i5 at present too much
grlsved by her severe loss to be approached
Oh the subject. It ia not known where the
Trial will take place, rs Mrs. Davis has not
intimated where che desires the nterment
to be made.
Mayor Shakespeare has issued proclamf
tlon announcing Mr.. Davis's death and in.
wiling the presidents of the exchanges
and com mercal bodies to meet at the city
hall in order that proper arrangements may
be made for the funeral. The mayor says
ut is with the deepest regret that 1 an
nounce to the people of the city of New
Orleans the departure from this life of JEFF
ferson Davis. Hs needs 20 eulogy from me.
His life is history and his memory is en.
shrined in the heart OF every man, woman
and child in this broad South. We all loved
him and we all owe him honor and rever
ence."
Jefferson Davis was born in Christian
county, Kentucky, on June 3rd, 1908.
he was educated at Transylvania col.
lege aud left bis native State in 1924 to
enter the military academy at West Point
After graduating 2ld Lieutenant he
served seven years with distinction in the
Indian war. ResigGing his commission in
1885 he returned to Mississippi, where he
married daughter of Gen L .chary Taylor. |
He was engaged in cotton planting until
1913, when he was elected TO Congress. |
Upon the breaking out of the wnr with Mex.
leo be raised regiment CT Mississippi vol
unteers and was appointed its Colonel. He
was engaged in the storming Of Monterey |
and was complimented in the official dis |
patches for distinguished rallantry at Buena
Vista. Upon the close of the war in 1917 be
was elected Senator from Mississippi, ard III
1885, % chairman of the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs, he distinguished himselfby bis
jealous defence Of slavery and his advocacy |
of States rights. In 1851 he resigned his
seat ia the Senate to undertake personal
canvass for Mr. Pierce, who, OH being elect
ed, nominated Mr.. Davis Secretary of War;
Ga the accession of Mr.. Buchanan, Mr..
Davis retired from Office and was re elected |
to the Senate, but upon the accession of Lin
coin in 1861 he withdrew. When the Sc
cession movement assumed shape Mr Davis |
was elected President of the Confederate |
Slstes February4, 1861, and was Inaugural
ted On the 22od OF the same month. After
the collapse of the confaderacy he was cap
tured May 10, 1865 and taken to Fortress
Mamma q, hara na o. cd Ilranncr nn Ill |