New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-07
PRICE THREE CENTS.
LAST HOURS OF JEFF. DAVIS
HIS PEACEFUL AND PAINLESS DEATH IN
NEW-ORLEANS.
THE FAVORABLE SYMPTOMS OF THE PATIEN1
ABRUPTLY TERMINATED BY A CoNGES-
TIVE CHILL-sCENEs AND INCIDENTS
AT THE DYING MANS BEDSIDE
THE FUNERAL TO BE
HELD ON WEDNESDAY.
BILE SYMPTOMS OF THE pATIEy1

THE FUNERAL TO BE
HELD ON WEDNESDAY!
rBr TELEGRAPH TO rRrBusE-J
New-Orleans, Dec. 6.-Jeferson Davis died thu
morning at IL As. lie was taken with 6t Of
coughing shortly before, which so exhausted him
that he was unable TO rally. He passed quietly
away, the passage from life 10 death being
faint that the anxious watchers were scarcely able
to tell when death came. For four or five days
Mr. Davis had been improving slowly lie had
been free from fever and there were indications
of returning appetite. The physicians announced
that his condition was satisfactory, and the last
information from the sick-room was 10 the effect
that the patient was in no immediate danger. No
one anticipated that the end was near.
There was nothing remarkable about the death
bed scene. There were no dry eyes in the little
assembly about the bed and every heart bled
with the anguish which found vent in Mrs. Daviss
sobs and cries. Mr. Davis died in the handsome
house of ]. U. Payne, at First and Camp SITS.
This house, built by Mr.. Payne is one of the most
comfortable in all the city. 1t is of brownstone
stucco, two stories high, with broad verandas, and
is surrounded by lovely grounds, where camellia
bushes are spiked with bloom and oranges hang
in clusters on the trees The house has WIDE
hall running through the centre, with drawing
rooms one side, library on the other, and on
the corner of the house in lovely and cheery
apartment, into which the sunlight streams
nearly all day, lay the distinguished invalid.
The patients constant attendant has been Mrs.
Davis, who has never left his bedside since his
illness began If she left him for a moment he
asked for her. and was fretted or uneasy until she
returned Friends continually sent beautiful
flowers, Of which Mr. Davis was fond, but these
were not allowed to remain in the sick room for
any lcngth of time. At the outset jellies, fruits
and all manner of decacies were proffered, until
Mrs. Davis was compelled TO decline them Tho
sick mans food was only milk, ice, beeftea. and
sometimes a broiled chop.
Mr. Davis remained in bed all the time and was
never left Alone being guarded by his wife and
the auadroon hired nurse Lydia. and Mrs. Daviss
little brown-eyed handmaidel. Betty. But little
talking was allowed, and newspapers, letters ard
telegrams were tabooed. From the beginning OF
his fatal illness Mr.. Davis had insisted that his
case was nearly quite 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 try to impress upon him that his
health was improving. lie steadily insisted that
there was no improvement. Only once did he
waver in his belief that his case showed no i'm
rrovemest and that was at an early hour yester-
day morning, when he playfuyy remarked to Mr.
Payne
lam afraid that shall be compelled to agree
with the doctors for once and admit that am
little better"
All day long the favorable symptoms continued,
and in the afternoon, about four o'clock, Mrs.
Davis sent such cheering message to Mrs.
Stamps and Mr. and Mrs. Farrar that they decided
for the first time since air Davis had been taken
i'll tG attend the ope:l.
At o'clock last evening WITHOUT any assign
able cause Mr.. Davis was seized with congeStive
chill, which seemed TO crush the vitality out OIL
his already enfeebled body. From that moment
TO the moment of his death he was gradually sink
ing. At o'clock Mrs Davis administered some
medicine, but the ex.President declined TO receive
the whole dose. She urged upon him the necessity
of taking the remainder, but putting 1T aside, he
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
upon his bed, and without a trace of pain in his
look he remained for hours, clasping and caress-
ing his WifeS hand
About halfpast 10 o'clock Associate Justice
Fenner went TO the opera house TO call to Alr.
Davs's bedside Mr.. and Mrs. Farrar and Mrs
Stamps. As as the message reached them
they hurried TO the bedside cf the dying man;
By half.past IL o'clock there were assembled
in the death chamber Mrs Davis, Drs, 5. T. Challle
and c. j. Bicllham, Associate Justice and Mrs.
Charles Il. Fenner, Miss Mamie Smith, grand
niece of Mr. Davis: Mr. and Mrs. f. II. Farrar,
Mr. Payne and +. ID. Fenner, son of the Justice.
Finding that Mr.. Davis was breathing somewhat
heavily he lay upon his back, the doctors
assist him to turn upon his right side. WIN
his cheek resting upon bis right hand and with
his left hand dropping across his chests he lay
for some fifteen minutes breathing softly but
family. More and more feeble became hlS
resprations, till they passed into silence.
Mrs. Davis was greatly prOstrated by her
husbands death and knowing 4 predispGslion
TO heart affection, the doctors promptly admlnls
tered a composing draught
1t is believed that the foundation of MIR. Daviss
last illness was malaria complicated with acute
bronchitis. After death the face of the deceased
man, though looking slightly emaciated, showed
Mr. Farrar went TO a telegraph office and sent
dispatches to Miss Winnie Davis; who Is IN Parls %
Hayes in Colorado City, and also informed Gov
ernor Lowry, of Mississippi. Senator Jones, who
had started from Iowa some days ago TO pay a
visit 10 his old friend and comrade did not ar
rive yesterday, as expected. and when he
reached this city to-day only beheld the dead body
of his friend. Judge Fenner and Mr. Farrar
have the affairs of Mr.. Davis in hond, but Mr..
Farrar last night stated that e and judge Fenner
would not take any sters looking TO the funeral un-
Ill they had held a consultation with Mrs. Davis.
Mr. NJ T fng Il ay & St S w6 al the de details M
not know if Mrs Davis had received some final
wish from her husband regarding the place Of
burial
Fort Worth, Tex, Dec. 6.-Nlrs. NJ. H. D. Hayes,
Of Colorado Springs, daughter of Jefferson Davis,
accompanied by her husband and little son,
arrived here last night on the way TO New
Orleans, having been summoned by a telegram
announcing her fathers critical condition The
.party were taken TO New-0rleans in special
| train.
Messages have been received from At4an's,
| BeloXi, Memphis Louisville, and many o'
ponfs all eXnressiye of respect for the ufssu i"'