The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-07
APALL OF SORROW
The COnfeleracy'S Chief
Cold in Death
HIS END One OF PEACE.

A Sad Scene in the Chamber of Death
When Lies Pickering Spark Fled
Just Before the Birth of the New
Day-The Remains to Lie in State at
New Orleans Until Next Wednes-
day-The Place OF Final Interment
Not Decided Yet Business in the
South to be Suspended on the Day
of the Funeral.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 6.-At 12:45 o'clock
this morning Hon. jefferson Davis, ex-
President of the confederate states. died at
the residence of his lifelong friend, j. u.
Payne. From the beginning of his fatal
illness Mr.. Davis had insisted that his case
was quite hopeless, though dread of pain or
fear of death never appeared to take the
slightest hold upon his spirits, which were
brave and ever buoyant from the beginning
of the attack. In vain did the doctors
strive to impress upon him that his health
was improving. He steadily insisted that
there was no improvement. but with
christian resignation he was content to
accept whatever Providence had in
store for him. Only once did he
waver in his belief that his case showed no
Improvement, and that was early yesterday
morning, when he playfully remarked to
Mr. Payne: II am afraid that | shall be
compelled to agree with the doctors for
once, and admit that l am little better"
All of the favorable symptoms continued,
and late in the afternoon, as late as O'clock
Mrs Davis sent such cheering message to
Mrs Stamps aud Mr.. and Mrs. Farrar that
they decided, for the first time since Mr..
Davis had been taken ill, to attend the
French opera.
A CoNGESTIVE CHILL.
At 6 o'clock last evening, without any
assignable cause, Mr.. Davis was seized with
congestive chill, which seemed to crush
the vitality out of his already enfeebled
body. So weak was he that the violence of
the assault soon subsidized for lack of vital
ity upon which to prey. From that
moment to the morning of his death the
history of his case was that of one grad
ually sinking. At o'clock last night Mrs
Davis administered some medicine, but the
ex-President declined to receive the whole
dose. pray excuse me-" he said, as he
pushed the glass away gently. Gradually
he grew weaker, but never for an instant
seemed to lose consciousness. Lying
peacefully upon his bed, and without
trace of pain in his look
he remained for hours silently clasping and
tenderly caressing his wife's hand, with
undaunted christian spirit awaiting the end.
From the moment of the dread assault of
the chill, those gathered around his bedside
who had been watching aud noting with
painful interest every change of symptom
for the past month, knew well that the
dread messenger was even then at the door.
At 1890 o'clock Associate Justice Fenner
went to the French opera house to call Mr..
and Mrs. Farrar and Mrs. Stamps. As soon
as the messenger reached them they hurried
to the bedside of the dying ex-President.
IN THE CHAMBER OF DEATH.
By 11:30 o'clock there were assembled in
the death chamber Mrs. Davis, Messrs.
Chaille and Bycham, Associate Justice and
Mrs. Fenner, Mrs. Mamie Smith, grand
niece of the dying man, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Z. Il. Farrar. Finding that Mr. Davis was
breathing somewhat heavily as he lay upon
his back, the doctors turned him upon his
right side, with his cheek resting on his
right hand like sleeping infant. He lay
ior fifteen minutes breathing softly but
iaintly. More and more feeble be-
came his respirations till they passed
into silence, and then the watchers
knew that the silver cord had been loosed,
and the golden bowl broken. The Father
OF the Confederacy had passed away ''as
calmly as to night repoSe, or flowers at set
OF sum-" Despite the fact the end had come
slowly and peacefully, and after she had
been face to face for hours with the dread
reality, the blow fell with crushing force
upon the afflicted widow. As long as there
mas been work for either head or hands, she
mad borne up bravely, and not until the
sweet uses for her tender ministrations were
lost did she seem to realize the terrible
force of the blow
ALARM FOR MRS. DAVIS.
Knowing Of the predisposition to heart
affection the doctors were at once gravely
alarmed. They promptly administered
composing draught and at late hour this
morning she ~as resting quietly.
IL Is believed that the foundation of the
e9-Fresldent's last illness was malaria, COM
olhed with acute bronchitis, and that the
congestiye chill was attributable to a re-
t9rn OF he malaria After death the face
Vi tne deceased, though looking slightly
enaciated, showed no trace of suffering;
more nearly resembling that of a peaceful
sleeper than of the dead. When the family
1so partially recovered from the shock,
mr. Farrar went to the Western Union
M9legraph office and sent dispatches to Miss
" Innle Davis, who is in Paris with Mrs.
cttuIltzer, Mr.. Davis son-in-law in Colorado
ClGy, and also notified Gov. Lowry of Mis-
executive of the state should know Of the
ueath OF one Of its most distinguished sons.
LONG JOURNEY IN VAIN.
senator Jones, who started from Iowa
soine sone days ago to pay a visit to his old
dHlend and CO rade, did not arrive yester-
tttay' as was expected, and when he reached
W oSls city to-day he only beheld the remains
VI MIN, whom in life he esteemed, and to
tee whom he Travelled from far off Iowa
the sunny south.
Mrs. Hayes, Mr.. Davis daughter, who
vas vas due here yesterday, was detained last
.algnt at Fort Worth, and is not expected
W ge In the city until tomorrow morning
Judge Fenner and Mr.. Farrar have the
tLualTs OF the dead statesman in hand, but
tb he latter gentleman said this morning
o oua1 ne and Judge Fenner would not take
4 biy, steps toward the burial until they had
Pead consultation with Mrs. Davis. Mr..
~ taITar H Is fully acquainted with the details
Ji5 Al Hlr Davis will, but he stated that be
so.. ou not know but that Mrs Davis received
q in1. inhs !, nnal wish from her husband regard
4 W. ehe place of burial. Mr. Farrar did not
citS.w CIV II the burial would take place In this
4 .InJ5 IJ OF elsewhere, and, although be and
! fbs1se Fenner had been requested to act as
cav ft in the premises. Mrs.