Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-07
JEFFERSON Davis DEAD.
The Ex-President Of the Con.
federate States Died Early
This Morning.
He was Attacked with a Con.
gestive Chill and Died
Without Pain.
From Fridays Daily.

L O81kys
ii New ORLEANS, Dec. Cat 19:45 o'clocl
! Jefferson Davis, ex.president Of the Con
} federate States, died at the residence O.
bis lifelong friend, J. q. Payne.
Il From the beginning of his fatal illness,
Mr.. Davis had insisted that his case was
nearly or quite hopeless, though the dread
Of pain or the 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 steadily insisted that there was no i'm
provement, but with christian resignation
he was content to accept whatever provi.
dence had in store for him.
At 6 o'clock last evening without any az.
signed cause Mr.. Davis was seized with q
coEgestive chill which seemed to absolutely
crush the vitality out Of his already en-.
feebled body. So weak was Mr.. Davis that
the violence Of the assault soon SUBJ
sided for lack OF vitality upon which
to prey. From that moment to
the momsat OF his death the history of his
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 necessity
OF taking the remainder, but put
ting it aside with geatle gesture, he
whispered "Pray excuee me-" These were
his last words.
Gradually he grew weaker but never for
an instant seemed to lose consciousness.
lying peacefully upon his bed and without |
trace at pain in his look, he remained for |
hours, silently clasping nd ;cn;lerIy ca ress-
ing his wife's hand. He await. d The end
from the moment of the dead as,rult of
the congsstive chill.
Those gathered about tie bedside, " no
had been watching and noting with painful
interest every change or sy ymptom for the
past month, knew we'll that the dread
was even at the door.
Abont 1890 o'clock Associate Justice
Fenner went to the French opera house to
call to Mr.. Davis's bedside Mr.. and Mrs.
r urrur uuu WIS. orampB. As soon as The
reached them they hurried to the
bedside OF the dying OK president.
By 11:3O O'Clock there were assembled in
the death chamber Mrs Davis, Drs. Cheavle
and Bickham, Associate Justice and Mrs.
Fenner. Miss Mamie s nth, grand. niece
OF the Dying ex-president. and Mr.. and
Mrs. E. q. Farrar.
Fini!ng that Mr.. Davis was breathing
heavily as he lay upon his back,
the doctors assisted him to turn upon his
right side with his cheek resting
upon his right hahd. He lay Tor
some fifteen minutes breathing softly,
but faulty. More and more feeble
became his Inspirations until they passed
into silence. and then the watchers knew
that the silver cord had cut and the
Father Of the Coeiederacy was dead.
Jefferson Davis, noted as president OF
the Confederate states OF America, was
bornsin Kentucky, June 8, 1893. During
his childhood his father moved to Missis-
sippi. He graduated at West Point in
1928, and was employed In the army on
the border. Resigning his commission in
1885, he returned to Mississippi, married
a daughter OF Gen. Taylor, and became q
gress, but soon Joined the army against
Mexico, and distinguished himself at Bueoa
Vista. In 1S47 he was made sena-
tor for Mississippi and was noted for
his energetic defense OF slavery and state
sovereignty. He became secretary of war,
and the ruling spirit, under the Pierce ad.
but on the election of Buch-
enan was again returned to the senate. On
the passage Of the secession ordinance by
che state Of Mississippi, Davis announced
the event in the senate OF the United
States, and withdrew from the capitol.
On Feb. 4, 1851, he was chosen President
Of the Confederate States" and in 1862
was reelected for six years. On the COL
lapse OF the rebellion he was captured at
Irwinsville, Ga, May 10, 1865, and i'm.
prisonei in Fortress Monroe until May 13,
1867, when he was released on bail without
srsk k- IL