The evening times., 1896-10-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS' SERVANT
Faithful COl0red Man Killed by a
Train Near Baltimore.
His Daughter Is q Teacher in the
Public Schools Here-A Strik-
ing Character.

The culored man who was killed ON the
Western Maryland Railroad Sunday night
wis identified yesterday as Frederick Nc
GiDnis, the body servant of the late JeffcF-
son Davis while Mr.. Davis was Confined at
Fort Monroe. McGinnis leaves u uaugiI-
ter, Emma, who was graduated last year
from the Coioreu High school here, and is
now teacher in one OF the public schools.
His only son died some years ago.
He was Lative Of Charleston, s. c.,
where he was born sixty years ago.
Throughoutthec civil war he was !; personal
servant Of Gen. Beauregard. After the war
he was employed by Mr.. George W Sciicy,
wealthy Georgian, who placed hin, ut
the service Of Mrs. Jeffer son Davis, who de
sired servant to accompany her during a
trip OF Canada.
Nhenshe Ubtaineda permit from Secretary
Stautun to visit Mr.. Davis at Fort Monroe.
McGiDnis accompanied her. Mrs. Davis was
advised that unless her husband had a
special cook, proper food and careful at
teptinn he would not live long.
The faithful Colored man was selected for
these duties. He served Mr.. Davis six
months while the distinguished prisoner
was confined in the asements OF the
fortress, and when the bad health OF the
Confederate president caused his removal
to another part of the fortress, McGinnis
remained with him.
He continued to serve the prisoner for
eighteen months longer, or until the final
release OF Mr.. Davis, supervising the cook
ing and arrangement of his food, carrying
his mesa ges, receiving his letters and
iDradc md in
upon him. whenthe prisoner was released,
McGinnis accompanied him to Canutil aud
remained six months with the children,
Winnie and Willie.
1t is said that McGinnis was Instrumental
in having the chains removed from Mr..
Davis. The story goes that an officer at
the fort was very much worried about the
condition of his horse. AicGinnis said he
could cure the animal, and when Mr.. Davis
assured the officer that the servant was
trustworthy, McGinnis put the horse under
treatment and was successful. The officer
became very fond OF McGinnis, and at the
solicitation of the servant had the chains
removed from Mr.. Davis.
When Mr.. Davis, on account OF depleted
fortune, dispensed with his services, Nc
Ginnis went to Baltimore. After two years
service with the late John W. Garrett he
entered the employ of the Baltimore News
Company. Since January, 1880. he had
been ON the pay rolls of the company andwas
trusted and respected.
in August, 1895. McGinnis, through the
kindness of a gentleman who took much in
terest In him, W as given an opportunity to
revisit Fort Monroe. 1t was the first
time ic had been in the fortress since he
had left il in the sixties. Heidentified the
easements where he had spent SO much time
with his imprisoned master, but said one
of the buildings in which Mr.. Davishad been
confined was removed sand that no familiar
faces were there.
McGinnis was pleasantly remembered by
Mrs. DAVIS, who sent him an autograph
copy of her sketches of her husbands life
when the work was first published. In
the book is grateful account of the minis
tratious of the colored man to the dis
tinguished prisoner.
This book was highly treasured by Nc
Giunis, together with autograph letters and
orders from Mr.. Davis and Gen. Beaure-
gard. These papers he at one time pro-
posed to give into the care of the Confed-
crate Army and Navy Society OF Maryland,
but never carried out his intentions in
the matter Another relic he treasured
was the last cane used by jefferson Davis,
which was sent him by Mrs. Davis.
At the time Of the reinterment of Mr..
Davis body. in 1898, McGinnis had
personal Invitation to attend from the.
executive committee In charge of the cere-
monies, and was enabled to go through
the kindness of the same gentleman who
had sent him tn Fort Monroe