The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-09-24
Winnie Davis.

! From one end to the other of
this great and loyal southland the
sad news that Miss Winnie Davis,
youngest daughter of the immortal
chieftain of the Confederate States.
Jefferson Davis, breathed her last
at Narragansett Pier, will be read
with ear-dimmed eyes and sobbing
hearts. For days past the people
who knew and loved Jefferson
Davis, and followed him through
all the phases of her memorable and
historic career, have watched with
eagerness for every note of intelli-
gence from the bedside of the suf-
ferer at Narragansett Pier-the
gentle daughter of the noble hero,
the beloved child. of the South
sweet and winsome Winnie Davis,
who long ago found her true place
in the hearts of the defenders of
her devoted country, and who, as
their adopted daughter, had her
name sung i'm camp and bivouac,
by mountain and stream, beneath
Virginia's sunlit skies and Louis
iana's poisoning trees; On Texas
plains and Georgia's blood-stained
battle-fields. Every where, from
Florida to Missouri, from Tennessee
to Mississippi, the South claimed
the daughter of Its fearless and de-
voted leader as its own, and when
he was laid to rest forever on the
field of Richmond. in that historic
capital of the Confederacy, the old
veterans renewed their faith to the
widow of Jefferson Davis and his
daughter, and to-day the grief
stricken mother and sister, mourn
ing like Rachel for their best be-
loved, is the grief of the entire
South-together the tears of this
devoted section mingle with those
of the broken hearted widow and
mother.
1t was only four short weeks ago
that Winnie Davis, the Petted and
beloved of the old Confederate vet
Grams, stood among them at the
great reunion at Atlanta, smiling
back thousand grateful heart
throbs for the soulful and sincere
heart echoes that sprang to the lips
of $4,000 warriors In camp assem-
bled; how fair and bonnie she
looked, this beautiful flower of the
beautiful South, only those who
saw her then may tell. With what
grace she responded to the spon-
taneous tribute that rose from the
threats of those grizzled heroes who,
led by her father, have never ceased
to wear the gray above their hearts,
because the principles for which
they fought still live; and how her
eyes lit up with a wonderful love-
light such as maiden might give
to her favored sutton, as she looked
out upon that vast throng, cheering
aud cheering as only Confederate
heroes can, as General Gordon, the
great authenticated leader of the
clan, said: "Comrades, this is the
daughter of our chieftain. She was
his chiid-she is our child. In the
name of every Confederate veteran,
beth here and afar, I am going to
take her by the hand and kiss her.
How the welkin rang with cries Of
ssOur Chieftain's Daughter!" t'Our
child-his child !" as the stately
Gordon kissed her in the name of
the South. And far above the
cheers and applause rose tremu-
lous voice that cried, "God bless
the daughter of our chieftain-our
chieftain in heaven - How little
did anyone there dream looking
upon that bright and winsome fig
ure, in whose face glowed the roses
of health as fresh and free as the
wild flowers of her own beautiful
southland that soon, alas! so soon!