The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-09-04
BERNARD ]. SAGE DEAD
A TRUSTED FRIEND OF PRESIDENT
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Was With the chieftain Of the Con-
federaoy During His Imprisonment and
Rendered Valuable Services.
lsneclal to The PnstN


New Orleans, September 3.-Death came
TO Bernard j, Sage at $50 O'Clock last night
al his late residence. 2326 Camp street, aud
81 his passing there disappears one Of the
last Of The connecting links of the old time
Southland aud the present day. He was
In his eighty-second year, having been born
In New Haven, Conn, February !. 1874.
Few men, even Of his day and generation
the days Of great and loyal deeds-evcr
rendered greater service TO the South than
did the one-time distinguished barrister
Hud littersteur who last night, broken
With years and with mind so dlmmed
as TO only family reflect the brilliant
scinullations OF his past greatness, passed
into the beyond.
The carly life OF the friend OF jefferson
Davis, the brilliant lawyer who so ably con
tended for the freedom OF the president OF
the Confederacy and who during the civil
war was the trusted agent IN England Of
the Confederate government, had not been
cast in particularly pleasant places for his
thirteenth birthday found him a sailor be.
fore the mast of a merchantmen OF which
his brother was captain at the time.
But the genius that was In him rose SUI
perlor To his surroundings. He took up his
residence In Louisiana, and here he quail
ned himself for the bar. and IL was not long
before he had achieved a reputation as
one Of the best authorities in The country
on constitutional law.
Then the war between the States was
declared, and the best minds OF the South
were brought Into consultation TO devise
ways and means to Conduct a hopeless and
losing cause. He was offered positions Of
trust and confidence, but declined them ali.
lie was content TO give his best talents
WITHOUT none nf reward. md while hp
tained no position OF prominence In the
memorable struggle. his was one OF the
minds and his the ripe knowledge and ex-
perlence that guided the advisors Of thu
confederate government Ia many questions
OF International and constitutional law.
cs Mhen me dark dark days q The Confederaeey
was among the trusted agents and ennis
ssnes VINO were sent to use. the influence
,9bo 1 a,a ana subtle argument 70 invoke
ment ~ the foreign governments. lie
went but while there the doom az his
cause was sounded. and & was during his
sthy there that the bond OF the Confed-
crate president was arranged. and he, his
lrlehus saw as much rs any other man,
Was instrumental In making II.
The tonfederacy fell and Mr. SAGE re
turned 20 the United states President
I Davis was "a be tried on a charge o. trea.
son, and bernard J. Sage was expected TO
| brought to trial. hut among the papers
I now IN the possession or the old gentleman
/ are the legal briefs prepared 20 be used
/ heiorc the highest tribunal OF the land had
the case ever been brought to mn issue.
! , The wears passed aud the old lawyer re
/ ieved ~ the stirring duties, dropped Into
/ quiet NE The fortune amassed In bis
| early days was used to educate many de-
| herYing, but poor Young men. sons OF his
| old'time friends, Many ~ them have risen
70 pssees Of promlnence In the history "
/ Ihe state, and all still hold the old man
IN the highest esteem
shortly after the fall nj the Confederacy
I ne was oAerod a position as associate tus-
! uee or me supreme court Of the state but
/ declined the honor.