The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-17


 ter Present at Death Bed-Deceased
 Had Wide Circle of Friends in New
 YorIx--SOIicitOus Inquiries Constantly
 Made at Her Apartments.
 New York, Oct. 16-Mrs. Jefferson Davis, widow of the president of the confederacy, who had been ill for a week at the Hotel Majestic in this city, died at 1925 o'clock tonight. Death was due to pneumonia induced by a severe cold which Mrs. Davis contract ed upon her return here from the Adj rondacks, where she had spent the summer months. Although grave fears were felt from the first, Mrs. Davis wonderful vitality which safely brought her through a similar attack year ago gave hope of ultimate recovery until last night when a decided change for the worse was evident and the attend ing physicians announced that the end was near. It was then believed that Mrs. Davis could not survive the night, but she rallied slightly during the early hours of to-day. Shortly after o'clock this morning she had a sinking spell and Rev. Nathan IA. Seagle, rector of St Stephens Protestant Episcopal church was hurriedly summoned toI give religious comfort to the patient in her last moments of consciousness. The clergyman remained some time and an hour later it was announced that Mrs. Davis had lapsed into a state of coma The period of unconsciousness| continued to the end.
 At the bedside when death came were Mrs. J. Addison Hayes of New ark, N. J., the only surviving daughter of Mrs. Davis; Jefferson Davis Hayes, a grandson, who is student at Prince ton university; Mrs. Charles D. Bate son, niece; Dr. and Mrs. Gustave' Webb. the latter granddaughter and Dr. Robert H. Wylie, who with Dr. Webb had cared for Mrs. Davis throughout her illness.
 J. Addison Hayes, husband of Mrs. Davis only living child, had been summoned from Colorado Springs and was hurrying across the continent when a message announcing Mrs. Day. is' death intercepted him. Mrs. Davis had for some years made her home in this city, where she had a wide circle of friends. Throughout her illness so- lcitous inquiries regarding her condi- tion were continually made at her apartments.
 Mrs. varina Howell Davis was born in Matches, Miss, May ', 1926. Her father was William Burr Howell and her grandfather Governor Richard Howell of New Jersey. She was edu- cated at a private school in Philadel- phia and by private tutors. In 1S4S she was married to Jefferson Davis of Warren County, Mississippi, and went to live at the Jefferson home on the Brierfield plantation. When MT. Davis was elected United States senator, Mrs. Davis accompanied him to Washing ton, where she took a prominent posi- ton in society at the national capital from 1S47 to 1861 When Jefferson Davis became president rof the southern confederacy, Mrs. Davis took up her residence at the executive mansion at Richmond, Va, where she remained until the close of the war.
 During the second year of her hus- bands imprisonment at Fortress Mon roe, Mrs. Davis obtained permission to be with him and upon his release &C., companied him abroad She acted as her husbands secretary in compiling his memoirs, and was herself the au- thor of a book covering the public ca- reer of her distinguished husband Mrs. Davis performed other literary work and was a frequent contributor to mag azines.
 After their return from abroad Mir and Mrs. Davis took up their residence at Beavvoir house, Harrison county, Mississippi, where they lived for many years. After MT. Davis death at New Orleans on December 6, 1889, Mrs. Da- wis moved to New York, where she had since resided.
 Mrs. Davis leaves one daughter, Mrs. !. Addison Hayes of Colorado Springs who was at her bedside when she died