The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-19
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS DEAD,
The Widow of Jefferson Davis, the
President of the Confederacy,
Passes Away.

Mrs. jefferson Davis, widow of the
President of the Confederacy, who
had been i'll for week at the Hotel
Majestic, in New York, died at 1925
O'Clock Tuesday night. Death was duo
to pneumonia, induced by a severe
cold which Mrs. Davis contracted up
on her return from the Adirondacks,
where she had spent the summe,
months. Although grave fears we're
felt from the first, Mrs. Davis s won,
derful vitality, which brought her
safely through similar attack a year
ago, gave hopes of ultimate recovery
until Monday night, when a decided
change for the worse was evident and
the attending physicians announced
that the end was near. 1t was then
believed that Mrs. Davis could not
survive the night, but she rallied
slightly during the early hours Of day.
Shortly after 7 o. 'clocl1 Tuesday morn
ing she had similar spell and the
Rev. Nathan A. Seagle, rector Of ST..
Stephens Protestant Episcopal
Church, was hurriedly summoned to
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 UNI
sciousness continued to the end.
AT the bedside when death came
we're Mrs. j. Addison Hayes, of New
ark, n. D., the only surviving daugh-
ter of Mrs. Davis; jefferson Davis
Hayes, a grandson, who is a student
1t Princeton University, Mrs. Charles
L. Bateson, niece, DR.. and Mrs.
Gustav Webb, the latter grand
laughter, and DR.. Robert II. Wylie,
who with DR.. Webb had cared for
Mrs. Davis throughout her illness. }.
Addison Hayes, husband of Mrs.
Davis's only living child, had been
aummonded from Colorado Springs,
and was hnurying across the contin-
ent when a message announcing Mrs.
Davis $ death intercepted him. Mrs.
Davis has for some years made he,
home in this city, where she had n
wide circle of friends. Throughout,
her illness, solicitous inquiries re-
garding her condition wel\ continu>
ally made at her apartments.
Sketch of Mrs. Davis's Life.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, the widow OF
the President Of the Confederacy,
was born in Mississippi in old Adams
County, in 1926. Varina Howell was
her maiden name. She became tho
wife of jefferson Davis before she
completed her eighteenth year. He,
father was distinguished for service
in New Orleans in the war of 1872,
and the Howell family was among the
most prominent of that section. She
was Mr.. Davis's second wife, his first
wife, daughter of Gen. Taylor, hav-
ING died a short time after their mar
riage.
Mrs. Davis was known for her clear
judgment, and s.e recidcd Ihc first
time that she saw her future husband
that he was the right man. She was
then II years old, and was invited at
that time to come over to the Hurri-
cane, the Davis place, to meet Jeffer-
son, who had been away from home
for long time. She never had seen
him before, but he had been maxim:
a great reputation for himself at tha,
time, and his fame had spread every
where throughout the State.
Mr.. Davis was then about 36 years
of age, tall, of commanding presence,
and counted the most graceful horse
man in the State. It is interesting to
see what Varina Howell wrote about
him to girl friend after this first
meeting: ~ do not know whether
this Mr.. jefferson Davis is young or
old, he looks both at times. He inn
presses me as a remarkable kind OF
man, but of uncertain temper, and
has way Of taking for granted that
everybody agrees with him when he
expresses an opinion, which offcnds
me; yet he is most agreeable and has
a peculiarly sweet voice and a win
ming manner Of asserting himself
The fact is, he is the kind Of person
should expect to rescue me from n
mad dog at any risk, but to- insist on