The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1909-04-10
We. CURTIS VISITS AND
WRITES OF BEAUVOIR.
Famous Correspondent of Chicago
Record-HeraId Gives Description
and Grows Reminiscent-Jeffe
Davis Thought Death of Lincoln
Calamity.

The following extracts are from a
letter written by William E. Curtis,
correspondent of the Chicago Record
Herald, from Biloxi, descriptive of
Beauvoir:
The home of jefferson Davis, on
the bank of Mississippi Sound, about
four miles west of Biloxi, is now a
snug harbor for 135 aged and infirm
veterans of the Confederate Army
and 27 widows and wives of veterans
Unlike the homes for Union soldiers
in the North, women are admitted up
on the same terms as the men, and
have barracks and messroom set
apart for their use. The plantation
has BEEN known as "Beauvolr" for
generations. In England the name
is pronounced Beaver" but here it
is given the French pronunciation
-"Bo-vaw" It embraces eighty sew
en- acres of land, chiefly pine forest.
The place has never been cultivated
to any extent-only garden and a
vineyard of scuppernong grapes,trom
which a good deal of wine has been
made, both for family use and for
sale in past years.
tors of Mrs. Sarah Dorsey, an an
cient Mississippi family, and was in
herited by her. She was an intimate
friend of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, and
when Mr.. Davis determined to write
his memoirs Mrs. Dorsey invited him
to come here and occupy the house.
He came originally as her guest, but
after he had been here two years he
bought the place for $4,000 paying
$4,000 down, and giving his notes for
the balance When Mrs. Dorsey dled
a wear or so later she bequeathed
Beauvoir to him and after him to
Miss Winnie Davis, his daughter, and
instructed her executors to cancel the
notes and refund the $4,000 he had
already paid.
You will remember that after the
Unted States Court at Richmond, in
May, 1867, ordered the release of
Jefferson Davis upon a bail bond,
signed by Horace Greeley, Gerrit
Smith and Augustus Sche!l, Of New
York, he spent the summer in Can
ada. In the early winter he went to
Europe visiting London and Paris and
after a time came home OF accept the
presidency Of a Memphis life ia5ur-
arce company. The. people 4 that
city offered to buy him. a home, with
the purpose of getting him as a per-
manent resident but he declined to
accept it, which showed his wisdom,
because the insurance company was
not a success and he resigned the
presidency after year or SO or dls-
agreeable experience. At BeauVolr
he wrote his book, THE Rise and
Fall of the Confederate States OF
America. lin little frame, ,One-roomed
building detached from the bungalow
in which the family resided. 1t IS
now used as the office of the super
intendent of the Soldiers Home. IL
is surrounded by a wide porch, with
overhanging caves, to protect the IN
terror from the sun, and is similar
to many plantation offices and libra
\ ries down in this hot country On
= the other side of the residence is a
duplicate of the library, which was
used as a plantation office by the
Dorseys and also by Mr. Davis, and
is now occupied by the superintend-
ent as a residence.
The bungalow is large and COM
fcrtable. 1t is built upon brick pill
.,
10 escape the dampness Of the soil,
and is surrounded by a wide verand-
1a with overhansing roof, which is
called gallery" in local parlance.
Within are four large square rooms,
two on either side of a wide hall ex-
tending through the building, and at
the rear an additional sleeping cham
ber and connecting bath has been
! nrio n5th
side. The ceilings are high, the win
dows arc large ami the rear veranda
is inclosed by blinds SO that it can be
used for dining-room or living-room,
if desired. The kitchen and servants
|. quarters were in detached buildings
in the rear as was customary in the
time of slavery. Under the rear OF
the house is a wine-cellar and a large
room which was formerly used for
storage and other purposes, and is
! now fitted up as dining room for
the inmates of the home.
Mr.. Davis lived there until, his
death, and Beauvoir was the Mecca
to which devoted adherents of the
lost cause made pilgrimage from all
parts of the South. People who re,
, , sided in Biloxi at the time speak
of Mr.. Davis in reverential manner
: and the fact that he lived here is
still regarded as the highest distlnc
tion of the town.
In 1874, while in New Orleans writ
;, ting up the White League troubles
: | came out to interview the venera
! BILE president of the Confederate
, States. He received me very gra
!. ciously and sat for an hour or more
, upon the gallery of Beauvoir dis
cussing the political situation in Lou
, isiana, which was then very exciting
! The White League had captured the
State government from Governor Kel
logg and established Governor Penn
the Democratic candidate at the pre-
!. vious election, in authority at the
: Hotel Royal. There had been col
: lision between the police and thu
: White League on Canal street, il
I front of the custom house, and abou
y tforty men were killed. General Sher
!. idan came; down shortly after, de
. clared martiale,law and took contro
of the situation.
Mr.. Davis spoke with moderation
however, and more in sorrow than il
Eanger. He declared that the Fedora
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