The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-11
SEN. JEFF DAVIS
DIES SUDDENLY
Without Warning Death Claims
Former Arkansas Governor.
Ill Ten Minutes.
NEWS SHOCKS WHOLE NATION
Doctor Enters Door in Time to See
Paaent Fall Dead-End Was
Painless.

western Newspaper Union News Service.
Little Rock.-Senator Jeff Davis is
dead. This was the newsSthat startled
the capital city and Arkansas last
week
Senator Davis was i'll only a few
minutes before the end came. While
the Arkansas statesman had been un-
der the care of physicians for some
time no one thought that he was in
such serious condition. Senator Da-
Wis had been taking a course of treat
ment for excessive rat with which he
has been troubled with of late and
only a short time before his death he
told his law partner in this city that
he had lost in weight and was feeling
much better in consequence.
While eating the evening meal on
Thursday of last week, Mr.. Davis COM
planned Of feeling ill and a physician
was summoned but when he arrived
he found Mr.. Davis feeling much bet
ter and pronounced the illness as
nothing. serious. Mr.. Davis and family
retired early, not dreaming of the
sudden end to come.
Shortly after midnight Wallace Da-
Wis, 24-year-old son of the senator
heard his father call and going into
his bedroom found his father sitting
up in bed. When asked what the trou
BILE was he complained of feeling very
sick. Wallace Davis Immediately sum-
moned a doctor to attend his father
The physician responded Immediately
but as he entered the bed chamber the
senator fell over dead.
Death occurred at 1885 a. m. and
only ten minutes after Wallace Davis
heard his father call. Death was ap-
parently painless.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Leila, Carter Davis, to whom he was
married in December, 1911, at Ozark,
Ark, and by his mother. Mrs. E. A.
Davis, who is now SO years old and
who has been living with her son for
several years past.
He Is also survived by eight chill
dren by his first marriage, which took
place rs years ago, when Miss Ina
Mckenzie of Russellville, Ark, became
his wife. These children are: Wal
lace, aged "a, Bessie, Linah, jamie,
JEFF Jr., Ina, Lucille and Lewis, the two
last named being twins, aged IL years.
Four children by this marriage are
dead. Besides these immediate rela-
tives, Senator Davis had large num-
ber Of relatives throughout the state.
Sketch Of Life.
Senator Jeff Davis was born in Lit.
tie River county May 6, 1862. He was
admitted to the bar in Pope coun.v ct
the age of 10 years. He was elected
prosecuting attorney of the Fifth Ju-
dicial district in 1892 and reelected in
1894. He was elected attorney general
Of the state in 1898. In 1901 he was
elected governor of the state. and re-
elected in 1903 and 1905, being the
only governor Of the state to serve
three terms. On February. 2S, 1907,
he was elected to the United States
Senate for the term beginning March
I, 1907. His term would have expired
or March Of the present year.
Senator Davis death came as a
shock to every one, many persons not
realizing that the senator was in any
way under the care Of physicians.
When the news of the death reach
ed Washington great regret was ex-
pressed for the loss Of the popular
statesman. Congress convened for
only a few minutes Friday morning
cut of respect for the deceased. The
following senators were appointed to
attend the funeral and represent con-
gress:
Clarke Of Arkansas, Bryan Of Flori-
da, Ashurst Of Arizona, MARITIME of New
Jersey, Curtis of Kansas. Clapp Of Min
nesota, O'Gorman of New York and
Pomerene of Ohio. Speaker Clark
named the following house committee
to attend the funeral: Representatives
Robinson, Goodwin, Macon, Craven,
Floyd, Oldifeld and Jacoway of Ark
ansas, Cullop of Indiana, Davenport Of
Oklahoma, Nelson of Wisconsin. Mill |
er of Minnesota, Greene of Vermont,
Reese Of Kansas and Kinkaid of Ne
braska.
When Governor Donaghey learned
of the death of Mr.. Davis he imme-
diately issued the following procla-
nation which caused all state Dusi-
ness to be suspended for the day:
Whereas, 1t has pleased Almighty !