Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-09-25
DEATH OF CAPT. DAVIS |
Former Well-known Resident Pas
sjs ses Away in Washington
Yesterday.

in Washington yeaIeiu eS rS-
ideuce of his daughter, Mrs. Clara
F N1arbury. The deceased was 10
wears old. The funeral will take
y,a.c f,om Christ Church tomorr9"
a. room. -.
Cantain Davis was a native OF
Wilmington, Del. At the outbreak
:. the civil war he ,ast his lot WI II
the Southern Confederacy, and haA
r.anv thrilling experiences He was
lieutenant under Captain Wirz,
who had charge of Andersonvllle prls
on and who was arraigned at the
close of hostilities for alleged cruel
treatment to federal prisoners. Lle'-
te,art Davis was extolled by union
soldiers for his sympathy and aid
during the tine they were held III
An,lersonville, and doubtless his acts
Of kindness to such aided consldera-
bly, in saving his life when he naa
been sentenced to he hanged on the
charge of being spy caught within
the federal lines. While the war was
in progress it was necessary to sen"
some reliable representative Oh the
Southern Confederacy to Canada 10
cGnsulr with commissioners of the
con-, dci acy. An officer was seiec5"a
for the dangerous and important task,
but he regarded it as a desperate un"
dertaking and so expressed himself
in the presence of Lieutenant DAVIS.
The latter offered TO take his place
and was accepted. Lieutenant DAVIS
proceeded to Canada, had an inter
view with the commissioners and
started upon his return to the south
In passing through the northern sec
ton of New York state he was rec
ognized by former fedora! soldiers
as the young lieutenant of Anderson
Vile and was arrested. Compromls-
ing papers were found sewed into
thu lining of his clothes. He was tried
BY a court martial and ordered to
t'e hanged. The day was set for his
execution, and from the Window OF
his cell he could see the construction
of the scaffold. Upon the day OF ex-
ecution the band played the Dead
March" and the soldiers at the prison
were brought cut presumably to wit
ness the hanging. The terrible or
deal through which Lieutenant Da-
Wis was passing was brought to a
sudden close by an order to stop the
proceedings. Later the lieutenant
learned that President Lincoln had
stayed execution of the sentence and
that he was to continue iii prison I'LL
til the close of the war The au-
thorities in charge Of the prison had
received Lincoln's order several days
before, but they seemed bent upon
causing Lieutenant Davis as much
suffering as possible.
At the close CT the war he married
Miss Mason, daughter of Murray
Mason. of Virginia, who SUI
wives him, as do also four children
Mrs. Marbury, Mrs. Dunn, and
Messrs. Murray and Bert Davis.
Lieutenant Davis took up steam
boating as profession. and rose
from one position to another until he
became captain. During the early
seventies he was in charge OF the
steamer Georgcanna, which piled
between Alexandria and Baltimore,
and later was captain of the George
I-eary, the Excelsior and Washing.
ton. Of the Norfolk line He subsn-
Iuently entered the government ser
vice. and took charge of the trans
p'rt kearney During the past few
Years ne was cantain of the govern
nnent steamer General Robert Swar,.
won't. which ran between Washington
and Fort Washington.
During C'evelan6's second admins
tration. and while Hon. C. c. Carlin
was postmaster Of this city. Captain
Davis filled the position of assistan.
postmaster.
The deceased was an honorary
member Of r. E. Lee Camp of Con
federate Veterans of this CITY. Ha
was esteemed by all who knew him
ana his many friends in Alexandra
and elsewhere will regret to learn Of
his death.
The deceased was nephew o.
General Trimble. of Baltimore. whar.
he md many friends and acouaint-
anrcC