DAVIS. 5 (1S95) ; Three Gringos in Venezuela and Cen- tral America (1896) ; three volumes of war corre- spondence, Ctiha in War Time (18!IS) : Titc Cii- Van and Porto Ilican Camimiiin (189S); and With Both Armies in ^oiith Africa (l!)O0l. His novels are: The Princess Aline (ISnO): The King's Jaelal (1899): Soldiers of Fortune (1897), dramatized and presented with great favor in 1902: Captain Mactclin: His Memoirs (1902): and Hanson's Folh/, a collection of stories (1902). In general his style is marked by vigor of expression, a singular grasp of essen- tials, and a keen perception of the interesting. DAVIS, THOif.A.s OsuoR.NE (1814-45). An Irish jjoet. He was born at Mallow, and was educated at Trinity College. Dublin. In 1841 he became associate editor of the Dublin Morn- in<i lic(jisler, and in the following year, in col- lai)oration with Duffy and Dillon, lie founded the Sation newspaper, an organ of Xationalist tendencies, which acquired an immense popu- larity — due largely to the patriotic poems oc- casionally contributed to it by Davis. Xot- withstandingliis Protestant faith and early Tory affiliations, Davis earnestly endeavored to allay the discords between the Catholic and Protestant elements. He was gifted with a remarkable capacity for work, and was universally respected for his sterling integrity and the fidelity with which he adhered to his convictions. One of his noteworthy achievements was his founding of the party knowii as 'Young Ireland.' His Poems, which include the fine verses entitled "Jlaire Bhan a Stoir." "The Sack of Baltimore." and '■The Flower of Finae," were collected and pub- lished after his death. Consult Duffy, A'ew Irish Libra r II (London. 1893 et seq.). DAVIS. V.RixA Akne Jefferson, known as 'The Daughter of the Confederacy' (1804-98 1. An American author. She was the daughter of President Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States of America, and was born in Richmoml. Va.. She was educated abroad, and was known as a musician, painter, and writer. Her works include a Sketch of the Life of Robert Emmet (1888); The Teiled Doctor (1895): and A Ro- viance of Summer Seas (1898). DAVIS, William :Morris (1850—). An American geographer and meteorologist. He was born in Philadelphia, and was educated at the Lawrence Scientific School and at Harvard L'niversity. In 186() he made an observation of a new star, T. Corona? Borcalis. of which at the time only one other astronomical observa- tion was made in the t'nited States. He also rendered valuable service to astronomical in- vestigation as assistant astronomer in the Ar- gentine National Observatory at Cordoba, with which institution he was associated from 1870 to 1873. After teaching astronomy and geology at Harvard for fourteen years, he was in 1890 appointed professor of physical geography at that university. His works include: F.lemen- farii Meteoroloqii (1894) : Physical Geography (1899): and Whirlwinds. Cyclones, and Torna- does n8S4). DAVIS STRAIT. The sheet of water sepa- rating Greenland on the east from Baffin Land on the west, and connecting Baffin's Ray with the Atlantic (Map: North America, N 3). It is from 180 to .500 miles wide, and was discov- ered in 1585 bv .Tohn Davis, whence its name. DAVITT. It has soundings exceeding 5000 feet in the northern and southern portions, but not reach- ing 2500 feet in the intervening region. It has two powerful currents — one (of drift ice) OB the west, toward the south, and one on the east, toward the north. DAVIT (formerly daritt, david, from David. the custom of giving implements proper names being a frequent one ) . A derrick of various forms, depending upon the use to which it is put. Boai-dnvits are used in hoisting boats, the eat- davit in catting the anchor, and the fish-davit in fishing it. In modern ships fish-davits are seldom used. The cat-davit is usually placed amidships between the bower anchors, and is long enough to reach both. It consists of a heavy pivoted base against which the heel of the iron spar or derrick rests, held in place by a large bolt. On the other side of the base there is a heavy projecting lug. To this is secured the backbone" of the derrick, which consists of two iron bars extending up to the head. By taking down these bars the davit may be laid nearly flat on deck, so as to be out of the ay of gun- fire. DA'VITT, illcil.VEL (184t;— ). An Irish jour- nalist and political leader, the founder of the Irish Land League. He was born in Straide, Mayo, where his parents, poor peasants, were evicted from their farm when Davitt was four vears of age. Miile engaged as a boy in a cot- ton factory at Haslingden, Lancasliire, he lost his right arm in the machinery. From the age of fifteen to twenty-two he worked in a printing- office, and educated himself. He joined the Irish revolutionary movement in 1867, and was pres- ent at the attack on Chester Castle. Detected transporting arms into Ireland, he was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude: but after serv- ing half the sentence was i-eleased on a ticket of leave in 1875. and visited the United States on a lecturing tour. He obtained the funds to carry on a crusade against Irish landlordism, and on October 21. 1879, at his birthplace, organized the Land League movement, which spread over Ire- land. He again visited this country in 1880. to superintend the organization of an American branch of the Land League, but hurried back to England on account of the prosecution of the Land League executive. He was arrested under the Coercion Act and reimprisoned to finish his old sentence. He was leniently treated during fifteen months, and again released on a ticket of leave. He revisited America to advocate the revival of the Land League, and on his return to Ireland organized the National League. In 1883 he was imprisoned for four months for a seditious speech. In 1882, while in prison, he had been elected member of Parliament for
- Meath, but was disqualified on the grounds of
his unexpired ticket of leave. Subsequently elect- ed several times, and disqualified or unseat- ed, he was returned unopposed for North East Cork in 1893. but shortly afterwards was com- pelled to vacate through bankruptcy. In 1895 lie was returned unopposed for East Kerry and South :Mayo, but resigned in 1899. In 1889 he was implicated in the 'Parnellism and Crime' prosecution instigated by the London Times, and conducted his own defense in an effective speech which received the commendation of the presid- ing judge. .Vlthough a strong Home Ruler, he
