Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-28
THE RIVER TRAGEDY
Death Of Captain John ecker.
His Remains Brought 10 KnoxViiie for
Iusermcut


Inferment. r...
Thursday afternoon considerable excitement
was created in this community, caused by the
reception of a Geographic dispatch by Mrs.
Coker stating that her husband Capt John
Coker had been shot by Capt Fritts, and re-
questing her presence as soon as possible. The
immediate cause of the shooting was not stated,
though as we are told Fritts i I'd been recently
discharged from Cookers employ it was sup
posed to have originated from bad feelings on
that account.
a special dispatch to the CHRoNICLE, received
at late hour throws'somc light on the occur
renee; though, from an acquaintance with the
participants, that the shooting should have oc-
Cured without any words passing, is somewhat
surprising. Both were determined men, and
brave to rashness, and that personal difference
should have terminated so tragicolly is deeply
to be deplored
AT nine o'clock that night, Mrs Coker ac-
companied by har brother-in-law, Capt c. w
Cocker, and DIR. Jas. Rodgers, left in a carriage
for Loudon, and expected to reach that place
before daylight this morning. From the fact
that the nature of the wound was not stated in
the dispatch to Mrs. Coker, it is inferred that it
is of n dangerous if not fatal character, though
we trust that such is not the case.
Captain John Cocker who was wounded at
McEwen's Mill on the Tennessee river, on
Thursday died on Friday morning at Loudon
five minutes before ten o clock and was perfect
ly conscious up to the time of his death.
His wife and physician who left Knoxville on
the night he was shot reached Loudon at four
o'clock yesterday morning, and were with him
to the last. For short period in the earlier
part of the evening he suffered comparatively
little pain, and a slight hope was entertained
| that he might possibly recover But soon it
I W ms do IN fol bnll had
| surely fulfilled its mission, and that death was
| inevitable. Capt. Cocker had not shared the de-
| lusive hope of his friends, however, and when
| some one spoke of conveying him home, said
| he was willing to be guided by the judgment OF
| his friends, but that he would never reach
| Knoxville alive. We learn from friends yres-
! ent that he converscd intelgently almost TO the
! last, and professed perfect willingness to meet
! his Creator, and died in the fultrumph of the
| Christian faith
From gentleman who arrived from Loudon
yesterday, we learn that at the time the fatal shot
| was fired it was entirely unexpected by any one.
| As was stated yesterday, Capt. Cocker was en-
! deavoring to prevent his boat and the Hugh
| Marti.' from coming together with violence,
| when Capt John Fritts stepped from the cabin
/ of the latter boat with a Spencer rife mt his
| shoulder pointed at Cocker and Immediately
! fired Several men on the Hugh Martin
| stated that Fritts called out IF you move I'll
kill YOU or stand STILL or III shoot you,
before firing, while others assert that no warn
Capt. Cocker had no time to dvaw weapon
much less to get out of the way, after Fritts
stepped on the deck, before he was shot
We are also told by friends of Capt Coicr
that brother of Capt. Fritts was with him and
drew a repeater to fire on Cocker, but was tolC
the shot had taken effect and therefore ii was ne
use. 1t was rumored that the brothers Fritt.
were at Kingston Thursday afternoon and tina
during the night they came to Loudon ant
crossed the river there, though it was not posi-
lively known.
We have heard nothing from the friends o
the Messrs. Frtts ms to the unfortunate occur
renee or its origin Rumors are in circulation
but nothing of n positive nature has yet beer
made known that we have heard OF, coming
from the other side
We are informed that before his death Capt
Cocker made provision in his will, approprat
ing thousand dollars toward prosecuting thu
cause in court and bringing Fritts TO justice
The funeral services of Capt. John Coker tool
place Saturday afternoon at four O clock, Rev
n. Buchman officiating. A large number o
friends were present at the house, but the cloud
threatening rain prevented large an attend
anco Mt the cemetery as would probably hav
been otherwise. .,. .