The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-26
WANTED IT RAW
And Raised a Rumpus---Re9 10.
Cook and tho prummer---E
Chicago Paper Criticised.

CHICAGO, MAY 25.-The Tribune has
the following special from Monmouth, ILL.,:
The Rev. Joseph Cook, of Boston, lectured
here Tonight Oh the subject of England and
America Compared"
While at supper in the. dining hall of the
Commercial house he got into an alteration
with travelling salesman named Gill. from
indianapolis, and quite a scene was enacted
Gin sat Attic same table with Mr. Cook Gill
ordered raw beefsteak NJ Cook, it is said
BY ellis friends. remarked that no
gentleman would eat raw steak
Gill Immediately proposed to fight
The hotel clerk was called in and prevented a
lstlcun. The drummer became exceedingly
wroth and invited the reverend gentleman out
side Mr. Cook refused to go, and made his
meeting on the steps of the hotel, but he re
fused 10 leave the room without an escort and
sent for the city marshal, who, in company
with police officer, escor ted Mr. Cook to the
opera house and back to the hotel after his
lecture. All the gnests at the Commercial
who were present blame the Boston lecturer
for the part he took in the affair.
HIS REVERENCE EXPLAINS.
The Rev. Joseph Cook was found at the
Palmer house this morning, and asked about
the above mentioned fracas @The facts are"
said the Boston preacher, THAT this young fell
low had evidently been drinking, and con-
ducted himself in SO vulgar a manner at tho
supper table that spoke to him in a low tone
with the request that he remember whore no
This riled him, and he muttered some
abuse of me whereupon l said: you are a
bright youth; and prabably did say that he had
better eat his supper and keep quiet He then
gave vent to several vile oaths and l repri
nlanded him. and also spoke to the clerk of the
hotel, who was present at the time, demanding
that he stop such nuisance and eject the man
from the room. The young man left the room
breathing forth threats of vengeance, and
knowing that if he and other drummers should
get q little more liquor on board they might
assault me- I secured policeman to accom-
pany me to the lecture hall but there was also
with me Prof. Reed, of Monmouth. / had no
personal fear of Gill alone, or even two like
him, but do not know to what extremes he and
his friends might resort to to obtain revenge.
[ have always and shall always reprimand
swearing in public place IN the presence OF
ladies. L have corrected the captain of Il Gu
nard steamer at his dinner-ta bic for dong
the same thing, and | should be sneaking
hypocrite If / did not. The Chicago papers
have the story nearly right except one and IN
thar connection have a little story. month
or two ago l spoke in this hall to some four
hundred people on general copies, and said
among other 'hngs-that the Eproprietor of a
first class hotel should not permit question:
able characters of either sex to be guests in the
house. If he did SO he was no better than the
proprietor of great newspaper N this city
that permitted the pollution of its columns
with vile and nameless advertisements for i'm
moral purposes. | thought that remark would
be felt, apd waited to see which paper would
put the cap on, and The Tribune very prompt
" did so. Now, if there are any frivolous, Ttn-
attack me in any way, look III The Chicago
Tribune, they Will be there" 1891