Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-20
MIR. COOKS sTRANGEDEArH,
Harmed OF Nts Coming Dissolution 6y a
Visit Prom u PdrtridGe.
iLewiston Maine Letter

Visit Prom u P0rtrtd1e.
Lewiston, Maine, Letter.
Further investigation of the strange
death OF Lafayette Cook, of Auburn, en-
phasize the remarkable features of the
case. Coroner Brooks has made careful
examination and finds the medical facts to
be as first stated. He found the body
lying as Cook had laid himself out, and
the most life-like corpse he had ever ex-
amined Death was shown to have been
from natural causes, and yet there was no
disease. Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Gates, who
watched with Cook Sunday night, say the
only movement they saw was the slight
expansion of his chest occasionally. The
death futter was noticed at five
minutes before s o'clock a.
m. Monday. Of the genuineness
of the old mans prophecy there is abund-
ant proof. Mr.. B. N. Chesley, of Auburn,
is brother of recently deceased
daughter-in-law of Cook. Mr.. Chesley
was standing in the mayors Office in
Auburn Tuesday morning when some one
remarked the peculiar manner of Lafay-
cite Cooks death. Mr.. ChesIey had not
heard of il.
Cook dead?" exclaimed he. "There is
something singular about that. He had
been saying for two weeks that he was 60
ing to die Monday morning. Two weeks
ago he went into a trance and made the
announcement. My sisters child came
over to our house last week and said that
her grandfather was getting ready to die
and that he was going to die Monday
morning"
About two months ago Cooks daughter
in-law died. Among the most sincere
mourners was her fether-in-law. He &C
companed her remains to the grave and
expressed the tenderest solicitude towards
his grandchildren. 1t was just after the
death of Mrs. Cook that Cook made his
first statement in regard to his coming
dissolution. 1t was 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing. A grandchild came running into the
house, with the story that partridge had
come into the shed and couldn't get out.
Mr.. Chesley says that Cook manifested
great concern. The little girl says her
grandfather 'turned pale and was afraid
At first he delayed going into the shed.
The partridge ruffied up its feathers at the
children and at Everett Cook. The latter
went into tho house after gun. Upon
that the old gentleman came out into the
shed. He DIDN'T want the bird
shot. The singular part of
the story, that Mr.. Chesley
vouches for, is that the moment Cook ap-
peared the whole behavior of the bird
changed. The partridge flew at Mr.. Cook
and wheeled around in a circle about his
feet. She few to his shoulders, pecked at
his face and alighted on his hands. The
bird was placed on the floor and repeated
the operation. Finally it was given to one
of the children and placed in an apple
tree; it flew back. The bird stayed half
an hour, all the time showing the utmost
affection towards Cook, purring and pip
ing in partridge fashion. When it left it
flew in direct course towards the burying
ground where Mrs. Cook was buried. The
effect of the birds visit was very great
upon Cook. He retained to the house and
went into "trance," which lasted two
hours. When he recovered he made the
statement that he should die. He talked
freely Of 1t. Thereafter ne said that the
first warning was the visit of the bird. He
was man who had unlimited faith in s1ch
omens. He frequently had what he called
frances and was quite believer in spir-
itu aliGIn.