The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-25
DEATH OF JOHN Il. COUGH.
Dissolution Caused by Blood Clot
on the Brain,

A Philadelphia dispatch says: John b,
Cough died at o'clock in the afternoon Of
February 18th, at the private residence in
Frankfort, TO which he was hastily removed
after his apopectic stroke in the middle Of
his lecture the Monday evening before. Mrs,
Cough, who came ON from Worcester, Mass,
Tuesday night, and his two nieces, Miss Mary
and Miss Fannie Whitcomb, were with him
at the end. The body will be embalnied and
sent to Worcester, The Immediate cause OF
death was eliot formed by ruptured blood
vessel pressing on tho left side Of the
BRAIN M. Coughs last Ineligible words
were spoken on the lecture platform Monday,
~ v said Mr.. Cough, "have seven years in
the record OF my own life when was held
in the iron grasp of intemperance. would
give the world to blot it out, but, alas! can
notn Stepping forward, with impressive
gesture, the lecturer said; "Therefore, young
men, make your record He failed to
finish the sentence. but sank helplessly into a
chair.
J, B, Cough was born in the village Of
father was soldier and his mother had
taught school, and being poor, John, when
mere lad, was called upon to contribute
to their scanty resources by exer-
cising his talents as reader, He had attend
ed school but short time, and received most
of his instruction at home. When he was
IL years old, his father apprentlced him to a
tradesman of his native village, who was
about to emig1te, to this country
on farm in Oneida County, N. Y,
His term of indenture having expired at the
end of two years, he resolved to make a
different start in life in a large city, and
he accordingly went to New York city, where
he obtained employment in bookbinding
establishment at small salary. He had
sent home for his family and his mother and
sister came to New York and went to work.
They struggled against adversely for over a
year, when the mother died. The son was
reduced to the lowest spirits on the death Of
his mother, and though he had hecr fs,i at
tendant at church, circumstances induced him
to leave both church and employment He
soon afterward became a victim to tempta-
ton, and acquiring habits of dissipation, he
would secure situation, only to he
again thrown out Of employment,
In 1889 he was married and became book
binder on his own account, but, owing to
drinking habits, he was unsuccessful. He
then determined to try his fortunes on the
stage, and went to Providence, r. l., where
he Joined theatrical company, and subse-
quently came to Boston, but after time,
returned to his old haunts in New York. He
had suffered from delirium tremens, had lost
his wife and child, and was reduced to the
utmost misery. He finally shipped to
Newburyport, where he lived for some
time. 1t was here he was induced
to take the pledge of abstinence.
Having attended a temperance meeting
through the influence of new-found friends,
he told his story, and at once became an ora
tor in the temperance cause. He started out
in the interest of temperance, delivering his
] 90 Dn,t
in 1912, he was one day strolling about the
streets when he fell in with some of his old
| companions, who induced him to attend the
theatre After the performance the party
went to a restaurant, where he was tempted
and broke his pledge He then returned tt
| Newburyport in disgrace He acknowledged
| his violation at a public meeting in Worcester
in October, 1912 On the last Monday of thai
month he renewed his pledge, which he stead
| fcr+lv kent until his death