The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-19
A FAMOUS LECTURER DEAD.
Demise of John B. Cough, the Most Wide
Unknown of Platform Speakers.
His Lowly Birth and Poor Surroundings, His
Struggle Against Drink and Career as
Orator-An Incident in indianapolis.

PHILADELPHIA, FeD 10 --Jonn ID. UouSb, the
eloquent temperance lecturer, died at 4:4O O'CLOCK
this afternoon, at the residence of DR.. L. Bruce
Burns, in Frankford, where he was taken on
Monday night when stricken with paralysis
while lecturing at the Frankford presbyterian
Church. His wife was at his bedside when he
died. There were also present Mrs. Pidge, his
sister; Mrs. Burns and two'nieces Misses Mary
and Fanny Whitcomb; Mr. j. Wanamaker, Rev.
FThos Murphy and Mrs. Jacob Wagner. It was
recalled to-day that the last words spoken by
Mr.. Cough were, young man, make your
record Clean"
The body will be ernbaimed, and after services
at the house. will be taken to Worcester, Mass,
20 morrow evening
John B. Cough was a native of Sandgate. in
England. and was born in a poor little cottage
on the 22d of August, 1877 His father was p
common soldier in the British army, too poor to
furnish the premium necessary to secure his
apprenticeship to trade. So, when he was
twelve years of age, he was intrusted to the
care Of family about emigrating TO America
In consideration Of the sum of ten guineas, they
agreed to take the boy with them to teach him
trade. and to provide for him until he came
of age. On Aug. 8. 1929, he arrived at New
Oneida county.
Hls early life in this country was one of pow
erty and hardship, and when his mother, who
had joined him here with his sister in 1888
died, he ran behind the paupers hearse which
bore her body to the Peters Field Learning
finally the trade of a book binder. he worked at
It for very low wages in New York and else
where, bat gradually fell into habits of drunken
ness. His experience at this time was varied
by q brief career upon the stage, commencing
with the singing of a comic song at Chatham
street Theater. and terminating with small
part in lurid nnelodrama in Boston. Settling
In Newburyport be went from bad to worse, and
finally found himself at Worcester. where, in
October 1872 he was rescued from the degrad
ing habits Of drunkenness into which he had
fallen, through the influence Of Joel Stratton
q worthy shoemaker. He has thus. in his
autobiography. described the scene on the coca
sion when he signed the total abstinence pledge:
when stood Up to relate my story. was in
yited to the stand, to which repaired: and. on
turning to face the audience recognized my
acquaintance who had asked me to sign. It was
Mr. Joel Strettpn. He greeted me with smile
of appreciation, which nerved and strengthened
me for my task and / trenblingly observed
every eye fixed upon mo- lifted my qnivering
hand, and then and there told what rum had
done for me. / related how was once respecta
: BILE and happy, and had home; but that now l
was houseless, miserable scathed, diseased and
-blighted outcast from society said scarce
hope remained to me of ever becoming that
which once was but, having promised to sign
che pledge, had determined not to break my
word and would now afix my name to it. In
my palsied hand l with difficulty grasped the
pen, and in characters almost as crooked as those
of old Stephen Hopkins on the Declaration of
Independence, signed the total abstinence
pledge, and resolved to free myself from the in
exorahe tyrant-rum."
He soon relapsed but the second time signed
tho pledge, and then he kept it, Soon after MIR.
Coughs reformation. he began to lecture in be-
half OF total abstinence At first he spoke to
few countrywide. III school-houses and churches
Then he went to Boston, where after 800 public
addresses he could draw larger audiences than
any living man. Deacon Grant was his early
benefactor, and was always proud of having be-
friended him. For many years Mr.. Cough was
q member Of Rev. Dr. Kinks church, bat of late
has been connected with the Congregational
Church of Boylston Mass.
He married Mary Wkitcomb, of Worcester
county Massachusetts,, on the 24th of Novem
Der, I843 at the time of their marriage he was
worth the coat on his back and ten silver dollars
That same evening he fulfilled an engagement to
talk temperance In school house. She took
him on trust, and stood by him until ne rose into
q world wide fame as an orator and philanthro
pist When her young husband--stiil rather
:.shaky." and in danger of falling-introduce
her to Deacon Grant, the shrewd man talked
with her a few moments and then slyly whis-
pered in his ear John, she'll do"
In May of the following year he made his first
school to very small audience, and the next
night to a still smaller audience. about one hun
dred persons only in the large room of the old
Chinese Museum He has given the following
account of this early experience in the city where
ne has been for so many years prime favorite:
''Mr Leonard Jewell, one of the executive
committee of the Pennsylvania State Temper
ance Society, was present. and, finding no one to
receive me or to introduce me to the audience,
kindly came forward made himself known to
n IA %hn Lilo AA
interested in my address. and suggested tie idea
Of procuring church for the next evening (Sun-
day. Accordingly, through his influence. the
Presbyterian church Of which Rev. A Rood was
pastor was obtained: went there accompanied
by Mr.. Jewell As before, no one received me,
SO he kindly introduced me to the pastor. The
committee not only permitted me to leave the
CITY without remuneration, but without thanks,
SO that my first impressions were not very favor
able though soon after / became wonderfully
attached to Philadelphia, and that attachment
and Affection have grown in strength as the years
have gone by"
On his return from his FIRST trip to Europe in
1866, he began his lecturiug tour in Philadelphia
On that occasion he became the guest of Mr..
Jewell ard his son-in-law, Mr.. H. a. Rud, at
whose house he has ever since made his home
when on visits TO that city.
During his first year as public speaker Mr..
Cough made 383 speeches, and since he began he
has appeared before an audience altogether 8 SGT
times up to the beginning OF the present year.
At fair estimate he has spoken before 1900, 900
people, and has travelled over 450,0 600 miles in
meeting his appointments.
Mr. Cough first went to England in 1853, and
remained two years: he again went in 1857 and
returned in 1860. and again in 1878 and returned
the next year. During bis three visits he made
], 260 speeches in England. He has lived to see
a great change in public sentiment in England
regarding temperance. When he fret went to
tho old university city Of Oxford. in 1854, he
could find no man who would preside at his
meeting The capped and gowned students
yelled at him for IN hour and half. but finally he
got them to permit him TO speak by appealing to
their English love of fair play. TIE next time
changed He was entertained by the we'll
known author, Professor Green, and BY the
great philologist, Max Muller and Canon Ellison
presided at his meetings. When he landed at
Liverpool be WAS presented with an address of
En0lnnd