Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-25
DEATH OF JOHN b. COUGH.
END of am IilustriOus Career-A
Lecturer for Nearly Half a Gem


turY.
John B Cough, the eloquent temperance
lecturer, died at 4.40 0o'clock Thursday after
noon ut the residence Of DR.. Il. Bruce
Burns, in Frtinkford, Philadelphia, where
he was taken on Monday night when
stricken with paralysis white lecturing at
the Frankford Presbyterian Church. The
deceased's wife WIS ~ his hrdside when he
died. There were also present Mrs Pidge,
his sister: Mrs. Burns and two nieces,
Misses Mary and Fanny Whitconb; Mr..
John Wgnamaker, the Rev. Thomas Murphy
and Mrs. Jacob Wagner. 1t was recalled
yesterday that almost the last words spoken
by Mr.. Cough were: "Young man, make
your record Clean"
The deceased was born in Sandgate, Eng
land, on August %, 1877. His parents were
poor. At IL years of age he immigIated to
America. Upon his arrival at New York he
located on O farm In Oneida county, being
soon Joined by his mother and sister. He
finally became book binder by trade, but
gradually fell into habits of drunkenness.
Tippling was quite favoIite pastime with
young Cough, and he drifted from bad to
worse in little while. Sometime In 0c-
tober, 1912, he was induced to sign the
pledge by shoemaker, but he soon re-
lapsed into his former habits of inebriety.
But he again signed the pledge II second
time, and then he began to lecture in be-
half Of total abstinence, He soon attained
considerable popularity. and went to Bos-
ton, where he delivered 300public addresses
and drew large audiences on every occasion.
In May, 1874 he made his nrst public ap-
pearance in Philadelphia, and nowhere wns
he u greater favorite than there. During his
first public speaker Mr.. Cough male
3S3 speeches, mud since his first lecture and
up to the beginning OF the present year he
appeared before the public S,567 times. AT a
Iuir aatimntp hA hpg GnpyRn bpfprA u nm nun
people, and has travelled over 100000 miles
In meeting his appointments.
Mr.. Cough went to England in 1868, and
remained two years; he again went in 1857
and returned in 1860, and again in 1873 and
returned the next year. During his three
visits he made 1850 speeches in England.
He lived to sec a great change in public
sentiment in England regarding temper
anee. When he landed at Liverpool in
1878 he was presented with an address of
welcome signed by 100000 "teetotalers' Of
England.
Up to 1860 Mr.. Cough spoke exclusively
on temperance, but in that year he was per-
suaded, after much reluctance, TO deliverin
New Haven lecture on 'Street Life In
London" Since then he leetured on many
other topics, and it has been said of him
that he has addressed more people thanany
man now living. He has lectured for fees
ranging from II to $500, and made from
$40, 900 to 10000 per annum. Unlike many
other lecturers, he was popular everywhere,
in every city and state. His home was near
Worcester, Mass, located on IA fine farm.
His family consisted of a wife and four
nieces, whom he educated. 1t Is believed
that he was worth 100000.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 19.-Private SER
vices were held this afternoon at O'Clock
over the body of John b. Cough at the
house of DR.. II. B. Burns, in Frankford.
Among those present were the Rev
Thomas Murphy of the Frankford Pres
byterian Church, where Mr.. Cough VIA.
lecturing when he was stricken witt
apoplexy, John Wanamaker, Anthony
Comstock, G. III. Stuart, DIR. Burns,
Joshua L. Bailey, the Rev. Mr.. Booth
rector of the Frankford Episcopal Church;
the Rev. j. b. Cough Ridge, Misses Jen-
ME and Mary Whitcomb, nieces of MIR.
Cough, and his sister. The coffin was
placed in the middle of the parlor. The
Rev. Thomas Murphy briefly recited the
incidents of the dead orators fatal attack,
and spoke of his good deeds. Then he
called on John Wanamaker to tell of his
acquaintance with Mr.. Cough.
Mr.. Wanamaker spoke with great deal
of feeling of the pleasant intercourse that
existed for nearly 80 years between Cough
aud himself. Mr.. Stuart said he first met
Mr.. Cough AZ years ago. Mr.. Stuart
then attended church at Eleventh street
and Marble alley and Mr.. Cough was
stopping at Ninth and Arch streets. MIR.
Stuart drove him in his carriage to the
church, where Mr.. Cough made an adj
dress. "a man WHO is to- o-day," he said, |
zone of the leading merchants of this |
city, was present that Sunday in 1914 and |
heard Mr.. Coughs address advocating |
The merchant, then rich |
and worth millions to-day, hud Just |
stocked his wine cellar with choice |
liquors. After he had listened to Coughs |
stirring speech he went home and going |
into his wine cellar he emptied all the |
bottles of their contents, and since that |
day there has never been drop of wine |
in the merchants house," MIR. Stuart |
did not mention the merchants name, |
but said he was well-known nil over the |
city for the aid he gave to the cause of |
temperance. Mr.. Stuart read telegram |
from the Rev. L. L. CuyIer. At 6 O'Clock |
the body was removed to the station, and |
at G.54 1T was put on the Boston express,
which stopped at Frnnkford by special |
arrangement.