Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-30
FELL AT THE POST Of ouTy.
A Touching Tribute to the Character and
Memory Of Richard Cooke.

Memory OF tStcuoFU Nofhes
To the Editor OF the Dispatch;
Please allow me. through your columns.
to lay single flower upon the grave OF
Richard English Cooke, the notice OF
whose death appeared a few days ago.
Watching him with tender interest from
the time when mere boy In Surry coun-
ty, he sat under me as pupil. feel
constrained TO say a few words about his
noble. self-sacrihcing life.
In his boyhood days he exhibited n love
for nature that was rarely seen I'm one
SO young. He loved TO roam I'm the forests
near his home, and hunt the little flowers
that hid themselves under the fallen
leaves: then resting on the hillside he
enjoyed the music of the brooklet that
hastened over its rocky bed TO mtngie
with the waters OF the great deep.
This love for nature doubtless made
him lova that which was pure In those
with whom he came In contact.
We was possessed of a high and noble
ambition, which, with an active mind
and a retentivc memory made him ex-
ceedingly bright and attractive In cOnyer-
sation.
He had chosen the practice OF medicine
for his profession in life. and had just
entered the Training School for Male
Nurses at Blackwelrs Island, hoping. ar
ter two years of experience in nursing
the sick and studying medicine. To COM
plete his studies and go forth on his
mission Of ministering To the sick and
suffering. This he loved to do. lie often
said: II know nothing In this world that
would give me so much pleasure as To be
enabled TO relieve suffering humanity"
All b 10 lN,s.. f.. ths .s.at.ly nj hn faFn
derness that characterized his ministry
won ,he love Of his patients. He said in
| n letter 10 a friends not long ago: Every
morning when | enter the slck-room | am
| greeted with God bless YOU.
He nursed one patient with the small
poX and was afterwar1 qualantincd. Du-
| ring this confinement he offered his SER
vices for the smallpox hospital az North
| Brothers Island. though very soon after
| the dreadful malady seized his noble form
on January 22d he wrote a note to his
| mother, In Petersburg and one 10 n
| friend in this city. saying: Il have been
sticken with smallpox. VIII be removed
to smallpox hospital this evening. Am
| dangerously though not critically ILL.,
| After two weeks OF suffering / will pul;
| through. DO not worry"
| The same evening he got out OF bed
| and walked down TO the boat that trans
| ftfft1 MN To NbtAU itiOAh'iH i"''''N's
| where he died on Wednesday. January
oath. at $50 T. NJ. AS he got ON the boat
| he laughed and told his friends good-by,
| saving Il will be back In a few days
| The Baltimore sun has the following
| 10 say: "a Vlrginian from petersburg
has fallen at the post of duty. lie ~
| Richard +. CockA nurse In the city
| hospital He caught the smallpox from
n patient whom he had been nursing IN
L nFsau
| assiduous In the performance OF his
| duties. and highly thought OF by 'hc
doctors. He was so faithful and unswerV-
inc in mirnstering to the stricken ones
| hat n Il thought h. did not take SUN
c,ent care to protect himself from tne
| cor,agion and thus fell a victim to MS
zeaI I'm the discharge OF his duty. lie WAS
only q years old" -.
| Rt,hard had bright smile ana k'il'
word for every one whom he met ana i'
rnad,. a great many friends wherever NJ
"at ,rbIs host of friends will stand will
me to-day and drop tear on the clod'
| not cover the form Of the departed youth
The following letter. written TO his mother
| ond signed by twenty-five or MS reno"
| students. shows the high esteem In whlci
he was held by them: o,
NEW YORK, Jan. y, ls9i
| Madam.--We. the members or the tram
ing School for Male Nurses. most sincereS
regret ard deeply feel the sorrowiui ms
sion we are TO proner you. win bleedlhl
hearts we search our ranks for a tamiiial
face. and deplore the loss OF dear. klno
! friend We cannot express IN worus ou'
deep-felt sympathy. though we know 10"
infinitely more and profound you VIII mss
| your loved son. \ pure soul gathered pS
the Eternal ones own hand ana trans
planted-a just-opening bud-into the held'
| Of Eden near Gods own sheltering bosom
where we ere long shall meet him again
Oh. how deeply we wish that our SYM
pathy could tighten the sorrow OF youi
bleeding mothers heart Ana no"
we will miss hs eyer-smiling fac'
from our midst. once again, madam, per
nit US 10 tender our most profound ah'
soul-felt sympathy. and we know ina
only your grief can exceed the sorrow We
feel for our departed. beloved friend ant
| companion, Richard"
While we mourn his departure. we have
| evidence TO believe that our loss IL M
ternal gain. May the God OF all comfort
bind up the broken mothers and fatner
heart. and guide them and all his rrtenui
to the Fathers home on high.
| \ FRIEND.