The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-31
OCTAvIUS COKE DEAD.
THIS DTSTINGU MAN AND
SECRETARY OF STATE PASS
FOAWAYY YESTERDAY Az
TERNOON AT HIS
HOME HERE.
A PATRIOT AND A GENTLEMAN.

iOn--Practised Law After the War;
Sent to the SeEate--Successes as
Democratic Chairman--Came Near
Being Governor of North CarOiina--
Appointed Secretary of state to Sue
coed the LaIe VIM. L.. Saunders and
Reelected in 1892 En- cOmiums OF
Prominent Citizens--Funeral This
Afternoon at $50 From Christ
Church.
At twenty minutes to four, yesterday
afternoon, Octavius Coke, Secretary of
State of North Carolina, died at his
home here, corner Hargett and Mellow
eli streets
Five weeks ago last Monday, the late
Secretary left his Office in the afternoon,
saying to his friends as he went that be
was unwell, and that he felt as if he
were going home to have spellof fever.
Since that day he had lain upon his
bed of sickness.
Fever soon developed, followed by
rise of temperature and delirium, and
for five weeks he had had bat few CLEANS
of consc: BUSINESS, and in that state passed
peacefully away with his loved ones
about him.
Such is the story of the sickness and
death of this remarkable man whose life
covered ffty-fve of the most eventful
years this country has seen. The high
emergencies of these years were met in
way to bring eminent distinction to the
life just clio ed.
William and Mary College took the
boy from his parents, at Williamsburg,
Virginia, the town of his birth, the alma
mater of Jefferson, and the schooling
place of great spirits that have followed.
Tt was fit environment for the chivalric
heart and ambitious mind of the youth,
whose parents sent him forth dynamic
with that which was best and truest in
the home rearing of the Old Dominion.
There are those who can recall his
bearing and walk among bis fellows
there Mr. W. T. Day, OF Raleigh, met
him just afterward Let him tell the
story of those days. This was what h
said last night of his friend. Low the
friend Of years
81 first met Capt Coke in 1860 He
had just lefG college, and begun the
practice of law in Williamsburg, Va.
From then till his death we were init
mate friends He was the highest type
of manhood | ever knew. Such men as
he have made the words Virginia gen
tleman' decoration of nobility. In his
loyalty to friends and devotion to prin-
ciples, Capt Coke had few peers. He
was big man--big in brains, big in
body, big in heart. His death, a great
loss at any time, at present is a calamity.
To him / looked for leadership out of
our present political troubles. He was
one of the very few politicians I ever
knew who would sacrifice self to
principles. / have frequently heard him
say during the past year that he had no
personal or political friendship to consult
where the interest of the Democratic
party was concerned. And yet no man
went before him in his love for friend
Like his predecessor in Office, Col W. L
Saunders, he goes when our need for him
is greatest. Our people will fully appre
ciate him now We have lost him. He de
served when living all a party could
bestow; he will have now all grateful
people can give, love and honor for his
memory"
From the class rooms of patriots, be-
fore him, he came, cavalier as he was,
quick to hear the bugle of Picketu's Di-
vision. Just at manhood, he joined the
32d Virginia Infantry, and served with
gallantry.
He was twice wounded at Sharpsburg
and at Five Forks After the war he
studied law and made his home at Eden
ton, n. c., becoming citizen in August
28th, 1862. Capt. Coke was the Demo
cratic candidate in Chowan county for
the Constitutional Convention, but was
defeated, the county beng strongly Re-
publican. In 1879 he was the Demo
cratic presidential elector from the First
District, and made a brilliant canvass
which gave new hope and courage to the
Democracy. In 1870, he WAS one of the
Democratic candidates for the State
Senate in the first senaf oriai district and
was elected by majority Of $40, tn, ugh
the district was usually Republican by
very large majority. In the Senate he
was an acknowledged leader and led the
fight for the system of county govern
ment which has proved such blessing
to the people of the Eastern counties.
In the same session he stood in the
leadership against the resolution of in
struction to the North Carolina Congress
men 10 vote for the bill to approve the
infamous election count, by which Hayes
was seated He was An intrepid and
fearless leader, imbued with the love of
Democracy, and his career in the Senate
showed him to be warm partisan of
the highest type. H S resolution and
aggressiveness and ability won for him
host of friends in all sections of the State,
and when he made one Capt. Coke
was the type of man whose friends were
linked to him with hooks of steel. He
had nothing too good for them,
and he made them always feel the
warmth Of his regard He began the
practice of the law in Raleigh, short
while after his term in the Senate, and
appeared in some noted causes, but poll
tics absorbed so much of his time that he
ultimately abandoned the law, and de-
voted himself to the cultivation of his
farms. His purse was always freely at
the disposal Of his party, and it may be
Eel lot ssr& INa sx,