Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-09-05
News and Observer.

News and Observer.
At twenty minutes to four, yes
terday afternoon, Octavius Coke,
Secretary of State of North
Carolina, died at his home here,
corner Hargett and Mcdowell
streets
Five weeks ago last Monday,
the late Secretary left his Office
in the afternoon, saying to his
friends as he went that he was
unwell, and that he felt as if he
were going home to have a spell
of fever.
Since that day he had lain up
on his bed Of sickness.
Fevel soon developed, followed
by rise of temperature and de-
lirium, aud for five weeks he had
had but few CLEANS of conscious
ness, and in that state passed
peacefully away with his loved
ones about him.
Such is the story of the sick
ness aud death Of this remark
able man who life covered fifty
five of the most eventful years
this country has seen. The high
emergencies of these years were
met in a way to bring eminent
distinction to the life just closed.
William aud 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 It was a fit environ
ment for the chivalric heart and
ambitious mind of the youth,
whose parents sent him forth
dynamic with that which was
best and traest in the home rear
ing of the Old Dominion.
There are those who can re-
call his hearing and walk among
his fellows there. Mr., w. T.
Day, of Raleigh, met him just
afterward. Let him tell the
story of those days. This was
what he said last night of his
friend. now the friend of years
Il first met Capt. Coke in 1860.
He had just left college, and be-
gun the practice of law in Wil-
liamsburg, Va. From then till
his death we were intimate
friends. He was the higesc type
of manhood [ ever knew. Such
men as he have made the words
Virginia gentleman a decora-
ton 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, great loss at any time
at present is a calamity. To hin
l looked for leadership out of ou
present political troubles. HI
was one Of the very few politi
clans 1 ever knew who woulc
sacrifice self to principles.
have frequently heard him sa,
during the past year that he ha
no personal or political friend
ship to consult where the inter
est of the Democratic party wa
concerned. And yet no ma
went before him in his love for
friend. Like his predecessor i
Office, Col. w. L. Saunders, b
goes when our need for him
greatest. Our people will full
appreciate him now we have los
him. He deserved when livin
all party could bestow; he wi
have now all a grateful peopl
can give, love and honor for b
memory"
From the class-rooms Of p'
triots, before him, he came, cav
alie1 as he was, quick to hes
the bugle of Pickett's Divisio
Just at manhood, he joined tt
32d Virginia Infantry, and serve
with gallantry.
He was twice wounded;
Sharpsburg and at Five Fork
After the war he studied law al
made his home at Edenton,
c., becoming citizen in Al
gust 28th, 1862. Capt. Coke WI
the Democratic candidate
Chowan county for the Const
tutional Convention, but was d
feated, the county being strong
Republican. In 1872 he was t.
Democratic presidential elect
from the first District, and MAJ
a brilliant canvass which ga
new hope and courage to t
Democracy. In 1870. he was o
of the Democratic candidates f