Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-04-17
sToRlEs oE IHE DAY.
Anecdotes About the Late Journalist John
a. CoclIerlIl.

A. CockeriII.
Mr.. J. B. McCullagh Of The Globe
Democrat and Colonel Charles II. Jones
Of The Post Dispatch, now the great
editors" of Missouri, were not better
known than Colonel John A. Coclterill.
Colonel Cockerill went to st. Louis
in the early eighties to take charge Of
Joseph Pulitzer's Post Dispatch, and as
an energetic manager and brilliant par.
agrapher had no superior in that part
Of the country. Under his guidance The
Post-Dispatch became the most influen-
tial afternoon newspaper in the west,
and literally coined money for Pulitzer.
Coclerill was great mixer. He went
everywhere and knew everybody. He
was absolutely fearless, and the bitter
ness Of his invective led to many a
fierce hatred against him. The old Post
Dispatch building in Market street, op-
posite the Grand Opera House, was the
scene of the killing of Colonel Alonzo
Slayback, as the result Of Cockerill
editorial. Colonel Cockerill was acquit-
ted ON the ground Of self defense. Slay-
back entered the office with the ex-
pressed purpose of assaulting Coclxerill.
The latter was sitting at his desk when
the Infatuated Slayback entered. AS
Slayback rushed in Coclerill drew a re-
volver from his desk and fired.
While the acquittal of Cockerill was
justified, public opinion censured him
for the provocation offered. His merci-
less style Of personal journalism was not
] 81, 1ov offnv- Akf1 kr, fol
this, although he had many warm
friends in ST. Louis, and when Pulitzer
made triumphant entry into New York
journalism Cockerill accepted the call
to take charge of The World. In st.
Louis the tremendous success Of The
World is believed to be largely due to
the tireless energy and newspaper genius
Of John A. Cocl1erill l-Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette.
Representative Mercer of Nebraska
met Colonel John A. Cockerill during
his trip through Japan about year ago.
Cockerill was then acting as war corre-
spondent for the New York Herald.
Representatives of all nations gathered
at Yokohama, many of them tourists
and others ON business. 1t was at this
time that Cockerill ran across q cockney
Briton who was boasting about the
great prowess of his country and making
rather sighting allusions to the United
States. His remarks aroused Cockerill g
war spirit, and he told the Englishman
that inasmuch as the United States had
twice whipped England it could prob
ably do so again.
"Oh-ah--niy deah sab" " said the
doughty Briton, you ah mistaken sure
ly! If 1 remembah the history Of my
country, we took yah capitol and burned
it, don't you know?"
eyes, " said CockeTill, you did take
the capitol. And if 1 remember the his
tory Of my country you also took Bunker
hill. But you didn't take it very far.
You let go of both Of them like redhot
brick, and at last accounts they were
still in our possession. But let me tell
you what We'll do next time we have q
war with you. Well go over there, tow
your snug little island across the Allan
tic and haul it up the bay to New York
for wharf. "
The Englishman did not continue the
argument Washington Post.
"But few months over a year ago, y
said John B. (Macon) Mccormick, 81
was one of about two dozen friends who
were asked by Edward Stokes Of the
Hoffman House to attend little dinner
in Colonel Cockerill's honor the nigh
before he sailed for Japan as the CORE
spondent of the New York Herald. II
turned out that was the one present
who had known the colonel longest
and in response to the toast, God Speed
Our Departing Guest, 1 told the above
story. The colonel laughed over it heart
lily. After the dinner he and walked
together to the elevated railway station
Said he, I recognize, Mac, that this en-
gagement with Mr.. Bennett is biz
thing for me, and yet feel very sac
over leaving New York. Tonight wa
in the Waldorf before went to the din
uer, and as passed through the ladies
cafe and saw it filed with beautiful
women and fine men; saw its beautiful
palms, its richness, its luxury and it
splendor, 1 sighed, and as left thu
house l wondered will 1 ever see thii
againr Poor John, it passed from hi
gaze forever. "-Megargee in Philadel
phia Times.