John Henry Cook

We have this week to chronicle one of the saddest accidents that has yet come under our pen—the death of Mr. John Henry Cook, a brakeman on the W. & A. railroad, which was caused by attempting to cross from a coal to a box car, near the Chattahoochee bridge. We can do no better than to copy the account of his death as given by last Sunday’s Constitution:

“At twenty minutes after four yesterday morning the unfortunate man died. Up to the hour of his death he manifested the greatest courage and did not seem the least disturbed. As was stated last night Cook requested the presence of a minister, and Dr. Smith of the Third Presbyterian church was called in. Cook’s conversation with him was clear and calm. He said that whilst he had not been a Christian he didn’t think he had been a bad man, and wasn’t afraid to die. He seemed willing to accept his fate, and only desired to live long enough to see his wife and child. When Dr. Smith prayed for him he joined fervently in the petition, and seemed much better from its completion till his death. During the evening Captain R. A. Broyles, the conductor, called to see him. Cook recognized him and said: ‘Bob, tell my wife that I died at my post of duty, and that no man ever lived or died truer to a woman than I was to her.” He also thanked Captain Broyles for his many acts of kindness and was profuse in thanks to Dr. Smith and the physicians. He seemed greatly disturbed on account of his wife and child, and regretted that they were so unprovided for. In fact his only thought was of his wife and babe. Early in the evening he asked the physician if there were any chance for him. The doctor told there was none, and that he could not hope to live till morning. Cook then asked why he thought there was no chance, and when the doctor told him that three amputations—neither of which he could stand in his condition—were necessary, he seemed to recognize the truth and look it squarely in the face. About half past two he was given a strong opiate, and rested under its influence until a few seconds before his death, when he revived, and, looking around him with a calm smile on his face, called his wife’s name, and died. Dr. Grey, who was with him during the entire night, says he never saw a man exhibit half so much courage or dread death half so little. Cook’s home was in Adairsville, where his remains were sent yesterday. He had been married only about two years, and was the father of one child. Before his death he requested Captain Broyles to see the managers of his road and get them to assist his wife to a position in which she could support herself and child. And thus ends another horrible railroad accident.”