Death of Hon. S. S. Cox.
Death of Hon. S. S. Cox.

DEATH OF HON. S. S. COX
_______

A Peaceful Passing Away, Surrounded
by Family and Friends.
_______

HE WAS CONSCIOUS TO THE LAST
_______

His Death, Though not Unexpected, Came
Sooner than the Physicians Believed
It Would--Pathetic Incidents at the Bed-
side--Sketch of His Distinguished Career
_______

    NEW YORK, Sept. 10.--Congressman Sunset Cox died at 8:33 o'clock this evening. The end was quiet, and the dying man breathed his last as peacefully as if falling into a light sleep. Mrs. Cox, who had been scarcely away from her husband's bedside for the past two days and nights, held his left hand, while his old friend Douglass Taylor held the other. He had been conscious all day until about a quarter of an hour before the end. Doctor Lockwood was in attendance at the time. Nicholas Kearney, William Hirschfield, two nurses, and two servants were in the room also. All knelt about the bed.
    Two hours before he died, his colored servant, who had just come on from Washington, went to the bed, and Mrs. Cox asked her husband if he recognized him. He looked at him, and patted him on the shoulder. The colored man's eyes filled with tears, while all were deeply affected.
    In the afternoon, while Doctor Lockwood was talking to him, Mr. Cox made some witty remark, which completely upset the doctor's dignity.
    Late in the afternoon telegrams were sent to Mr. Cox's three sisters, two of whom live in Zanesville, Ohio, the other living in St. Louis. Mr. Cox's nephew, who is the superintendent of the Smithsonian Institution, was also telegraphed for.
    Doctor Lockwood said that the immediate cause of death was heart failure, and the cause peritonitis. Telegrams were sent to Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives J. P. Leedom and to Speaker Carlisle.
    Doctor Scudder arrived a few minutes after Mr. Cox's death, and said that the end had come a little sooner than he had expected, although when he saw the patient about 7 o'clock he was exceedingly low, and did not seem to recognize the doctor.
    Doctor Lockwood came to attend Mr. Cox at 1 o'clock p. m., relieving Doctor Scudder, who had had the night watch. The patient had slept between 7 and 8 o'clock yesterday morning, thanks to strong injections of morphine, but seemed to have grown weaker when he awoke. He never spoke during the day unless when addressed. An attack of heart failure was stopped by giving the patient digitalis, and brandy and ice.
    Doctor Wyncoop says that the patient showed scarcely any signs of that mental depression which a knowledge of his condition might well have produced in one less plucky and light hearted.
    "I visited him on Sunday," said the doctor, "and advised him that it was of the utmost importance that he should remain perfectly quiet, and, above all, not talk. 'Just fancy yourself a vegetable,' I said, 'without the power of conveying your thoughts or communicating your wishes.' Mr. Cox at this time was fully aware of his condition; he could barely speak above his breath and was extremely feeble. He smiled just perceptibly and drew me down that I might hear him the better.
    "'Have you any choice, doctor, as to the kind of vegetable you wish me to be?'
    "I suggested that a turnip was about as lifeless a vegetable as I knew of and as little liable to nervous excitement.
    "'Very well,' replied Mr. Cox, 'a turnip it shall be.'
    "This is a goood example of the man's indomitable pluck."
    Mr. Cox's last conversation was about the four Territories, whose Statehood he hoped to father. He mentioned New Mexico and Arizona, and said something about making a great effort in their behalf at the coming session.
    The Steckler Association, before which Mr. Cox was to have spoken to-night, met about 8 o'clock, and without knowing of the Congressman's death, adopted this resolution:

    We have learned with deep regret of the illness of Hon. S. S. Cox, our Representative from the Ninth Congressional District, and sincerely pray for his early recovery. As statesman, scholar, philosopher, lecturer, and thinker, he stands foremost among the men of his day. We earnestly hope that he will be soon restored to health.

    The president then read the following letter, which he received from Mr. Cox a few days ago:
                                                                                NEW YORK, Sept. 6,
    DEAR FRIEND: After your work is done to-night, come around to my house and see me. I am down sick with a malarial fever, and have been since we fixed our lecture. I have tried and medicated, &c., &c., in hope to be well for the 10th instant. Perhaps I may fail, come and let me talk it over. It will be a great disappointment to me if I can't get up in time,
                                                                                        Yours, S. S. COX.

________

    Samuel Sullivan Cox, son of Ezekiel Taylor Cox, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 30, 1824. His father was a member of the Ohio Senate of 1832-3. Young Cox attended the Ohio University at Athens and graduated at Brown in 1846. He maintained himself while in college by literary work, and obtained prizes in classics, history, literary criticism, and political economy. He adopted the profession of law, and began practicing in Ohio, but soon abandoned it to take a trip to Europe.
    On his return, in 1858, he became editor of the Columbus (Ohio) Statesman and thenceforth devoted his attention to politics. While editing the Statesman he published a gorgeous description in sophmoric strain, which won for him the sobriquet of "Sunset" Cox. In 1855 Mr. Cox was offered the secretaryship of the American Legation in London, but declined it. Subsequently, however, he went to Lima, Peru, in a similar capacity. He remained one year, and on his return was elected to Congress. He served three terms, from December 7, 1857, until March 3, 1865. Mr. Cox was chairman of the committee on Revolutionary Claims. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1864, 1868, and 1876. His first service in Congress was during the war, and, while he sustained the Government by voting money and men, yet he antagonized the policy of the administration upon certain measures.
    Twenty-three years ago (1866) he took up his residence in New York city, and two years later was elected to Congress. He was re-elected three times, serving during that period on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Banking, Centennial Exhibition, and Rules. At the opening of the Forty-fifth Congress he was a prominent candidate for the Speakership, and, though not elected, served frequently as Speaker pro tem. He framed the new census law, and was the author of the plan of apportionment adopted that session (1877-78.)
    He was the original champion of the Life-Saving Service bill, and ultimately secured its passage. His work in Congress at that time also included the raising of the salaries of letter carriers, and the granting to them of a vacation each year with pay, these measures involving an appropriation annually of $96,000.
    He was a member of the committees appointed to investigate the doings of Black Friday, Federal elections in cities, and the Kuklux troubles. He was previously regent of the Smithsonian Institute, his term closing in 1865.
    Mr. Cox went to Europe in 1869 and visited Northern Africa, traveling through Italy, Corsica, Algeria, and Spain. Soon after his return, in 1872, he was a candidate for Congress from the State of New York at large. He was defeated, but the death of his successful competitor necessitated a new election, and he was chosen. He was re-elected in 1874, '76, '78 and '80, serving twelve consecutive years and making up to that time a total service of twenty years. He secured the passage of a law uniting all jurisdictions in the Federal jurisdiction, so as to preserve New York harbor and its tributaries from destruction, and for this he was thanked by the New York Chamber of Commerce. The measure, however, did not finally become a law, being defeated in the Senate.
    In 1882 Mr. Cox visited Sweden, Norway, Russia, Turkey and Greece. In 1885 President Cleveland appointed him Minister to Turkey. He remained at that post but one year, and on his return was re-elected to Congress from a district in New York city. He was re-elected in 1888. His most important work in the last session was in behalf of the admission of the Territories.
    Mr. Cox's reputation was not alone that of a statesman, but he was famed as well as a humorous speaker, writer and lecturer. He was a contributor to magazines and newspapers, and besides published the following books: "The Buckeye Abroad" (1851); "Puritanism In Politics" (1863); "Eight Years in Congress" (1865); "A Search for Winter Sunbeams" (1870); "Why We Laugh" (1876); "Free Land and Free Trade" (1876); "Arctic Sunbeams" (1882); "Orient Sunbeams" (1882); "The Three Decades of Federal Legislation" (1885).


Source:

Unknown, "Death of Hon. S. S. Cox," Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, 11 September, 1889, p. 1.

Created May 24, 2006; Revised May 24, 2006
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