, 1859-10-28
CAPT. JOHN L. COOK.

4aaTe 10 : rec otAte Dog in town, who has
been sp{ among the kickapoo Rangers!''
Yes; by G., md ht's SPY among u, too"
These remarks I heard uttered as entered.
Ahc Cincinnati House, in the town Of Lawrence,
one day. shortly after-or, before-the destruc-
ton Of the Free State Hotel, al nuisance By
order Of the Supreme Court Of the Territory Of
Kansas.
1t wss the topic of tho day. Parties we're
formed on the issue Of Is Cook friend or
rro-slaScrJ spy!'
went to see him.
W FIRST INTRODUCTION TO cpQE.
He knew me BY reputation, md entered into
conversation with him.
He was dressed in the rough fashion Of the
period, but his arms, accoutremcnts and linen
aud after one talked with hm,-his style of
CONVERSATION, indicated TINT he was young
mau Of wealthy family.
4 iasr. slim youth Of Two md twenty, his
Boosting aud incessaut talking did not strike
ME favorab,y. He had n slight impediment IN
his speech, aud the rapidisy with which he talk
ed did not improve it. lie told me that he lnd
come from Chicago, where, Mt tbatime, lie had
relatives hsing; bad gone to Leavenworth, aud
joined {for the purpose of betraying them) the
kiclapoo Rangers-the most desperate gang Of
suftians mad n,urderers TINT Missouri ever spew-
81 out ever Kansas. lie told their plans and
then 5tta1sd!
coox DISAPPEARS.
Whit he predicted was fulfilled his yeracity
was undoubted. But where was IeS
We had given him up g; lost to US, when he
suddenly Te-appented- Laurence bad been
sacked, il mistake not, since his previous
visit.
COOKS nEAprEARAscE.
Ills appearance crcaied renewed agitation.
He went before tho Stubbs, the celebrated MI
litia company Of Lawrence, told further pluns
OF the h4pgers, and, abore all, q story Of his
escape, which removed the doubts about him.
Tie story Of Cook s escape. rs he told it, was
subsequently found to be true.
u1s STORY.
lie had been suspected BIZ the Border Ruttian
Company, and when he asked permission to
visit kaDsAs City (with the secre. intention Of
going to lawrcnce,) man was sent after him
TO watch him.
Cook stopped ut Kausas City, and went up
10 Lawrence. The spy, fading that he Ind
gone. returned to kickapoo and reported the
treason.
When Cook went back to Eickapoo. a com.
pany neeting was held. a ruflian planted him.
self before the door Of the room, and the spy
proceeded to tell his story.
But Cook had already dim1y feared md tor-
mtdab'y prepsred himstlf for this result 1t
was teraibte situation 10 be i'm hopeless
gang Of thirty OF the most viIiiainous cut
throats that God ever permitted to pollute the
enrtb.
Cook eprang up. with his revolver cooked,
and bowie-knife in his left hand.
In an instant l1e was at the door; with tue
inuzzie OF bis pistol within yard Of the door
keepers mouth.
Joha E. Cook, unlike his Captain, is not a
religious man; and am very much afraid that
lie uttered profunc words rs he ordered the
donr-keeper 10 move aside.
Whether be did or not, however, the door,
keeper mored. 1t does not require many
words to induce even brave man to ret out Of
the range OF pistol held in the bands Of dcs-
peratc prisoner. In a tew seconds lie bud dis.
appeared among tie brush aud the darkness
faToriug him-he soon made his way to Law
renee.
THIS story, told BY young mau, unknown to
csery one, and one, who. br his own admissions,
had no antl-slaTery antecedents-who, if spv
nmong tue Ran:ers, llud GoEc into tha. very
dangerous business voluntarily, nnd before he
was acquainted with anv Of the lending Free
State 1nen-added to the fact that he was er-
cecdingly eyutstical and full Of anecdotes OF
l's o*n heroic deeds, very naturally excited
the suspicious Of party among tue Stubbs--
who mildly proposed to lynch him.
CHARLEY IESuAR7 nErnlExps HIN.
But be suddenly found friend in the most
fearless boy hare ever me-thc founder Of tue
Free State gueriflas indeed, {,rhicf
dou.,,) Old Erown was in the field few days
Left'' him; refer to M liou-heartcd friend,
-" G-d'' said Charley, you'll lynch nc
fir:-
These words opened Charley's career in Kan
sas-a career which was fatal to tue hopes Of
many. Southern hirelinss; unless, indeed,
(which l belieye,) mans hopes do not end iu
tue gEare!
"1belieye he is our friend" said Charley
"but i lie isn't I'll lind out. If he will fight for
us, I'll see thmt tt has the chance"
lie then proposed TINT two or three Of the
tour, sud take Cook with Them to test his cour-
age: If young Cook had been a coward, have
no doubt lie would never hare had the chance
to e. to uafper's Ferry
Charley was cncamped at Elue Mounds
wooded em1pence south Of WnlaEusa,. and ten
miles from Lawrence. Near the summit of the
Mound. in the th!clest rs.rt Of tue wood, !
found the young guerrilla buys lying ut their
ease. Their horses were tett,ered at different
places in ths vicinity Of the caulp. The ouly
covering th:y had -wKs au old canvas, (which
they had taken from the rutians,) and which,
tied TO trees. afforded protection ugalnst rain
Each man bud blanket, rife, pistol and bowie
knife. The side arms were stuck in their belts
Cook was there. lie bad been tried and found
true. Since the duys Of uomer--there hare
ever been exceptions to tt,e rule that barkiu.
dogs never b,ie. Cook was desperate gghting
dog; but lie barked like a King Charles poodle.
He was always boastng.
COOK QUIET ron wH11E
When pence was restored and the speculation
mania began, be entered into partnership with
person named Bacon, and nude good deal
Of money by his quick und shrewd speculations.
His real estate office was a real curiosity shop
Enter when you pleased, yo7 would usually find
him Furnishing his arn.s-of which he had al.
ways fne variety-for the chief furniture Of
his Office consisted Of weapons, which were con-
spcuously displayed On the walls and in the
corners. For himself, he vas walking arsenal,
even in the days Of mutual good feeling.
Cook-to giso lis character in few words
is bravc fellow, good hearted, ,reck.
less. esotist'cal and queriIous.
cooks RECENT HISTORY.
! learned, alter losing trace Of him for n11ny
months, that he hud gone to Harper's Ferry.
lie must hare been thcre for upwards of two
gears past.
The last news l had OF him Was from my wife.
She was travelling through Indiana on her war
to Kansas to rejoin me there. A young man,
with pistols in hts belt and bowie knife con.
spicuously display WAS dccIainlnq about the
Aa1sas wars ~ crcry one aropnd him.
Finally, l'aslng exhausted his late listeners,
he came INTO tue vicinity Of my wife, who asked
him about various friends in the Territory, lie
did not know her--she asked about me,
He WAS rather complimentary in his estimate
Of 1ny character, but lie made IN emphatic and |
important proslso; sTas, in LIS opinion the /
rashcst and most reckless man he knew.
Tic Famous Negro Plot OF S1xty Years
AHO.