The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-10-27
Subscribers out of County, $1.2O
Hi Cook, the Highwayman
THE CAREER OF A NOTORIOUS KANS.
AS RoBBER AND MURDERER.

A correspondent Of q CINCINNATI pa
per relates the following romantic story
of Western life. He says verify be-
lieve that one of the two train robbers
killed in Kansas the other day was q
man named Hi Cook. The description
is almost perfect. He was stealing
horses and robbing stores in Missouri
and Kansas when l last heard of him,
and it was the dream of his life to cut
some such dash and get away with a
fortune.
My first meeting with Cook occurred
under such circumstances as did not
greatly prejudice me in his favor. In
the winter of 1866 bad charge of the
Government printing Office at Fort Lev
enworth having been detailed from my
command before it started across the
plains. There were scores of deserters
and other hard cases hanging around
the Fort and city and about midnight
those chaps began robbiug every man
who Travelled the highway between the
fort and the city, distance of two
miles. The road was fringed with
trees and being Government road,
there were no houses near it. About
half dozen soldiers had been found
hCuu Ol bu6 lOuut pdblOl was ColoO-
lished. The robbers were not quite so
bold after that, but yet it was danger
GUS travelling after nightfall. went
down to the Bulletin office one afternoon
for set of press rollers, and was delay
ed there until O'Clock in the evening.
There had been no robberies on the
road for week, and, the night being
starlight, took the chancesS Sof getting
through, having horse belonging to
the Post Quartermaster. Midway be-
tween city and fort is stone bridge
arehing small creek. AS reached
this bridge, horse on the gallop, man
caught the bridle and halted the horse
so suddenly that almost went over his
head. A big navy revolver was pushed
under my nose as l settled back In the
saddle, and voice called out
Come down here and shell out
come st-whoop-come on--lively
now %
came. l was carrying roller in
either hand, my revolver was in its hol-
ster, and the robber had all the advan-
tages. He seized one of the rollers,
thinking it a weapon Of defense, but he
knew what it was the minute his fingers
touched the cold composition.
"Who in thunder are you ?" he de-
manded as soon as l got down.
told him.
Why, l am printer myself" he
said, as he reached out his hand. "I
never go back on the craft when know
'em. Shake l'
We shook.
Truth is, I'm awful hard up" He
apolOgized as he sat down on the stone
railing. "While know that / am fully
qualified to edit any paper in the land,
no paper wants me. l can knock the
splinters right off'n politics, poetry, 10.
cal items, marine, and State news, but
l can't get the chance. l wrote HaT-
perS' the other day that I'D edit their
magazine tor $50 week, and while
waiting for an answer l thought I'd
pull few more proof sheets at this
business"
You wouldn't have secured but
Just one dollar from me-" answered.
+" can make fair living if get
fifty cents from each victim |" he re-
marked. However, 90 along home, and
forgive me for having detained you.
think I'll call on you tomorrow and
have chat"
l thought he wouldn't but he did.
Before the breaking out of the war,
Cook, who was then nineteen years of
age, crossed from Kansas into Missouri
to better his misfortunes. He had been
working in livery stables and bar
rooms, and had the reputation of n reck-
less, good hearted boy. He was ems
ployed by farmer named Weston for q
mouth, but quit work because he could
not get his pay. To get even with his
debtor, Cook set the barn on fire, stole
mule, and he made the crossing
of the Missouri river opposite Fort
LeavenwOrth while dozen men
were shooting at him from the Missouri
bank. The mule was killed while
swimming, but Cook escaped without
scratch. To get even again he returned
to Missouri within ten hours and stole
two horses and safely crossed them.
When Jennson's jayhawkers ralded
into Missouri in the early days of the
war, this Cook was one Of the Colonel's
staff. He knew every man along the
border for miles up and down from Wess
ton and he furnished the jayhawkers
with list of men who ought to be put
under ground. They followed the list
to man and over thirty border resi-.
dents were hung aud shot on that raid.
Before re. crossing into Kansas Cook
gobbled up eight fine horses and con-
siderable sum OF money. JenniSon'S
men in turn robbed him, and when he
made threats Of vengeance they shaved
his head and run him out of camp, The
young man disappeared, and the nest
thing known OF him he had Joined a
guerrilla band, which was eventually
led by the famous Quantrell. 1t was
| Cook who entered Lawrence as spy,
returned and reported, and then led the
guerrillas on to their bloody work.
When met him after the war, as 1
have related, he was keeping rather
shady, not knowing but the Govern.
ment might want to investigate his do
ings during the war. He called on me,
as he said he would, and promptly
offered me the half of fourteen dollars
he had taken from a soldier soon after
CONTINUED OK FouRTH PACK,