The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-10-27
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

stopping me. When declined, he re-
marked Well, this is bad business,
and l realize It as forcibly as you can.
If was rich 1 should spend my time
writing Sunday school books and taking
care of orphan children, but | can't
keep money long enough TO enjoy it. l
am, however, trying to reform. / don't
commit one robbery now where | used
to commit three, and it really stings my
conscience to run off a Government
mule. want to make one big haul and
then I'll live an honest, upright life
indeed, I'll bind myself to start reli-
gious weekly somewhere -
After some further general talk, he
brought forward proposition that we
should go partners in making the " big
haul" ha had alluded TO. Numbers of
soldiers were being mustered out every
week, and most Of them received up
ward of a hundred dollars from the pay
master. Being all from the East, they
went home in gangs of from ten to
thirty, taking the cars at Weston. To
reach Weston from the fort the men had
to go three miles up the river, and then
cross by ferry boat. Cooks plan was
to seize the boat, lock the cabin doors,
run the craft up the river mile or two,
aud rob the soldiers one by one as they
were let out of the cabin. He thought
five men would be plenty to do the
work, and he kindly offered to let me
make one af the number. He seemed
to have perfect confidence that l would
not "give him away to the officials,
and when l declined his offer he re-
hected for q minute, and said I'll
rob the boat alone -
Four days after his visit to the print
ing Office he attempted to carry out The
reckless and dangerous project without
assistance. A the boat left the Kansas
shore just before dusk, the thirteen
homeward bound soldiers entered the
VAIN cabin and sat down. Cook lock-
ed the door, and then, gOiug up to the
wheel house, he presented revolver at
the Captains head and ordered him to
run up stream. 1t was do or die, and
the boat took the new route. The SOL
diers below scented danger in the move
ment, and breaking down the door they
hunted Cook overheard. The water
was full Of floating ice, but yet he swan
300 feet and escaped the fifty bullets
fred from revolvers. did not see him
for two weeks after that. Then he came
into the Office one day and asked me to
take hand in the robbery of the Pay
master at the post. A ball was to be
given in the city next night, and Cook
argued that most of the officers at the
post would go down. The safe in the
Paymaster's Office was small one, and
the only guard was detailed soldier
who acted as clerk and slept in the
room where the safe stood This mar
was to be won over or put out of the
way, Cook didn't care which.
told him IL he did not at once aban
don the idea l would certainly give no
tice of his intentions, and likewise gavt
him to understand that l should no
support any of his schemes in any man
ner, but would, on the contrary, rathe
aid in bringing him to justice. II,
agreed to start for st. Louis that yer!
evening, and talked like man VIII
really meant to do better, But at mid
night the next night he and two other
stole the safe, hauled it to the river, an
then three miles up stream on ice, an
broke it open and secured about four
teen thousand dollars in greenbacks
Cook escaped, loosing all his money
while the others were captured, befor
they had used more than enough t
purchase horses with.
Six months later Cook was leaf n
around Fort Kearney, when a solde
identified him. Sixteen cavalry me
pursued him as he fed. He was wei
armed, ,and, after riding about ten miles
he dismounted, got shelter in buffal
wallow, and it is a plain fact that i
beat his pursuers off and took his ow
tine about going. Two or three weeE
after that he attempted train robbel
on the st. Joe road, and year ago
man whom know was Cook attempte
one near Hannibal, having ten me
with him. Three or four months ag
he wrote me from Fort Scott, Kansa
sending newspaper item which d,
scribed the narrow escape of a hOr,
thief from party OF vigilants. In h
letter he wrote {:
You used me white that winter at Leave
worth. and snail never forget 1t. i don't su
pose you'd Ike to come down here ana go shaT
with me in stealing horses but we are NJ
laying plans for big haul, ana II II succee
you may at least expect "A diamond pm, On.
the way, haven't reformed yet Is there al
coRgre Eatlon in your clty without pastor
think Crook and his gang were pli
ing the recent railroad robbery, al
haven't the least doubt that he was L
leader in the affair.