The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-20
CAREER OF A HIGHWAYMAN.

\ correspondent of the Cincinnati EagUirl
identifies one of The men recently overhauled
in Kansas for connection with the trainrobbcry
on the L. T. railroad and shot with noted
freebooter Of the plains known as Hi Cook, of
whose checquc:cd career he gives the follow
ing account;
My first meeting with Cook occurred under
such circumstances "a did not greatly preu-
dice me in his favor In the winter of 1856
! had charge of the Government printing of.
flee at Fort Lcavenworth having been detailed
| from my command before it started across the
plains. There Were scores of dcsCrtcrs and
other hard cases hanging around the fort and
city, and about midwinter these chaps began
robbing every man who travelled the highway
between the fort and the city, distance Of two
miles The road was iringcd with trees and
bushes, and, being a Government road, there
were no houses near it. After half a dozen sol
ders had been found dead on the road, pa.
troll was established. 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 a set Of
press rollers, and was delayed there until 0
O'Clock in the evening, There had been no
robberics on the road for a week and, the night
being starlight, | took the chances of getting
through, having horse belonging to the Post
Quartermaster. Midway between city and fort
is Il stone bridge arChng small creek As |
reached this bridge horse on the gallOp, a man
caught the bride and halted the horse so sud
denly that almost went over his head A big
navy revolver was pushed under my nose rs
settled back in the saddle and voice called
out:
Come down here and shell out; come fist
-whoop-cOme on-llvcly nowi"
| came. | was carrying a roller in either
hand, my revolver was in its holster, and the
robber had all the advantage He seized one
of the rollers, thinking it II weapon of defense,
but he knew what ii was the minute his fin
gers touched the cold composition
"Who in thunder are you." he demanded,
as got down I'D
told him. t
why, d-n it, I'm a printer myself" he
said, as he reached out his hand, II never 20
back on The craft when know EN- Shake"
We shook,
Truth is I'm awful hard up" He apollo.
gizcd as he sat down on the stone railing.
While | knew that | am fully qualified to
edit any paper in the land no paper wants me.
can knock the splintcrs right off>n politics,
poetry, local, marine, and State news, but
can't get the chance. wrote Harpers the 9th
or day that I'd edit their magazine for $50 per
week, and while waiting for an answer,
thought I'd pull a few more proof sheets at
this business"
You wouldn't have secured but Just one
dollar from me-" answered.
" can make "A fair living if get fifty cents
from each victim" he remarked However,
go along home and forgive me for having de-
tanned you. | think I'll call on you to-mor.
row and have "A long chat"
thought he wouldn't but he did.
Before the breaking out of the war, Cook,
who was then about nineteen years old. crossed
from Kansa1 into Missouri To better his for.
tunes. He had been working in livery stables
and barrooms, and had the reputation of rcck-
less, good-hearted boy. He was employed by
a farmer near Weston for q month, but qui
work because he could not get his pay. Tol
get even with his debtor Cook set the barn on
fire. stole mule, and made The crossing of
the Missouri river, opposite Fort Leavenworth
while a 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 safe
ly crossed them.
When Jennison's iayhawkers raided into
Missouri in the early days of the war, this Cook
was one of the Colonels staff He knew every
man along the border for miles up and down
from Weston, and he furnished the jayhawkers
with list Of men who ought to he put under
ground They followed his list to a man. and
over thirty residents were hung and shot on |
that raid. Before rccrossing into Kansas Cook !
gobbled up eight fine horses and consider
able sum Of money. Jennison's men In turn |