Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-13
III C0OH, THE TRITN-ROBBER.
ICo,respo,sdes,oe CIacinaaii Esqqi,ir.rl

oae of The two train-Iobb ers Eilled in Kan
sas the other day was man named II Cook.
The description is almost perfect. He was
stealing TO ses and robbing sores in Mis-
souri, and Kansas when last heard OF bi m
and II was the dream OF his life 10 Gu, some
such dash and get away with q fortune.
My first meeting with Cook occurred
unCer such circumstances as did no. greatly
PREJUDICE me IN his favor. In the winter OF
lSG5-'6 had charge OF the government print
ing flee at Fort Leavenworth, having been
detailed from my command before Il started
scloss the plains. Tnere were scores of de-
ssrieTs ard other hard cases hanging around
the fort and the city, and about mid winter
these chaps began robbtng every man who
Travelled The highway between the fort aud
the city. distance OF two miles. The road
was fringtd with trees and bushes, and,
being government road, there were no
houses near il. After half a dozen sold ,ers
had been found dead on the road. a patrol
was established. The robbers were not quite
SO bold after that, but yet IL was dangerous
travelling after nightfall. l went down TO the
rollers, and was delayed there until 9o'clock
in the evening. There had been no robberies
on the road for a week, and, the night beiug
starlight, l took the chances OF getting
through, having a horse belonging 10 the
post quaTtermaster. Midway between city
and fort is a stone bridge arching a small
creek. AS l reached this bridge, horse on
the gallOp, man caugst the bride and
halted the horse so suddenly that / almost
went over his head. A big navy revolver
was pushed under my nose as settled back
down here and shell out; come fast-whoOp-
come on-lively, now"
l came. 1 was carrying roller in either
hand, my revolver was in Its holster. ani
the rUbber had all the advantage. He seized
one Of the rollers, thinking IL a weapon OF
defense, but he knew what il was the minute
lie touched the cold composition.
"WhO in thunder are yOUs" he demanded,
as / got down.
told him.
why, d-n it, I'm printer myself" he
glih as a reached "a 100
back on the craft when / know 'em; shake
We shook.
og Zed as he sat down on the stone railing.
"While know that | am fally qualified to
edit any paper IN the land, no paper wants
me. l can knock the spliuters right of IN
politics, poetry, local, marine, and state ne w.,
but / can't get the chance. L wrote HIrpeTS
the other day that I'D edit their magazine for
so per week, and, while waiting for an an
swer, i thought I'd pull a few more proof
sheets at this business"
You would have secured but just Il from
me- l answered.
II can make a fair living if | get 50 cents
from each victim, >" he remarked. However,
90 along home, and forgive me for having
detained you. l think III call on you to-
morrow and have a long cnat.'
thought he wouldn't, but he did.
Before the breaking out of the war, Cook,
who was then about - years of age, crossed
from Kan sss into Missouri TO better his for
tunes He had been working in livery stables
and bar rooms, and had the reputation OF
reckless, good hearted boy. He was en-
ployed by "A farmer near Weston for a month.
but Quit work because he could HoJ get his
pay. get even with his debtor Cock set
the barn on fire, stole a mule, and made the
crossing Of the Missouri river opposite Fort
Leavenworth while dozen men were shoot
log at him from the Missouri bank. The
mule was killed white swimming, but Cook
escaped without a scratch. To get even again
he returned tc Missouri within ten hours,
stole two horses, and safely crossed them.
When JennisOn's Jayhawkers raidei 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 jayhawker with a list Of men who ought
TO be put under ground. They followed his
list to man, and over thirty border resi-
dents were hung aud snOt on that raid. Before
recrossing into Kansas, Cook gobbled up
eight fine horses and cons iderable sum of
money, and when he made threats of ven.
geance they shaved his head and run him
out of camp. The young man disappeared,
Joined guerrilla band which was eventually
led by the famous Quantrell. 1t was Cook
who entered Lawrence as a spy, returned
and reported, and then led the guerrillas to
When l met him after the war, as have
related, he was keeping rather shady, not
knowing but the government might want TO
investigate his doings during the war. He
called ON me as he said he would, and
promptly offered me the half of fourteen dol
lars he had taken from a soldier soon after
stopping me. When declined, he remarked:
Well this is bad business, and realize il
as forcibiy as you can. If was rich should
spend my time writing Sunday scaOo
books, and taking care of orphan children
but can't keep money long enough to enjoy
il. / am, however, trying 10 reform. dom
commit one robbery now where / used To
commit three, and IL really stings my con
| science to run off government mule. 1
| want 10 make one big haul, and then I'll ge
religion and live an honest, upright life. In
deed, IN bind myself to start religion
After some further general talk he brough
forward proposition that We should 60
partners In making the "big haul he had al
luded to. Numbers OF soldiers We're being
mustered out every week, and most of them
received upward of 500 from the paymaster
Being all nom the east, they went home In
Weston. To reach Weston from the fort the
men had 10 60 three miles up the river, and
then Cross by ferry Cooks plan was to
seize the boat, lock the cabin doors, run the
craft up the river q mile or two, AID rob the
soldiers one by one as they We're 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 of the number. He seemed to
have perfect confidence that l would not
"give him away" to the officials; and, when
1 declined his offer, he reflected for mo
ment, and said: "I'll rob the boat alone."
Four days after his visit to the printing
Office he attempted to carry out the reckless
and dangerous project without assistance
As the boat left the Kansas shore Just before
dusk, the thirteen home ward bound soldiers
entered the warm cabin and sat down. Cook
locked the door, and then, going up to the
wheehouse, presented a revolver at the Cap
tain's head and ordered him TO run up stream.
1t was do or die, and the boat took the new
route. The soldiers below scented danger In
the movement, and breaking down the door.
hun; ed Cook overheard. The water was full
of floating ice, but yet he swan 800 feet and
escaped the fifty bullets III ed from revolvers.
did not see him for two weeks after that
Then ne came into the office one day and
asked me TO take hand in the robbery OF
the paymaster at the post. A ball was TO be
given in the city next night, and Cook argued
that most of the officers al the post would go
down. The safe in the paymasters Office
| was q small one, and the only guard was a
! detailed soldier who acted as clerk and slept
| in the room where the safe stood. This mau
| was to be Won over or put out OF the way,
| Cook didn't care which.
| i told him that, II he did not at once aban-
| don the idea, i would certainly give notice
| OF his Intentions, and, likewise, gave him to
| understand that should not support any of
| his schemes in any manner, but would, on
| the contrary, rather aid In bringing him to
| justice. He agreed to start for st. Louis that
| very evening, and talked like man who
| really meant to do better. But at midnight
| the next night he and Two others stole the