Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-03
CAPT. JOHN E. COOK.
vooRHees' REColLEcTiONs OF ONE
OF JOHN BROWNS MEN.
r"Gath" in Cincinnati Enquirer.]

t"0ath" In Cincinnati Enquirer1
"Mr Mason went with US to the JAIL" CON
tinued Mr.. voorhees,. "We entered that
building and passed into o hall or corridor
and were taken into quite large room. No
body was In that room but rather small
young man, WHO was sitting near the win
dow with his cheek in the hollow Of his
hand. He was looking out Of the window In
an abstracted way, as at something f.! of.
was the last one to enter. Mr.. Mason, 1
think, went In first But looked In that
room as we came to 1t, and there I saw
stamped on that young mans face. though
he was Of more haxen complexion than his
sister, the unmistakable likeness OF Carrie
Willard. My heart began to drocp. 1 had
the evidence before me that Willar! had not
been mistaken in the identity Of the young
man. l was SO much overcome for mo
ment that did not enter the room, but
paced the hall outside. knew that had to
defend this youth upon tho terrible charge
against him"
Mr.. Voorhees, seemed touched with the
recollection, and paused awhile. Then he
said:
"When went in the room Governor Will
ard was sitting near this young man and
Senator Mason was looking at them both
from chair. do not think much, IL any
now turned his face around still keeping his
hand as he sat against his cheek, and he
looked at Willard with distant recogni-
tion, as II he was not decided about welcom-
ing him. He had a broad forehead, fine
long locks OF brown hair, nearly trans
parent skin, in which you could soc the blue
veins, smooth face, and the chin firm though
slight. He had a fine mouth and beautiful
white teeth in 1t, as l saw afterward. He
was looking at Willard Us at a friend who
might now be an enemy, and without very
great concern, but like one wearied
II will not attempt" said Mr.. Voorhees,,
"to repeat the conversation, though it was
not long. 1t was something like this:
john said Governor Willard, how came
You to be in such company These men are
Of different sort from you. You have
been better bred, better eiucated' The
young man replied without any excitement
that he was there. Governor Willard then
said: John, why have you not written to
your sisters! They loved you, and you have
been lost to them for two or three years. !.
Cook replied in the same wearied, dreamy
way, turning his face back from the window
out Of which he had looked with the same
distant and dreaminess: 4 have been in
Kansas and out where I have had good
many things to think Of. Sometimes have
not hal the facilities to write At other
times ] have been too much engaged. ,
But, john said the governor, looking at
him with all his might, what were you
doing in Kansas or anywhere with these
outrageous criminals and disturbers Of your
country's peace' want you to tell me how
you came in such company
"Cook then dropped his hand and looked
firmly to Governor Willard's face and his
blue eyes distended and flashed, and as he
raised his upper lip could see those fine
white teeth shine. Said hel 'Ashbel, !
went to Kansas three years ago to get m,
living and disturb no man. had no in
tention of breaking the peace anywhere. but
the border ruffians had come into Kansas to
do as they pleased. was going from Leav-
en- worth t. Lawrence with q cherished
friend, Alexander Stuart, when a
band Of these border rufiiians
rode up to us and fired upon us, and they
killed my friend by my side His blood
was spilled upon my garments. He died in
my arms. raised my rifle and emptied two
Of the saddles. For this act price was put
upon my head, and l was hunted like a
WOLF As Cook spoke these words ne turned
his face from his brother-in-law, and looked
right at James NJ. Mason as if he instinct
lively guessed that man to be in sympathy
with those border rufilans Mason was
proud man, but as he heard these words his
mind seemed to be disturbed, and the young
fellow looked him through.
Governor Willard then spoke up and said |:
John, if that was the cause it will account
for your having been in Kansas, but what
are you doing here in this peaceful COM
munity among band Of assasin,f Cook
who had been aroused before as if resenting
the reflections upon his companions and their
motives, hesitated minute and said: Yes
1 am here He gave that dreamy look out
of the window again, and then returning
the gaze Of his brother-in-law, though
in more softened way, he said:
'Ashbel, when l was in Kansas
learned to hate slavery. felt that it was
not right to keep men enslaved, and did
for these men what would expect them to
10 for me il was in their place. came to
set them free II could, Governor Willard
remarked that 1t had been poor business,
or something to that effect Cook said:
Well, l am disappointed in the slave.
put arms in his hands, and he woull not
fight ! thought he would fight for his free
dom. He has not done SO, but can not
feel that I tried to do wrong when came to
help him. john said Governor Willard
Your sister is my wife, And have made
up my mind to stand by you You are in
peril Of your life. shall not desert YOU ;
'Asbbei,' replied Cook, my life has been in
peril for two years, day and night l have
been IN peril all the time. This is nothing
new to me- But, John,' said Governor
Willard, you have never been il such peril
as you are in now, Every probability of q
criminal death is before you. What will
y Jur old father and mother think when they
come to see your Cook now showed emo
tion, and something of a shuddsr went
through him. For moment he broke down.
"As Hooked at him with my anti-abolition
feelings, conviction Of tho tremendous
Significance of this sentimental, crusading
hostility to slavery depressed me. 1t had
entered into the house Of my friend, and
here it was no longer in distant Kansas, but
right among us, Democrats as we were.
We left Cook at this first interview with our
cainds still disturbed, and sought our quar-
ters. From that time onward l saw him
daily"