The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-08

no longer In d stan X ansas, but right among
US Democrats n ve were. We left Cook 90
the frst interview with our minds still die
turbed, and sought our quarters. From that
time on ward saw him daily.
Inquired OF Mr.. Voorhefs about the So
cal connections OF Cock ADD OF Governor
Willard. Cook" said Mr.. VOORHEES,, was
The only son OF very respectable, upright
parents in Connecticut. He had four sis
ters, one of whom married a Mr.. Crowley,
prosperous mercsnt In New YORK; another
married Mr.. Stanton, of New York, aiso q
man OF consideration; third married Gov.
ernor Willard; the fourth sister, Katie. was
unmarried. and, think, never has married
| John Cook studied law at Williamsburg, y.
| Y, with Mr.. Stearns. Mr.. Stearns' daughter
| IL the wife of Homer A. Nelson former men,
| Der OF Congress and Secretary of State in
New York. She remembers Cook we'll when
he was in her. fathers Office in
| williamsburg. ard how much chill
dren took to him. He had very
pleasant way with young children. He did
not complete bis studies, / think, but went
10 Kansas when he was about twenty. Gov
| ernor Willard was born in Utica, n. Y, of
| old Massachusetts stock, and IL IS said that
mis- great great uncle was executed at Salem,
Mass. for hostility to the authorities there
who were hanging witches. The Cook girls
were bright and vivacious, and had due
characters. Governor Wizards wife had
been schooltkacher in southern Indiana
/
very fond of each other. Willard had the
consumption. Governor Willard died while
| governor, aud his widow survived him bat
n little while. Their son is the leader of the
Indiar Legislature, is Democrat. and has
| twice Supported me for Senator. They had
| q daughter who is married to = gentleman
at Liverpool. England"
Sad 1: Did Captain Cook. of Harpers
| Ferry, leave pOsterlty?'
Yes; he had a child which was only
about four months old when he was execu-
| ted. That child lives at Bloomington. III,
and is now fine boy or young man. The
mother, whom Cook married ut Harpsrs
Ferry, and whom he dearly loved, is re-
spectacle lady, and has long been married
to her second husband"
Said /: mir. Voorhees,, you were saying
that Captain Cook had not been RESPONSIBLE
tor your line O. argument leaving him out
ofthe usual motives or status OF Browns
men?n
why" said the Senator, 'ws who had
come there to save Cooks life had no other
purpose than that. All that we were look
ing to was his sister and parents. To that
single end bent my whole argument |
| was Democrat, and an anti-abolition Dem
ocrst. john Brown and his raid were az
the moment the subject c universal execra.
ton. / made up nv mind if possible 70 save
Cooks life by putting him in the position of
a young man under the magnetism of
Brown. So I denounced the aboltonis,s as
not only responsible for this raid. but for
misls aiding this young man. l used every
point within my, reach to that end
| there was not the least cbarcs any
other way 10 get him Oft aid not
much Ia that perhaps. Bur | took the
desperate chance. Now" said Mr.. Voorhees,
lit il q singular fact that Cook neither be.
fore Dor during after my defense ever
alluded 10 il When / was making my
speech. with Governor Willard sitting near
me and Cook not tar off and while / was de
Douncing the aboltionists who would so
pervert this fair haired wanderer, ! saw
Cock face at one time looking a. che with q
most extraordinary expire sson of couuts-
| nance. 1t was that OF establishment as IL
be wss surprised that should take that way
Of cefendiug him. have 80 doubt myself
but that old John Brown inferred from my
speech that Cook had deserted his cause. The
anti slavery papers may have fallen into that
| inference. But there IS nothing whatever
tn sustain il in real fact. Cook never repu-
dated bis companions. He always spoke o.
John Brown to me In terms OF the highest
admiration. He spoke OF his associates with
equal respect. He simply allowed his
brother-in-lav for the sake of his sisters to
use what legal line he chose, but he never
made q suggestion nor did anything to
alter my firm conviction that he was a sim
cere fanatic in that extraordinary perform
ance."
Mr.. Voorhees, remarked: 'Since time has
| SlapSCtl, ana am speaking OF sQlngS IN tDelf
actualities, let me say this: There never
was. probably, in this world such remark
able band Of men as that of John Brown.
| Think of IT. All of the band were mere
youths. almost boys except Brown himself,
and he was perhaps sixty years Of age.
| They fought with him in the most unfinch.
ing way, lost their lives with a courage uu-
surpassed, and those who remained to be
executed were cool, consistent and firm in
the end. None of them went to the gallows
with more bravery than john Cook. In
| some respects he SURPRISES all the rest in
force OF character. / heard him order bis
own coffin. After he was sentenced 20 de ath,
instead of giving way TO despair, he sat down
and wrote that most wonderful letter to
his wife and mother, telling them to
bring mp his boy to understand in wha!
cause he had died. John Brown probably
thought from the nature of my defense that
Cook was not firm, but that ives an error.
When Cook went to the scaifold with young
Coppick, his cell-mate, and the death cap
had been pulled over their faces, he said
Ned, where is your hand? Let me take your
hand They grasped each others pinioned
hands, and died In perfect composure."
IL here occurs to me that perhaps 1 have
misouoted Mr.. VOORHEES, as TO the time when
Cock wrote the above remarkable letter.
thu it was written after he and Coppick
had attempted to Escape and were brought
out from their cells. Mr.. Worries said, ]
| think, that he saw the shackles struck from
their feet. and that then Cook sat down with
the eallows close behind him, having, indie I'D,
but a few hours to live, and wrote the above
cool letter ia q Gle ar aud mistaken hand.
another instance OF Cooks GOODNESS,
Mr.. Voorhees, said that he was a superb
handler OF arms. and that Lewis Washing
ton had remarked to him (Voorhees) that
Cook could take q revolver in each hand, and
alternately lifting his hands could Dive q
bullet through spot as big as ones eye.
Said ]: ibid he show any gratitude 10
you tor your endeavors?'
Cook really loved me-" said Mr. Voor
hees HE was more oen aud frank with
me than with his brother.in.law, because he
knew that had complete Sympathy with
him. His brother-in-law had reelected on
his case. / never did 10 him. took the boy
into my heart, and vile in court 1 used my
own way 10 save his life. i never upbraided
him for what he had been engaged in, pri
vately. To me be was a cons 1T being. not
wthstanding my aversion at that time to
abolitionisp."
Was he not little set up in his own es.
teem"
He had confidence in himself, bat / do
not recall that he was vain. He let Us han
| die his cause as we saw fit. ASH have al.