The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-03
CAPT. JOHN E. COOK.
VOORHEES, RecoLLEcTIoNs or ONE
or JOHN BROWNS MEN.
Governor WiIIard's visit to the Prisoner
The Impression the Prisoner Produced
Upon the Lawyer - How Cook
Learned to Hate Slavery.
r4Gath" I'm Cincinnati Enauircr.l

.. t'Gath" In Cincinnati Enquircr.l
"Mr. Mason went with us TO the jail con-
dnued Mr.. Voorhees, ave entered that
building and passed into a hall or corridor
and were taken into quite large room No
body was In that room but q 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 distracted way, as at something far of.
! was the last one 10 enter. Mr.. Mason,
think, went In first But looked In that
room as wo came 10 IL, and there / saw
stamped on that young mans face, though
sister, the unmistakable likeness Of Carrie
Willard. Ny heart began to droop 1 had
the evidence before me that Willard had not
been mistaken I'm the identity Of the young
man. / was so much overcome for q mo-
msnt that did not enter the room, but
paced the hall outside. knew that had to
defend this youth upon the 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 a chair. do not think much, IL any
thing, had been said. The young man had
now turned bis face around still keeping his
hand as he sat against his check, and he
looked at Willard with a distant recogni-
ton, as IL he was not decided about welcom-
Ing him. He had q broad forehead, fine
long locks Of brown hair, nearly trans.
parent skin, in which you could see the blue
veins, smooth face, and the chin firm though
slight. He had fine mouth and beautiful
x.yht taash IL, n ftor IA
was looking at Willard as at a friend who
might now be an enemy, and without very
great concern, but like one wearied.
Il will not attempt" said Mr.. Voorhees,,
ITO 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 mon are
Of a different sort from you. You have
been better bred, better educated The
young man replied without any excitement,
that he was there. Governor Willard then
said: John, why have you not written to
your sistersi They loved you, and you have
been lost 10 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: I have been in
Kansas and out where ! have had good
many things to think of. Sometimes have
not had 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 peacef want you to tell me how
you came in such company
@Cook then dropped his hand and looked
.I,y 20 "a fan.
blue eyes distended and flashed, and as he
raised his upper lip / could see those fine
white teeth shine. Said hef Ashbel, I
went to Kansas three years ago to get my
living and disturb no man. I 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-
enworth TO Lawrence with a 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 rife and emptied two
OF the saddles. For this act price was put
upon my head, and l was hunted like
WOLF As Cook spoke these words he turned
his face from his brother In law, and looked
right at James M. Mason AZ IL he instinct
lively guessed that man to be In sympathy
with those border rufiians. Mason was
proud man, but as he heard these words his
mind seemed to DO disturbed, and tho young
fellow looked him through.
Governor Willard then spoke up and said:
John. IL that was the cause IL will account
for your having been In Kansas but what
are you doing here In this peaceful CON-
munity among band Of assassinsr Cook,
rbnh had h..av hnfn q
the reflections upon his companions and their
motives, hesitated minute and said: Yes,
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 / was in Kansas |
I learned to hate slavery. I felt that it was
not right to keep men enslaved, and / did |
for these men what would expect them to |
do for me IL was In their place. l came to |
set them free IL could, Governor Willard |
remarked that it had been poor business,
or something TO that effect Cook said: |
Well, I am disappointed in the slave. I |
put arms In his hands, and be would not |
fight thoughtshs would fight for his free |
dom. He has not done so. but can not |
feel that tried TO do wrong when came to
help him. john said Governor Willard,
Your sister Is my wife And I have made |
up my mind to stand by you You are in |
peril Of your life. ! shall not desert you |
'Ashbel, replied Cook, my Life has been in |
peril for two years. day and night have
been in peril all the time. This is nothing |
new TO me- But, john said Governor |
Willard, you have never been In such peril |
as you are in now, Every probability of
criminal death Is before you. What win
your old father and mother think when they |
come TO see your Cook now showed emo |
ton, and something of q shudder went |
through him For moment he broke down.
@As looked at him with my anti-abolition
feelings, q conviction Of the tremendous
significance Of this sentimental crusading
hostility TO slavery depressed me. It 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
minds still disturbed, and sought our quar-
ters From that time onward saw him
daiIv "