The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-18
kOHLER'S,
40 BrOugf7tOn Street.

BIS mother was half-breed Cherokee,
and his father a white man who drlfted
into the territory in the early days. He
was born near Fort Gibson and spent
his early life on the ranch, going to school
as opportunity afforded, and doing chores
the rest of the time. He was
lazy, careless and vicious, even in child
hood, and long ago showed traces OF the
traits which have since made him a great
criminal.
In appearance he is singularly unprepos-
sesslng, tall, thin, angular, red-faced and
freckled. lis eyes are gray and glitter
ing his hair yellow, and his gait extreme
ly awkward. 1t is only on horseback that
he shows to fairly good advantage. Then
his wiry form looks more powerful; he
sits erect. and seems TO form part of his
horse. 1t SIS almost unnecessary to say
that he is a superb horseman and a man
of extraordinary physical courage. He is
also mean, treacherous. and cruel
When Is years of age Bill grew tired of
his fathers ranch, and commenced to
peddle whisky among the Indians. His
early ventures were unsuccessful, and he
soon found himself in the Fort Smith
jail. He received a short sentence and
upon it's expiration became a deputy mar
shall
He did pretty well at this, but found the
work of tracking and capturing his old
associates too tame He yearned for
more excitement, and found that horse
stealing yielded more than other ocu-
pations open to him. He also managed to
make a good deal Of money out Of the
business, enough at ali events to buy fire.
arms and ammunition sufficient to equip a
band of robbers.
It is supposed that the dlabandment of
the Dalton gang led Cook to think that
he could occupy their field with profit.
And he was, at all events, certain Of find
too a. EF4.v., l..
this may be, he formed the gang at about
that time, his brother Jim being the first
to join.
Yankee Joe a niger Indian" Chero-
kee Bill, a half-breed; Harry Munson,
Chicken" Lucas, "skeeter' Baldwin, and
a half dozen others also Joined, and in
a few days the gang was ready for bust
ness. Their first crime was the robbery Of
an old man named Marling, but 1t was
not until the attempted hold-up of Pay
master Starr that much was heard or
them.
Starr had a large sum Of money sent
from Washington for distribution among
the Cherokee Indians, and was accompa-
MED by a strong guard. A fight took
place, which resulted in the death of one
guard and the capture Of young Jim
Cook. who is SIN in jail at Tahlequah.
That fight made outlaws out OF the gang.
They dared not return to their homes,
even had they desired to do so, and there
was nothing for them to do but continue
their career Of crime or give themselves
up
The robbery Of the express Office at No
wata, In which Agent Richardson was
killed, quickly followed, and then the ex-
press robbery at Fort Gibson. The first
train "hold-up" was that OF the Frisco
and Red Fork the circumstances of
which are still fresh In the public mind
Joe Deason was captured a week after
this. and there was a split, or a series Of
splits. In the band, so that now only four
Of It's original members remain.
There have been many recruits, how
ever, TO take the places OF those who de-
serted or were killed, ana there has been
no cessation Of the gangs outrages. The
Parkinson robbery al Okmulgee ana 9TH
ers were committed, IL ia supposed by
men who had been with Cook only a few
days
The coretta hold-up Of the Iron Noun
tain express ~ probably the most daring
and coid-blo0ded AFFAIR Of the kind ever
accomplished no more reckless disre-
gard 81 life WAS ever shown on Or on the
battlefield
There a. little honor among thieves II
stories ~ The Cook gang are 30 be- be-
ifeVed. They stick together only because
there ie safety ~ 20 ether egurse, but