The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-24


Claims on MorganfeId, the sus-
pect-Movementx of the Bandits.
WAGNER. I. T., Oct 21.-The Kan
sas City and Memphis express, which
left here at $50 last night, was wrecked
and robbed by the Cook gang Of des-
peradoes at Correta, a siding five miles
south Of here. The train was running
twenty mics an hour. and even within
100 feet OF the switch a man came out
from behind an enlbankment and threw
the switch for the side-track, running
the train into a string Of empty box cars.
Engineer James Harris applied the air
brakes and reversed tRe engine.
The robbers commenced firing at the
engine and coaches. As soon as the train
stopped two Of the robbers commanded
the engineer and fremen to come down,
and as soon as they had dismounted
marched them to the baggage and ex-
press cars. Here they forced Express
Messenger Ford to open the doors by
perfo-ating the side OF the car with bu.-
lets.
Meanwhile two more of the robbers
had taken up a position al the rear end
OF the sleeper to prevent any one escap-
ing, two others mounted the platforms of
the smoker and baggage car and two
more the platform between the first and
second coaches, all keeping up a con-
tinual fire. The two robbers in the eX-
press car were meanwhile ransdcking the
express car, securing all the money in
the local safe. They commanded Mes
sengeT Ford TO open the through safe,
-. lot h. 90
locked at the main Office and not opened
until it reached It's destination they left
the car. The two on the front platform
then started through the coach. demand
ing money and va.uab.es. As soon as
they reached the rear end of the coach
the two men on that platform started
through the secon1 coach. When they
were about half way through a freight
train following close behind whistled. and
Bill Cook. the leader who had all the
time remained outside issuing commands,
swearing at the passengers and shooting,
called for all hands TO come out. The
men on the cars jumped out and when
all were on the ground fired a last volley
at the train and disappeared in the dark
ness. There were eight or ten men in
the party. Two of them were white and
the others were ha,f-breeds.
Jack Mahara, an advance agent for
Mahara's MINISTRIES, was hit in the fore
head by a bullet and dangerously, if not
fatally, wounded Walter Barnes of Van
Buren, Ark was also slightly injured bv
bullet striking him in the cheek. Spe-
cial Officers Helm and Dixon were on
the train, also United States Deputy
Marshals Bruner and Cassiver, but they
were covered by Winchesters in the hands
Of the bandits before they had time to
make a. move. Cassiver lost a watch and
a six-ShOoter, The train was backed up
TO this place for assistance and 10 give
the injured medical attendance The en-
tire train was completely riddled wiki
bullets, every window being broken. The
engine cab was shot all to pieces, even
the steam gauge and gauge lamp being
shot away and the ground around the
wreck covered with empty shells 1t was
a miracle that many lives were not lost.
as fully two hundred sho-s were fired.
The Missouri Pacific Immediately start
ed special train from Little Rock carry
Ing Superintendent W. b. Mckee and
picking up deputy marshals. United
states indian Agent Wisd om Of Muska-
gee has ordered all the Indian police to
report for duty and all take the train
early in the morning.
Conductor W. Duncan. I'm charge Of the
robbed train, when interviewed, said
"I was in the sleeper when we struclx
the cars on the side track. ! thought IL
was head-end collision and. knowing
that we were closely followed by a
freight, grabbed a red lamp and started
back to flag. When reached the rear
Gnu Il Ndo NpulIOultu DN TWO men. VINO
ordered me back in the car 1 told them
We were closely followed by a freight and
would be run into. and asked them 10
let me go back to flag them. One of the
men replied. We'll, go on and hurry up
I started back as fast as / could but
being troubled with asthma I could not
go very fast. The two men began firing
at me and told me to go faster"
Express Messenger W. T. Ford declined
70 say anything further than that the
robbers got everything they could Law
hands on outside the through safe. The
mail car was not molested. The loss Of
the express company will not exceed $500
as instructions had been issued TO all
agents in the territory to receive no
money or valuables for This train. and
only the company money, RENTED by local
agents, was carried u.side the through
safe. Six Of the gang passed through
Wagner today, going al a slow trot and
seemingly not the least afraid Of being
captured.
Later four armed men called at the
section house at Ross's station, six miles
north Of here, about 10 O'Clock today
and az the points Of Winchesters COM
PEELED the section foreman to prepare
their dinner. They were armed to the
teeth and are thought to be a part Of the
band. After eating dinner they started
west and the section foreman followed
them 10 their hiding place in the brush
on the banks of Bull creek. where the
entire gang Of eight were camped They
were still in camp there at shutdown