The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-10-27
COOK'SGANG AT WORK

OVOxA NO al OxCxA
An EXPRESS TRAIN HELD UP IN
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
The Gang of Temperatures Headed by
the Bandit Cook Renew Operations
"A Train Robbed and 1--WE. PAS
nRer Injured.
Wagner. Ind. r.. Oct. 23.-The Kan
sas city 4 Memphis express. which
wrecked and robbed by the Cook gang
Of desperadoeS at COrrcta. n blind sid
ing five mfYes south. of here. The
train W running twenty miles an
hour, and when within 100 feet of the
switch Il man came II from behind
an embankment and threw the switch
for the side track, running the train
3hto q string of empty box cars. En-
yineer James Harris applied the air
brakes and reversed the engine. The
robbers commenced firing at the en-
train stopped two Of the robbers COM
inAnded the engineer and fireman to
come down and as soon as they had
dismOunted. marched them in front of
them to the baggage and express cars.
Here they forced Express Messenger
Ford to open the doors by perforating
the side OF the car with bullets. Mean
while two of the robbers had taken up
a position at the Pal end of the Sleep
er to prevent any n escaping. Two
others mounted the platform between
the smoker and baggage cal and two
more the platform between the first
and second coaches. all keeping up a
continual firing. The two robbers in
the express a We're meanwhile ran
sacking the car, securing all the
money in the local safe. They com
manded Messenger Ford to open the
through safe, but when he explained
that the safe was locked at the main
Office and not opened until it reached
it's destination. they left it. The two
on the front platform then started
through the coach. demanding money
and valuables. AS soon as they
reached the ear end of the coach the
two men on that platform started
through the second coach. When they
were about halfway through a freight
train following close behind. whistled,
and Rill Cook, the leader. who had all
the time remained outside issuing
commands. swearing at the passengcrs
and shooting. called for all hA Ids to
come out. The men on the c:ls
Jumped out, and when all were ON
Tie ground they fired a last vollev ut
the tain and disappeared in III.
darkness. There were Gig 1t or ten
men il. the party. Two of chem we're
Wilt" and the others We're hal;.brculs.
Jach Mahar. an advance ag..al for
Maii:r's MINISTRIES. Was hit in rhe f,lc.
heat b! q bullet anG lang, "nusIy, If
not 6: tally, wounded. Walter ~l:a,Y,ts
Van Hnren. Ark, was also slightly
Injured by a bullet striking him in
the cheek. Special Officers llelnlck
and Dickson. of the Missouri Pacific,
We're on the train. also United States
Deputy Marshals Drummer AMI asa
yer, but they We're covered by Win
in the hands of bandits he
Q 7 they had time to make a move. |
Casaver lost Il watch and a %six-shoot- !
The train vas backed up to this
place to give the injured medical at
tendance. The train was completely
riddled with bullets. every window be-
ing broken. The engineers cab was
all to pieces. even the steam
gauge and gauge lamp being shot
away. 1t VAS a miracle that MANY
lives were not lost. Fully 200 shots
fired. The Missouri Pacific i'm
nediately started a special train from
Little Rock carrying Supt. w. J. KEGS
deputy marshals. United States
Indian Agent Wisdom of Muckopee
has ordered all the Indian police to
for duty and will take the trail
Immediately.