Huntsville gazette., 1894-12-29


ester Inviting Him to Come and Take
Crew-Great Excitement at Muskogee-
Robbed an Express Of1ce--kiiled In 8
Bagnio by Con. ederates.
MUSCOGEE, /. T., Dec. 24.-Yester-
day afternoon about o'clock courier
from the intrepid Cook gang rode into
Muscogee and delivered the following
message to the officers from Bill Cook:
"UNCLE JrI-I am in camp with my
men four miles north of the Arkansas
bridge and we are ready for any kind
of fun you and your deputies will sug-
gest. We will remain in our present
quarters day and more, and if you de-
eide to pay us call, ride right with
out knocking. We know you and your
force. Our spy told us that you tried
to get your deputies out after us Sat-
urday morning, shortly after you heard
about us borrowing Cash's horse, but
failed. Take your time to get up a
posse, we viii be near your town for
some time yet"
Marshal McAlester received the mes
sage with a degree of surprise, and at
once ordered all of his available depu-
ties to report at his Office at once,
ready for duty. Some of the deputies,
especially those who have heretofore
been after the bandits, said they would
not go out again unless they were re-
imbursed for money spent on former
trips.
No freight, going south, has just
arrived, and the brakemen have fur
ther news concerning Capt. Cook and
his company. Eight miles north of
Muscogee, or four miles north of the
Arkansas bridge, is a high hill within
fifty yards of the railroad, known as
Nigger hill AS the train slowly
climbed the grade caused by the hill,
the bralemen saw large camp fire;
when they reached the top Of the ele-
vation they saw six or seven men near
the FIRE. They began hallooing to the
brakemen, "a happy Christmas to
you, boys. If you stop in Muscogee,
tell Uncle jim thatwe will either bring
or send him Christmas present"
The news is causing considerable ex-
citemeat among the citizens. All the
deputies have gone home for Christmas
except those on the road to Columbus
with prisoners for the panitAnt;ary-.-
| me citizens apprehend raid to-day.
Buss Luck, Tom Root, Jim Reed and
two others robbed the express office at
Nowata Saturday night and got sos,
1t was reported that bill Cook and
Cherokee Bill were in the gang
that did the robbing, but the report is
not correct. Cook and Cherokee Bill
are not ten miles from Muscogee.
At 1890 last night William Rider,
one of the Cook gang, was killed in
dive in the northern part Of town by
eonfederates.
Ryder, Frave Carver, Jim Finnigan
and another man were in dive on
Smoky row about 10 o'clock, drinking
and gambling. About I0:30 shot was
heard in the dive and half minute
later the crowd ran out, and one of the
women ran into the street shouting
that VIII Fyder had shot himself,
This report was contradicted by an
S-year-old boy, who says he was in the
house when the shooting occurred, and
that he saw man shoot Ryder and
run out of tho back door and head for
the railroad yard. One Of the girls
followed him and hid in
coal chute till north-b bound
passenger left the depot and as the
train came by She jumped on the rear
end of the sleeper. The guards on the
train observed her on the platform just
as the train reached Chouteau and ar
rested her. She viii be brought to
Muscogee in the morning. Ryder was
| unquesiionably a member Of the Cook
gang. While searching his person sew
cral letters from Lulu Cook were found.
Carter and Finnigan have been ar
rested.