The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
BANDIT COOKS METHODS.
4 RAFLROAD PAssENGER,S EXpE-
RIENCE Nv 4 RECENT R0BBERr.
Cook Csed Dynamite and Robbed the Pns-
sengerp Before Tnckiing the Express
sTa--A .,..,.. .l h,bs0 ~ nt.a 49, G,,,r, |

N''' N"' 'b'N' W Ni0 w h"NN w " h"HhN
I. r.. last week. lie Is one OF tile proprietors OF
the Clifton Holstcin cattle rnncl,and he tells this
story OF the way the Cook gang does its work:
ut was q full moonlight night, and all the
passengers In tho sleeper seemed asleep. when
of u sudden there was q shrek from the loco
motive. Down brakes was whistlel. I looked
out and discovered that We had been side
tracked. Tho suddcnness with which the train
stopped caused us to bump our heads against
our hcrths. Instantly there was n commotion
and fusiiladlIs on both sides of the train. Lift
ing my curtain | looked out, nnd by the light of
the moon | saw standing by n tree. about thirty
feet from my window, II typical brippnd. with a
White s!ouchcd hat. lie had pistols in his belt,
dpGgcrs In his boot legs, niL n ri1c In his
hands. As he stood in the shadow Of the
tree I saw him raise his rifle and fire II several
times. The porter BEGAN to crawl ON the ear
pet. lasked him what was the matter. lie re-
piled, rs his teeth chartered;
Keep still, boss: dcy's got us, Shoe
Al tint moment n dynamite bomb eN plolcl
and blew away one end of the platform Of the
express car. A fusillade followed. The passcu-
gers now began ~ discuss the possibility " re-
sistance, but ns the plate-glass windows and
mirrors were crashed by bullets, strcwins the
floor Of the sleeper with debris, we decided that
discretion was the better part of valor.
AFTER discharging three dynamite bombs
without being able TO bring the express mes
scngcrs to terms, the des9crndoos announced
that II they could not capture the express car
they could clean up the passengers. According
ly. three knights OF the rifle were detailed To
rob us. They captured n passenger. n green
country boy from Indiana, and invited him
to carry the sack. He dcmurrcd, saying,
I'm afraid I'll be shot lie was induced.
however, to move on when Bill Cook. the boss
bandit, cooked Ills rifle and placed 1t Mt his
head. As the robbers entered the various
coaches and discovered the men. women. and
children down on the floor. under the seats, and
behind the stoves, they invited every one of
them to stand up and face the music.
"A general uprising followed. and hands went
In the air. Then the boss robber paid his COM
pliments to all alike, beginning with the first
seat. After hc had gone all through the car he
ordered the passengers to turn over all the seats
and reveal the Doodle they had hidden. In the
search that followed two r%evolvcrs were found
safely tucked away under tho cushion. They
belonged to two deputy United States marshals
who happened to be on board. Bill Cook drew
his gun and wanted to know how in hell those
reviewers came there. The men solemnly averred
that they never owned revolvcrs IN their lives.
The female passengers were notified that they
had better be ut home attending to their babies
than cavorting up and down the country. Each
woman was invited to contribute TO the good of
the cause, and all handed over. their watches,
'iiaiiot illkH pihNNltNS, lillss dIb IlOtltl. GHNt
seemed to predominant In the twO-buslei sock,
which was about half full.
I'VE had no idea In the sleeper that we would
he molested. and the porter had taken the pre-
caution to turn out the lights, leaving us in
fusillade the robbers were firing into the train
70 keep down the spirits OF the passengers, Bill
Cook raped in n deferential manner at tho door
of the sleep4r. Again did he rap, and failing to
receive an answer he hammered on the door
with the butt of his, gun. and IN a voice which
seemed TO mean business. yelled that il that
porte. didn't open up in three seconds lie would
blow, up the cur with dynamite. The porter
concluded that 1t was time the door should DO
opened. Cook entered. holding Ia his hand a
stick of dynamite; He said
II you don't trot him out in just two seconds I'll
kill every mothers son Of you in sight"
IL Is unnecessary - to say that there were few, II
porter, and the Hoosier, who carried the sack.
The conductor, however. thought 1t wise to show
How much stuff have You got 2" Mr.. Cook
Inquired, and the conductor replied:
About $40 or $50"
Drop her in the sack said Mr.. Cook. and
the conductor did as he was ordered.
ductor inform him AZ to the number Of passen-
gers. Having forced the conductor and porter
sengers to step out and settle with the Captain
happened TO be the first to be invited u come
forward. As crawled out Of my berth by the
light of a lantern dimly burning / saw the muz-
zle OF "A rifle pointed at me. II was held by a
man who impressed me as one that, would as
asked him what lie wanted. and he replied:
: Your stun, and | want il quick
bills. amounting TO $40 or Sl5, into the sack. |
lad no sooner done SO than | was invited 10 go
IN Ha' list to m ahre SerI mia a!S Eii ' iost f na t Ta.ch s S%i
though my watch was hidden | brought 1t for
iTocEet from my watch chain. but on ttSh"" snS.
gestion of Mr.. Cook l let up on IL. and turned
over T The balance OF my N yHluaGies TO The robbers:
mn and then came an English tourist.
As he marched 70 the front in an abbreviated
A n ma hA tram hlNI III n a laug In a Al a .V.Aa
What will you ave ? he inquired.
Cook looked. at him "a moment.
"'Pard, said he, II you want To 20 back 10 the
Johnny Bulls, you'd better divvy up. Put her
".W'ere's the sack 2 the Englishman inquired.
The sack was IN front of him, large enough
lost sight 2hH 90 OF ' evsrPy ihtI, oG for ne tbs sef momoh 13 h Riii
Cook indicated where the sack was, and the
English tourist dropped everything into it, in-
a bride aud groom, who had got on the train
at Denis9n, were next brought our. The bride
pair and told the bride that IL she did not 'drav'
that hubby pretty quick shed have no hubby 70
'drap. She did AS she was ordered, and he told
her, as she screamed she had better. stop that
cackltng and also stop eadding around the couE-
try, as there was no place like home. The newly
married couple had the sympathy Of the pas
sengers,
Lined up the trGiImcn and liye or sax Of the pas
sengers and then gave the orders:
Forward, march.
- 10y AAieNiN iA'NN ~ AAbNN' I NV raw
keeping Just In front OF the briRRnd. After the
sack hat been turned over Ia a tOrbiddlnR-lOok-
Ing Individual, who seemed 10 be Abe treasurer
and general manager Of The nand. the prisoners
were drawn up IN line Ia front Of the express
car, and Cook then yelled TO the messengers on
the inside that unless they Opcned up that car
every one OF the prisoners would 10 shot down.
Ou this Information the eNpressman ON tho In
sidc OF tho car swung the door wide open,
dropped his gun on Cook, and discharged tour
sGois at him.. which lac says undoubtedly took
elect, as Cook was seen 10 roll over and over on
the ground.
Al that moment a train was heard coming
from MusCOgee, which alarmed the brigand.,
who immediately mounted their horses aud He'd
to the hills. II took some time 10 Inspect the train
ana get il started, and 1t took some more time
Tor the passengers to crawl cut Of their hidtug
places. Ia the course of the night. however,
confidence was fully restored. and some uG the
PASSENGERS wPNed very warm, aud were heard
70 rAClalm that II robbers should show their
Iece, again they would get n hot reception.
There were now some very brave IuCu, who aa
hour before looked like dead men. The English
man Suffering HON disgust. lie said
t'eptcmen, do Sc know, lCawn'I understand
this hiaWsted country. 'I'uU me word, this was
the most ungent.emanly performance | haze