The morning news., 1894-10-22
COOK HOLDS UP A TRAIN.
The Outlaw Accompanied by Eight or
Nine HalibTeedS.

over 900 Shots Fired by the Gang to In
timidate the Passengers-Two of the
Passengers Wounded by Flying Bull
lets-Two Special Ohcers and Two
Deputy Marshals Held Up With the
Rest-The Train Brought 60 Stop by
Running Into Freight Cars on a Sid
ing.
WAGNER I. T., Oct. 21.-The Kansas
City and Memphis express, which left
here at 9:90 last night, was wrecked and
robbed by the Cook gang of desperadoes
at Correta, blind siding, five miles south
g of here The train was running twenty
miles an hour. and when within 100 feet
of the switch a man came out from be-
hind an embapkment and threw the
switch for the siding, the train running
into a string of empty box cars. Engineer
James Harris applied the air brakes and
reversed the engine. The robbers COM
menced firing at the engineer and coaches.
AS soon as the train stopped, two of the
robbers commanded the engineer and fire
man to come down, and as soon as they
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. Meanwhile two
more of the robbers had taken up posi-
ton at the rear end of the sleeper, to pre-
vent any one escaping. Two others
mounted the platform between the smoker
and baggage car and two more the first
and second class coaches, all keeping up a
continual firing.
The two robbers in the express car were
meanwhile ransacking the express car,
securing all the money in the local safe,
but they commanded Messenger Ford TO
omen the through safe, but when he eX-
plained that the safe wa locked at the
main office, and not opened until 1t
reached the destination, they left the car.
The two men on the front platform then
started through the coach, demanding
money and valuables. AS soon as lhey
reached the rear end of the coach the TWO
men on that platform started through the
second coach. When they were half way
through q freight train following close be-
hind whistled and Bill Cook, the leader,
who had all the time remained outside
issuing commands, swearing at the pas
sengers and shooting, called for all hands
20 come out The men on the cars jumped
ont and when all were on the ground,
fred a last volley at the train and dlsap-
peared in the darkness. There were eight
or ten men in the party. Two of them were
white and the others were half breeds.
Jack Maher, an advance agent for Ma
hers minstrels, was hit in the forehead by
bullet, and dangerously If not fatally
wounded.
Walter Barnes of Van Buren, Ark,
was also slightly injured by bullet
striking him in the cheek.
Special Oflcers IIelmick and Dickson OF
the Missouri Pacific were on the train,
and also United States Deputy MarshaIs
Drummer and Casaver, but they were COW
cred by Winchesters in the hands OF the
bandits before they had time to make a
move. Casaver lost watch and SIX
shooter.
The train was backed up to this place
for assistance and to give the injured
medical attention. The entire tram was
completely riddled with 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 was covered
with empty shells. 1t was a miracle that
many lives were not lost, as fully 200 shots
were fired.
The Missouri Pacific Immediately started
a special train from Little Rock carrying
Superintendent w. j. Mckee and picking
up deputy marshals. United States In
dian Agent Wisdom of MuskOgee has or
dered all the Indian police to report for
duty, and will take the train early IN the
morning.
Conductor Duncan, who was in charge
of the wrecked train, when interviewed
said: "I was in the sleeper when we
struck the cars on the side track.
thought it was a head-end collision, and,
knowing that we were closely followed by
freight, 1 grabbed red lamp and
started back to flag. When / reached the
rear end / was confronted by two men,
who ordered me back in the car. ! told
them we were closely followed by a
freight and would be run into and asked
them to let me go back to flag them
One of the men replied: Well, go on and
hurry up l started back as fast as
could, but being troubled with asthma,
could not go very fast. The two men
began firing at me and told me to go
faster"
Express Messenger w. T. Ford de-
clned to say anything further than that
the robbers got everything they could lay
their hands on outside of the through
safe. The mail car was not molested
The loss of the express company will not
exceed $500, as Instructions had been is
sued to all agents in the territory to re-
eeive no money or valuables for this
train, and only the company money, re-
mitted by local agents, was carried out
side of the through safe.
Six of the gang passed through Wag-
oner to-day, going at a slow trot and
seemingly not in the least afraid OF being
captured.