The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-25
DEATH TO OUTLAWS.
Indian Territory People After
Bandits in Earnest.
Six Hundred Men Are Hunting
the Cook Gang.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED.
All Officers Enlisted for Extern
inatiOn of Robbers.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED

WAGNER, Ind Ter. Oct s4.-The
little village of Watova. I'D. Ter.
some fifty miles west of here on the
r. and A. v. railroad was raided and
robbed last night about Q o'clock by
band Of outlaws They robbed the
two stores and postoffice of all the
money and valua bles, taking consid-
cradle clothing from the stores. Post
Office Inspector Houlz went there on
the early morning train, taking some
deputy marshals, and was soon on
the trail of the bandits Three of the
robbers took breakfast near the scene
of the robbery and, after resting their
horses a short time, resumed their
fight coming toward this place. Mar
shals are on their trail and pressing
them closely.
At first it was supposed to be an
other crime added to the Cook gangs
list of depredations, but at 3 o'clock
yesterday afternoon Deputy Marshal
L. F. Lawson, who has been shadow
ing the Cook gang. came in and re-
ported the outlaws camped near this
place on the Verdigris river He at
once raised a posse of fifteen men to
attack them, but up to this hour,
nothing has been heard from them
That an end will be put to the depre-
datiOns of this gang is almost an as
sured fact Chief Harris of the Cher
oxee nation has offered a re ward of
$500 for the capture of Bill Cook, the
leader, dead or alive. All of the
light horse guards and all Indian
police have been summoned for duty,
and all United States marshals of the
territory, including some special men,
have been put on the trail n adj
ditiOn to these are the SPECIAL officers
Of the Missouri Pacific railway and
the Pacific and American express
III
500 and 600 men ready to commence
a concerted action against the out
laws tomorrow morning. General
superintendent Peck of the St Louis,
Iron Mountain and Southern railway
has taken up temporary headquarters
a. this place and Will supervise the
move ments Of that companys officers
A committee was dispatched to
Washington, last night by Superin-
tendent Peck and United States Mar
shall Crump of Fort Smith. Ark to
Law the situation before Secretary of
the Interior Smith, and if necessary.
secure the assistance of soldiers of
the regular army Many thought
there had been battle between the
outlaws and the marshals yesterday,
as there were 200 300 shots fred in
the vicinity of the camp but it was
learned later that the outlaws were
simply showing their JOY at being
again Joined by their old captain, J i'm
Cook who made his escape from the
guards at Tahlequah Sunday night.
A note was brought in here vester-
day purport4ng to be from Bill Cook.
i was fastened to a board and read
as follows: Chief Harris has offered
a re ward Of $500 for Bill Cook. Come
on. gentlemen. don't stand back; we
are ready for you The GANG"
Cook sent the express agent a this
point notice some ten days ago that
he would pay the Office a iendly
visit before quitting the vicinity. and
since then officers have been stationed
in the neigh borhOOd of the Office
ready to accord the robbers a warm
reception
1t is believed that Cook has been
waiting for a chance to hold up the
Missouri Kansas and Texas train and
rob the American express company
before leaving his present hiding
place. II was the officers of the
American who caused the death Of
Rogers. Que Of the KelsO robbers and
a bosom friend of Cooks They have
expressed their intention Of evening
uo old scores but they have been
afraid TO show their hand
Business in the territory is at a
standstiI- The express companies
re fuse to transact business after
O'Clock in the morning. The Pacific
Express company has entirely sus-
pended business and has taken down
all it's signs until safety can again be
assured it. Travel through the coun-
try is confined to necessity. and all
business houses clio Sc at shutdown
Jecz Mahara. who was shot In the
Corretta robbery viii recover, but IS
minus large piece of skull