Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-12-29
BILL COOKS Def.

He Sends n Message to "Uncle Jim" Meal.
ester Inviting Him to Como and Take
Him-Christmas Greeting to o Train
Crew--Great Excitement at Muskogee--
Robbed an Express Ofice-killed In
Dsgnio by Conrederates.
MUscoGEE, |. H.. Dec. 24.-Yester-
day afternoon about oclocka courier
from the intrepid Cook gang rode into
Muscogee and delivered the following
message to the officers from Bill Cook:
''UScLE JIM 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. Weknow you and your
force. Our spy told MS that You tried
to get your deputies out after us Sat
urday morning, shortly after you heard
about us borrowing Cash's horse, but
fnilcd. Take your time to get up
posse, we will be near your town for
some time yet
Marshal McAlester received the mes
sage with 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 high hill within
fifty yards Of the railroad, known as
Niger hill. As the train slowly
climbed the grade caused by the hill,
the brakemen 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
bralSemen, "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-
citement among the citizens. All the
deputies have gone home for Christmas
except those on the road to Columbus
with prisoners for the penitentiary.
The citizens apprehend raid to-day.
Buss Luck, Tom Root. Jim Reed aud
two others robbed the express office at
Nowata Saturday night and got S95,
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 1920 last night William Rider
one of the Cook gang, was killed in a
dive in the northern part of town by
confederates.
Ryder, Frave Carver, Jim Finnigar
and another man were in dive or
Smoky row about 10 o'clock, drinking
and gambling. About 1880 a shot wa.
heard in the dive and half minute
later the crowd ran out, and one of the
women ran into the street shouting
that Will Ryder had shot himself.
This report was contradicted by al
s-year-old boy, who says he was in thu
house when the shooting occurred, ant
that he saw n man shoot Ryder ant
; run out of the back door and head TO
the railroad yard. One of the girl
followed him and hid in
coal chute till nortlboun,
, passenger left the depot and as tn
train came by she jumped on the rea
end of the sleeper. The guards on tn
: train observed heron the platform jus
as the train reached Chouteau and al
Il rested her. She will be brought t
Muscogee in the morning. Ryder wa
;, unquestionably a member of the Coo
gang. While searching his person sey
eral letters from Lulu Cook were found
Carter and t'innigan have been al
'. 4