The record-union., 1894-10-22
spec,al to the REcoRD-Uxrox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoS.
WAGGoNER Il. IT,, Oct. 21.-The Kan
sas City and Memphis Express, which
left here at $50 last night, was wrecked
and robbed by the Cook gang of despera-
does at Corretta, a blind siding, five
miles south Of here. The train was run
ming twenty miles an hour, and when
within 100 feet of the switch a man came
out from behind an embankment and
threw the switch of the sidetrack, run
ming the train into string of empty box
cars. Engineer James Harris applied the
air brakes and reversed the engine. The
robbers commenced firing at the engine
and coaches. AS soon as the train stopped
two of the robbers commanded the en-
gineer and fireman to come down, and as
soon as they had dismounted, marched
them in front 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 bull
let's.
Meanwhile two more of the robbers had
taken up position at the rear end of the
sleeper to prevent anyone escaping, two
others mounted the platform between the
smoker and baggage cars, and two more
the platform between the first and second
coaches, all keeping up continued
firing.
The two robbers in the express car
were meanwhile ransacking the car, Sc
curing all the money ia the local safe.
They commanded Ford to oDen the
through safe, but when he explained that
the safe was locked at the main office and
not opened until it reached its destina-
ton they left the car.
The two on the front platform then
started through the coach, demanding
money and valuables. AS soon as they
reached the rear end of the coach the two
men on that platform started through the
second coach. When they were about
halfway through freight train follow
ing close behind whistled. and Bill
Cook, the leader who had all the time re-
mained outside issuing commands,
swearing at the passengers and shooting,
called Tor all hands to come out. The
men on the cars jumped out, and when
all were on the ground fired last volley
at the train and disappeared in the dark
ness.
There were eight or ten men In the
party. Two of them were white and the
others were half-breeds.
Jack McHara, an advance agent for
McHara's Minstrels, was hit in the fore
head by bullet and dangerously, if not
fatally, wounded. Walter Barnes of Van
Buren,, Ark, was also slightly injured
by a bullet striking him in the cheek.
Special Officers Helmich and Dickson OF
the Missouri Pacific were on the train.
and also Deputy Marshals Bruner aud
CASHMERE but they were covered by
Winchesters in the hands of the bandits
before they had time to make move.
CASHMERE lost a watch and sixshooter.
The train was backed up to this place
for assistance and to give the injured
medical attendance. The entire side of
the train was completely riddled with
bullets. 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. ftwas 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
aud picking up Deputy Marshals. United
States Agent Wisdom of Muskogee has
ordered all the Indian police to report for
duty, and will take the trail early in Lhe
morning.
Conductor W. Duncan, in charge of the
ROBBED train, when interviewed, said: II
was IN the sleeper when we struck the
cars on the sidetrack. / thought it was
head-end collision and knowing that we
were closely followed by a freight train,
l grabbed red lamp and started back to
flag the train. When [ reached the rear
end L was confronted by two men, who
ordered me back in the car. l told them
we were closely followed by a freight
train and would be run into, and asked
them to let me go back to flag them. One
OF the men replied, We'll, 60 on and
hurry L started back as fast as I could,
but being troubled with asthma L could
not go very fast. The two men began
firing at me and told me to go faster."
Express Messenger w. G. Ford de-
clined to say anything further than that
the robbers got everything they could
lay hands on outside of the through safe.
The mail car was not molested,
The loss to the express company will
not exceed $780, as instructions had been
issued to all agents in the Territory not
to receive money or valuables for this
train, and only the company money re-
mitted by local agents was carried out
side the through safe. Six men did the
work and seemed not in the least bit
afraid of being captured.
Later four armed men called at the sec
ton house at Ross Station, some miles
north of here, about 10 o'clock to-day and
at the point of Winchesters compelled
the section foreman to prepare their dim
ner. They were armed TO the teeth and
We're thought to be a part of the band.
After eating dinner they started west.
and the section foreman followed them to
their hiding places i'll the brush on the
banks of Bull Creek, where the entire
gang of eight were in camp. They were
still in camp there at Sundown.