The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-10-22
WRECKED AND ROBBED.
Desperate Work of the Cook Gang
Of Outlaws.
A TRAIN TE-o--J ON A SIDING

Brought TO standstill by Collision with
Empty Box Cars Then the Robbers
Went Through the Express Cars and
Passenger Coaches-Two Passengers Shot.
WAGoNER, l. r., Oct 22.-The Kansas
City and Memphis express, which left here
at $3.50 Saturday night, was wrecked and
robbed by the Cook gang of despcradoes at
Correta, blind siding five miles south of
here. The train was running twenty
miles an hour, and when within 100 feet
of the switch man came out from be-
hind an embanlment and threw the switch
for the siding, running the train into a
string Of empty box cars. Engineer James
Harris applied the air brakes and reversed
the engine while the robbers at once COM
menced firing at the engine 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
had dismOunted marched them in front of
them to the baggage and express cars.
Hero 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 a posi-
tion at the rear end of the sleeper to pre-
vent anyone escaping, two Others mounted
the platform between the smoker and bag
gage car and two more were on the plat
form between the first and second coaches,
all keeping up continual firing.
The two robbers in the express car were
meanwhile ransacklng that car, securing
all the money in the local safe. They COM
manded Messenger Ford to open the
through safe, but when he explained that
81, g.fNl
not opened until it 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 they reached the rear end of
the coach the two men on that platform
started through the second coach.
When they were about half through a
freight train following close behind whis-
tied, and Bill Cook, the leader, who had
all the time remained outside issuing com
mands, swearing at the passengers and
shooting called for 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.
hara's minstrels, was hit in the forehead
by bullet, and dangerously, If not IA
tally wounded. Walter Barnes, of Van
Buren,, Ark was also slightly injured by
a bullet striking him in the cheek.
Special Officers Helmick and Dickson
of the Missouri Pacific were on the train
and also United States Deputy Marshals
| Drummer and Casaver but they were GOV
cred by Winchesters in the hands of the
| bandits before they had time to make 8
move. Casaver lost watch and six
| shooter.
The train was backed up to this place fol
| assistance, and to give the injured medica
attention. The entire train was completely
riddled with bullets, every window beinl
| broken. The engine cab was shot all Il
] pieces, even the steam guage and guag,
| lamp being shot away, and the grounC
| around the wreck was covered with empty
| shells. 1t was a miracle that many livel
/ were not lost, as fully 200 shots were fired
Conductor Duncan, in charge of the
wrecked train, said;
81 was in the sleeper when we struck the
cars on the side track. l thought it was I
head end collision, and knowing that VT
| were closely followed by freight grabbed
| a red lamp and started back to flag. Wher
1 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 1
freight, and would be run into, and asked
them to let me go back to flag them. Ont
of the men replied; Well go on, anC
hurry up l started back as fast as
could, but being troubled with asthma
could not go very fast The two men be
gan firing at me and told me to go faster.
Express Messenger w. Il. Ford declined
to say anything further than that the rob
bers got everything they could lay hand
on outside of the through safe. The mai
car was not molested The loss of the ex
press company will not exceed $500 as in
structions had been issued to all agents il
the territory to receive no money or valu
ables for this train, and only the compan
money, remitted by local agents, was cal
ried outside of the through safe.
| -Four armed men called at the sectio
house at Rose Station, six miles north c
here, about 10 o'clock yesterday and at tn
points of Winchesters compelled the for,
man to prepare their dinners. They ar
well armed and are thought to be par
of the band. The entire gang Of eigh
were encamped last night on the banks O
Bull creek.