The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-10-25
TRAIN ROBBERS.
Cooks Gang of Outlaws Stop a
 Missouri Pacific Train.
THEY HOLD UP THE PASSENGERS.
They Got All the Money in the Local Safe Tn the Express Car-A Fusilade Opened on the Train-One Passenger
 Fatally Wounded.

Fatally Wounded.
 WAGoNER, I. T., Oct 22.-The Kan sas City and Memphis express, which
 left here at 9:8o Saturday night, was
 wrecked and robbed by the Cook gang
 of desperadoes at Correta, blind sid
 ing miles south of here. The train
 was going at speed of about 25
 miles per hour, and when within
 100 feet of the switch man sprang
 out from behind an embankment and
 threw the switch for the side
 track, running the train into string of empty box cars. Engineer James Harris applied the air and
 reversed his engine, but did not have
 time to jump before the engine struck
 the cars on the siding. The robbers commenced firing at the train and en- zine as soon as it struck the siding, and two of the robbers ran to the engine and commanded Engineer Harris and
 Fireman Cottrell to come down, and as soon as they had dismounted marched them to the baggage and express cars, where, by firing through the doors, they forced Messenger Ford to admit them. Meanwhile, two more of the robbers had taken up positions at the rear end of the train to prevent anyone's escaping through the rear doors of the sleeper, two more mounted the platform be- tween the smoker and baggage car and two more the platform between the first and second coaches, all keeping up continual firing, During this time the two in the express car were ran sacking the car. They got all the money in the local safe and Messenger Ford's gun, and then commanded him to open the through safe. He told them it was impossible, and after hear ing his explanation as to how it was locked they left the express car.
 The two robbers on the front plat form 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 plat. form started through the second coach. When they were about half way through this car freight train follow ing close behind whistled and Bill Cook, the leader, who had all the time remained outside issuing com mands, swearing at the pas sengers and shooting, called for all hands to come out. The men on the cars jumped out, and when all were on the outside, fired last volley at the train and disappeared in the darkness. There were eight or ten men in the party; two of them were white, the others were half-breeds, or negroes. possibly white men with blackened faces, otherwise they were not dis guised.
 Jack Mahara, an advance agent for Mahara's Minstrel Co.,, was struck in the forehead by a bullet and seriously, if not fatally, injured. Walter Barnes, of Van Buren, Ark, was also slightly injured by a piece of bullet striking him in the cheek. The bullet only penetrated the skin and was picked out by bystander. Special Officers Hell mick and Dickson, of the Missouri Pa cific, were on the train; also Deputy United States Marshals Heck, Bruner and Joe Casaver, but the attack was so. sudden that they were all covered by in the hands of the bandits before they had time to make a move CaSaver lost watch and SiX-shooter in the fray.
 The train was backed up to this place for assistance and to give the injured medical attendance. The entire train was completely riddled with bullets, every window being broken, and the engine cab was shot all to pieces, even the steam gauge and gauge lamps be- ing shot away. The ground around the wreck was covered with empty shells and the fence along the track perforated with bullets. It is miracle that more lives were not lost, as fully 200 shots were fired. The Missouri Pa cific immediately started special from Little Rock carrying Superintendent w. J. Mckee and deputy marshals. United States Indian Agent Wisdom, of Muskogee, has ordered all the In- dian police to report for duty and will take the trail early in the morning.
 The mail car was not molested. The loss of the express company will not reach $500, as instructions had been is- sued to all agents in the territory to receive no money nor valuables for this train, and only the company money remitted by local agents was carried outside the through safe. It was evidently the intention of the rob- bers to finish this job and ride across the country to Gibson station, dis tance of miles, intercept and rob the Missouri, Kansas S Texas northbound express, which passes that place at 10 o'clock, but owing to the slow work of the men and the night being very dark and rainy, the plan was not carried out.
 Six of the gang passed through the north part of Wagoner about 10 o'clock yesterday, going on small trot and not the least afraid of pur- suit.
 Later four armed men called at the | section house at Ross station, miles | north of here about 10 o'clock yester- lay and at the points of Winchesters | .omnalled the section foreman to nre-