Evening journal., 1894-10-29

THE ENTIRE TERRITORY AROUSED,
Small Army OF National Militia, Choir.
okee Police, Deputy sherifs and Dc.
tectives Is Hunting the Desperadoes
Rewards Amounting TO $4,000 offered.
Fort GIBSON, l. T., Oct. 20-The Cook
gang. or part Of It at least, IS still in this
vicinity a runner just in from West
Grand River reports TO the Cherokee mi.
litia that the gang is in hiding IN cave
three miles northwest Of this place Cher.
okoo Bill, half bred negro and ono OF
tho most desperate men in the gang, was
seen in that vicinity about o clock sun
day afternoon.
The runner states there arc rs horses
staked in pasture near this cave and
this fact leads to the belief that tho entire
gang Is fortified Ia this cave. The con
struction or the cave g suoh that two Of
three men thoroughly supplied with am
mnnition could stand Off tho entire force
now IN pursuit.
There has never been o period in the
history OF this country whom tho citizens
were aroused to the pitch that they are to-
day over the repeated attacks that tho no
torious Cook gang has made upon the
peace and dignity Of this country
Cooks Aids Arrested.
The Cherokee authorities have al last
awakened to the necessity for prompt and
decisive action and have now in the fold
nearly 300 we'll armed mon thoroughly
equipped for a continued campaign
The Illinois division Of the national
militia, composed Of about 80 mon under
tho command Of Captain John Brown
camo into this place and made six arrests
OF persons who are supposed to be aiding
the Cooks and keeping Thorn posted They
then loaded their horses, saddles, runs
eto., on freight train on the Missouri
Pacific and proceeded to Tlawa, where
they mounted and rode into Claremore
At that point four moro men were ar
rested, two Of whom were at one time
with the Cook gang. From that point
their limo of march 10 toward Sapulpa,
where the day before a man was arrested
by Deputy Smith supposed to DO ono Of
the men who robbed the depot in Clare
more, as the gun and watch taken at that
time wore found in his possession
Rewards for the gang now aggregate
$40, 800, the Cherokee nation having dou-
bled the amount offered by tho govern
mont. One report Is that the gang has
broken up into small parties, one Of which
is led by Jim French. French is one of
the handsomest and best educated full
blooded Cherokees inl the nation. He Is
an alumnus and grew up under good In
nuences. Ho Is particularly proud Of the
fact that not drop Of Caucasian blood
flows In his veins, and he has adopted his
wild life, 1t seems, out Of pure spirit OF
reoklessness and love Of adventure.
Jim French Leads One Gang.
He and Cook arc not the very best OF
friends, or perhaps It would DO better to
say that they have little except their pen
chant for robbLng people IN common.
OF the two, fronah Is certainly a man
Of loftier instincts II there can be such
things as degrees In the character Of such
as they. French was never rowdy, a
whisky drinker or q common thief, and
Cook has been all Of these, his first break
with society being whom he rode Of with
another mans horse.
II caught, the robbers win DO tried in
Fort Smith, Ark, in tho United States
court ofGthe western district OF Arkansas
This court has had jurisdiction for more
than 20 years over all crimes committed in
the territory wherein whites aro the pros
eouting parties-that Is to say, II an In
dian kills white mnn or steal from him
no must answer in this court
The Indian courts have Jurisdiction
over crimes committed In the territory by
Indians against Indians. Twenty times
as many men have been hanged in Fort
Smith as ct any other ono place In tho
country. One judge, Parker, has gentenc-
cd them all, and one hangman has exc
euted them
Louisa Cook, sister Of Bill Cook and
general spy for the gang over which her
brother rules, Is o character IN her way.
She is 90 years old and has grown up in
the territory, where, like her brothers she
received afairly good education She rides
like devil and can lift walnut thrown
into tho air with her navy revolver heforo
1t returns to earth.
Louisa Cooks Adventures.
Like most Cherokee girls, there is not
breath Of scandal against her. She
will marry some day and it Is probable
that she will mako a loyal wlfo and bring
up set of boys that win be proud of
their Uncle Bill.
After Louisa rode into Gibson tho 9th
er night she proceeded TO riddle the depot
with bullets. About a dozen deputy mar
shals were In town, and brandishing her
murderous looking six shooter around
their heads she dofed the officers to take
her. After running the irightuned oti-
zens into their houses and firing a few
parting shots IN close proximity to the
marshals the bandit queen left town in
the direction Of where tho Cook gang is
supposed TO be hiding
There is no doubt that she won't direct
70 them and gayo them all the informa.
tion they wanted Of tho preparations made
for their pursuit Cooks sweetheart has
not yet succeeded in joining him under
circumstances that would not joopardize
her good namo.