The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-25
WRECKEDAND ROBBED
Missouri Pacific Train Held Up
in Indian Territory
Passengers and the Express Car
Are Robbed
COOK GANG DID TT
Jack Mahara is Hit in the Head
bv Bullet.

Kansas City and Missouri Pacific
express. which left here at $50
Saturday night, was wrecked
and robbed by the Cook
gang Of desperadoes at Correta. .
blind siding five miles south Of here.
The train was going at a speed Of
about twenty five miles per hour and
when within 100 feet OF the switch
man sprang out from behind an en-
bankment and threw the switch for
the side track running the train into
a string of empty box cars. Engineer
James Harris applied the air and re
versed 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
engine 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 dis
mounted marched them to the bag
gage and express ears where by firing
through the doors. they forced Mes
senger Ford to admit them. Mean
while. two more Of the robbers had
taken up positions at the rear end Of
the train to prevent anyone's esca ping
through the rear doors Of the sleeper,
two more mounted the platform be-
tween the smoker and the baggage
tween the first and second coaches,
all kee ping up continual firing Dur
ing this time the two in the eN-
press ear were rausaczing the car
They got all the money in the local
safe and Messenger EOrd's gun. and
then comma nded him to open the
through safe. He told them It was
inpossl Die. and after hearing his eN-
PLANTATION 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 Tear 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 4 freight train
following close behind whistled and
Bill Cook the leader, who had all
the time remained outside issuing
commands. swearing at the passen-
gers and shooting called for all hands
to come out. The men on the cars
Jumped out and when all We're on
the outside, 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 W hlte,
the others we're half breeds or ne
groes. possibly white men with black
ened faces, otherwise they were not
disguised
Jack A1ahara, an advance agent for
Maharas Minstrel company. 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 piece of
bullet striking him in the cheek The
bullet only pene trated the skin and
was picked out bv a byStander Spe-
cial Officers HeImick and Dickson of
the Missouri Pacific were on the
train, also Deputy United States Mar
sha1s Heck Bruuer and Joe CaSaver.
but the attack was so sudden that
they were all covered by wholesalers
in the hands Of the bandits before
they had time to make move Cas-
aver lost a watch and a six shooter in
the fracas
The train was backed up to this
place for assistance and to give the
Injured medical attendance The en-
tire train was completely riddled with
bullets. every window being broken
and the engine ca 3 was shot all to
pieces, even the steam gauge and
gauge lamp being shot away The
ground around the wreck was covered +
with empty shells and the fence /
along the track perforated with bull
lets It is miracle that more lives
are not lost. as fully 200 shots were /
fred. The NJ ssOuri Pacific imm edi-
atelv started a special train from Lit /
tie Rock carrying superintendent w
J. Mckee and deputy marshals- I
United states Indian Agent Wisdom I
Of Muskogee has ordered all the In
dian police to report for duty
Express Messenger W. l. Ford de- +
clined to say anything further than +
that the robbers got everything they +
could lay hands on outside Of the 4
safe The mail car was not
molested- The loss to the express
company viii not reach $780, as in
structions had been issued to all
agents in the territory to receive no
money nor valuable for this train
and only The company money RENTED
cy local agents was carried outside
the through safe
Six of the gang passed through the
D. clock yester day going at a slow
5rot and seemingly not the least
afraid of pursuit The country IS at
last thoroughly aroused and no pains
viii be spared to effect the capture of
the outlaws
Later four armed men called at the
section house at Ross station six
miles north of here about 10 o'clock
and at the points Of Winchesters com
PEELED the section foreman to prepare
their dinner They were armed to
the teeth and were thought to be q
part Of the band After eating din
her they started west and the section
foreman followed them to their hid
ng place IN the brush on the banks OF
Bull creek. where the entire gang Of
eight were eamped They were still
a camp there at SHUTDOWN
Children Burned to Death
ARDMoRE. Z. T.. Oct ga fright
i'll and appalling accident occurred
ear here last night, by which two