The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-18
THE BOB COOK GANG.
outlaws as Desperate as Those Thn9
Followed Jesse James.
From the st. Louis Republic.

EOllOW6Q JeEB6 Jhu66.
From the st. Louis Republic.
Reports from the Indian Territory indi-
cate a probability at least that the band
of outlaws and marauders now known far
and wide as the Cook gang" will soon
be captured, and this fact seems to have
heightened, if possible. the universal in
terest with which news of their move
ments is received. Every traveller who re-
turns from the Territory Is questioned
and cross-questioned as to his personal
experience. and if he does not happen to
have had any hair-breadth escapes him
self, or to have been the spectator of any
thrilling incident, the tales Of others, re-
peated with or without variations, are
gladly received as a substitute
No story is too wild or too horrible to
find ready acceptance as the actual his
tory or something that really happened in
that lawless land
But as a matter of fact 1t would be
difficult to employ colors a single shade
too dark in picturing the condition of af-
fairs Business Is at a stand-still
TRANSFORMATION is unsafe and uncertain.
Among the law-abiding classes absolute
terror reigns. People are afraid to travel
and afraid to stay at home. They do not
know at what hour they may be attacked
and robbed-murdered If they try to de-
fend themselves. Living in a sparsely set
tied country with no neighbours within
call no single household can make any
show of resistance against a band Of
well-armed and reckless men, and expert
ence has shown that an appeal to the au-
thorities not only fails to accomplish any
good, but almost invariably Anglers the
gang" to such an extent that a second
and more murderous attack is made.
Not one-tenth of the outrages commit
foI Nv In ha bu
been the work of the Cooks, but the
Cooks are primarily responsible for the
most Of the lawlessness that now pre-
walls. Their success in eluding capture
inspired others to emulate them, and
under the reign of terror which they in
sututed crime was more easy Of COM
mission and more difficult of detection
than under ordinary conditions.
There are to-day probably dozen gangs
modelled after that of the Cook boys, but
when the Cooks are captured the others
will probably disband and return to their
homes, If they have any.
T.. A. Peck, general superintendent of the
St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern
railroad. recently spent ten days in the ter
rtory, and will make another trip there
tomorrow Iron Mountain trains have
been held up with rather unpleasant fire.
quency Of late, and the company is maxi
ing an energetic and determined effort "a
Y
reference to the company's methods that
Mr.. Peck was questioned yesterday.
1T would hardly be wise" said Mr.
Peck, ITO make our pla1i public, for their
success depends largely upon secrecy
am confident, however, that we win get
our men within a short time. This Is not
a new thing. Other bands OF robbers
have made us almost as much trouble AZ
| the Cooks and have been just as hard 10
/ catch, but we have never failed TO get
them. and we won't fail this time.
II may eay In general way that our
I campaign b. IN the nature Of 'atiil hunt
{ We find certain places 20 which, for one
/ reason or another the men must 30. and
/ then we lay for them We work indepeE-
/ IDENTIFY Of the authorities. although we are
I Riad 10 assist them in any way possible
/ and rely upon our own men ana our own
I plans. There are reasons for this Whi Va
/ n would not DO TO mention Just now"
During his stay in the territory Mr.
/ Peck met many people who bad known 1851
I Cook, chief n the Ehng, from childhood
and from them be received an accurate na.
I count 81 ihe OUTLAWS history Many wide.
/ iy different accounts have been given, bul
1 thls ls authentiss