The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-22
Missouri Pacific Train Held Up
in Indian Territory.
Passengers and the Express Car
Are Robbed.
COOK GANG DID IT
Jack Mahara is Hit in the Head
by Bullet.

express, which left here at $3.50
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 en-
bankment and threw the switch for
the side track. running the train into
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 soon as it struck the siding,
and two of the robbie ran to the
engine and commanded Eng lneer
Harris and Fireman Cottrell. to come
down, and as soon as they had dis
mounted marched them to the bag
gage and express cars, 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 escaping
through the rear doors of the sleeper,
two more mounted the platform be-
tween the smoker and the baggage
car and two more the platform be-
tween the first and second coaches,
all keeping up continual firing. Dur
ing this time the two in the ex-
press car were rausacling the car.
They got all the money in the local
safe and Messenger EOrd's gun, and
then commanded him to open the
through safe He told them it was
impossible, and after hearing his ex-
PLANTATION as to how it was locked they
left the express car
The two robbers on the front plat
-<a 1raH
demanding money and valuables. AS
soon as they reached the 1 ear end of
the coach the two men on that plat
form started through the second
coach When they were about half
wav through this car a 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 were on
the outside, fired a 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.
the others were half breeds or ne
groes possibly white men with black
ened faces, otherwise they were not
disguised
Jack Mahara, an advance agent for
Mahara's Minstrel scompany, was
struck in the fore head 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 ia the cheek The
bullet only penetrated the skin and
was picked out by bystander. Spe-
cial Officers Helmick and Dickson of
the Missouri Pacific were on the
train. also Deputy United States Mar
shals Heck Bruner and Joe Casaver.
but the attack was so sudden that
they were all covered by wholesalers
in the hands Of the bandits before
tl-ey 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 cab 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 a miracle that more lives
are not lost, as fully 200 shots we're
fred. The Missouri Pacific immedi-
ately started a special train from Lit
tie Rock carrying Superintendent W.
y. Mckee and deputy marshals-
United States Indian Agent Wisdom
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 verifying they
could Law hands on ontside of the
through safe. The mail car was not
molested. The loss TO the express
company will not reach $500 as IN
structions had been issued to all
agents in the territory to receive no
money nor valuables for this train.
and only the company money RENTED
bv local agents was carried outside
the through safe
Six of the gang passed through the
north part of Wagner about 10
o'clock yesterday going at SLOW
trot and seemingly not the least
afraid of pursuit The country Is at
last thoroughly aroused and no pains
will 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 0 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
part of the band. After eating din
ner they started west and the section
foreman followed them to their hid
ing place in the brush on the banks OF
Bull creek where the entire gang Of
eight were camped- They were still
in camp there at shutdown
Children Burned to Death.
ARDu0RE 7 T Oct ga fright