The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-10
QUEEN OF cOOII's GANG.
Unknown Beauty whose Word Is
LAW 10 DesperRdoes.
H., a.. fstl..n-a gf.t....
Trom the Chlcago Tlmes.


New York. Jan. 29.-The o'clock freight
train on the Pennsylvania railroad, which
pulled into the Jersey City depot last even
ing. brought an interesting passenger, in
the person Of John p. Sheldon Of Spring
field H., an 1S-year-old globe trotter, who
has just ended a perllous trip OF 6.OOO miles
through the states without the aid OF
money. His face and hands had not seen
water for many day. or his clothes
brush.
The story Of his travels is very interest
ing. because Of the fact of his having been
captured and detained by Bill Cooks band
of desperadoes while on his way through
the mountains near McAllister City, l. r.,
In the early part of this month.
Young Sheldon was born IN the Seventh
ward of this city. The death OF his father
two years ago left him an orphan, without
a home or friends here. and he went to
live with his uncle, David Dwyer OF 1924
East jefferson street, Springfield Ill
Through the efforts Of his aunt, Miss May
Dwyer, chief cook for Gov. Altged, in the
capital at Springfield, young Sheldon Sc
cured a posltiO as time-keeper In the coal
mines in that city. When the mines closed
down. several months ago, Sheldon. along
WIN JVV bAftEi HllAlfisi was Atli III itlititbHs
One night the miners gave him "A roar
ing serenade, and the following morning,
Nov. 3, 1894 with box OF sandwiches and
a new suit Of clothes, young Sheldon left
Springfield, resolved to cross and recross
the continent.
After many adventures and great suf-
fering young Sheldon found himself near
McAllister, /. r., close by the haunt Of the
famous Cook gang. At night, exhausted
from hunger and travel, and finding n
comfortable bed In a wornOut camping
wagon, he went 10 sleep. About midnight
ne was awakened by the crack OF a rife.
Looking out upon the vast plain. the
moon glittering brightly In the sky, he
saw bear topple over dead upon the
ground and at the same moment he saw
a half dozen men with uplifted Winches-
tiers approaching him.
The lad jumped from the wagon and Inn
plored the men not to shoot. He told
them his story, and the men, after trim
ming the bear, placed him on horse be-
side the leader and rode him to a cave sit
uated at the foot of a mountain pass
about twelve miles from McAllister city.
The lad noticed that over n dozen men
were lounging around on buffalo rugs
and bearskins, and among them was
seated a beautiful young girl Of TO-
The young woman was tall and grace
ful, dressed In ordinary western style
wore a brace Of highly polished six-shoot-
ers around her petite form, and, with the
abundance Of flowing dark brown hair
and piercing eyes, the lad says the girl
was perfect model for an artist. What
such a beautiful girl could find in assoc
ciating with such a trio Of such desper-
ate looking men, some of whom we're half
breeds, young Sheldon was curious to
learn. and later he found out.
Lying around In the den were hundreds
Of weapons, old army rifles, Wlnchesters,
reVolvers daggers and swords while an
abundance Of powder and cartridges were
concealed under pile Of bear skins in a
corner. None OF the men ever disobeyed
an order given by the girl, no matter
what she asked them to do The men
never left the cave in a gang. and when
ever they did go there was always nearly
a dozen left in the cave with the beautiful
hostess. She was not a prisoner, but
could roam when and wherever she de-
sired.
But that was very seldom. When the
girl learned Of young SheldOns history she
pitied him and asked If he was hungry.
The next morning the men started great
fire at the bottom Of the mountain, and
they had big feast on bear meat. The
girl became attached to the youthful
traveller, and he also had a fondness for
her, but was afraid TO approach her in
that light. Sheldon was allowed to sleep
IN the cave for two nights, but on the
morning Of Jan. last the girl called the
lad outside Of the cave. and. after making
him pledge his word that he would say
nothing about the cave IN the mountains,
revealed TO him the fact that he had been
cared for by Bill Cooks band, the most
daring organization Of bandits, eut-throats