The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-15

till dark. and then. making use OF his
knowledge OF the mountains, made good
his escape. It was well for him that he
did not spend the night there, for three
hundred Mexicans were there by daylight
next morning, and when the sheriff, with
the little company OF fifty or sixty he had
hurriedly summoned 10 accompany him.
arrived on the scene, it was the Mexicans
who dictated terms. They allowed the
sheriff and his party to take the body OF
their friend. but intimated that there would
be trouble IL any attempt at an arrest was
made; that they didn't want trouble, but
that they did want Cook, and Cook they
were going to have They did not get
Cook, however, and. strange as IL seems,
especially to those who knew him well.
he was persuaded to leave the country.
MIR. COOK IN ACTION.
1 saw Cook frequently during the time
ne was disabled with his wounded leg. He
was a powerful fellow. six feet tall. and
weighed nearly if not quite two hundred
pounds. He was Of rather dark complex
ion-black hair. and usually wore a short
mustache. He appeared rather stupid and
lazy in his actions as well as his speech.
His vein Of wit was not rich enough TO
pay working. One. other than a tried
Afctios O1AIo ilic Oh TIN ~ WILLIS
any attempt to be witty in his presence.
He talked slowly and seriously himself.
even If it was to tell you that what he
carried under his arm wrapped in brown
paper was some pork he was taking home
TO his wife and little boy. He looked will
suspicion on a fippant. hasty talker. and
would ask on the first opportunity. out of
such a ones hearing. who that Teller
uac roaccfrin0 sOh hoe all right ~
from a trusted friend was usually followed
with well, I've got no use fer them kind
of fellers." 1t was never my misfortune
to see him in action, and I only know of one
person who did; but as this person hap
pened to be a pretty good friend of mine 1
gathered from several conversations a toll
erably good idea of Cooks manner while
killing a man.. This especial killing was
one of the ordinary ones that one might
say invariably follows in hat region when
an ex-deputy sheriff fingers for any length
of time about his old stamping ground after
his successor has been appointed. An al
most p~ardonable feeling Of envy
is aroused. In this case. the ex-
deputy had made what they call a
gun play" after his license to do so
had expired. My friend happened to be
alone with this ex-deputy when Cook. who
was the present deputy. approached. armed
with a warrant for his arrest. This mar
had declared himself" as they say, and
had openly said that he wouldn't allow
Cook to arrest him. consequently Cook was
not surprised when fire was opened on him.
The only ~precaution he took, and 1t seems
that 1t was all that was necessary, was to
get the man in exceedingly close quarters
before he made known his business. 1t is
here rnat what they call "quickness with a
gun" stands one in and. These men were
very evenly matched. and my friend said
that the contest while exceedingly brief, was
spirited. One would naturally think, to see
Cook or duty, that he was not capable of
making a quick move. But he had the re-
served Quickness of a nak He coiled cool
ly and deliberately, but when he struck 1t
was with lightning rapidity. MY friend con-
fessed hat he was a little too near to see
with comfort, but said that the way Cook
parried with one land his opponents revolt
yer, while with the other he reached for his
own, was truly wonderful. Cooks coat was
afre and three bullet holes through his
clothing before he succeeded in silencing the
enemy's battery. Fortunately for him, court
was in session at the time and he was
spared the confinement that, / will have
to confess, with due apology to the refuted
lawlessness of the country, is sometimes in
cident to such cases until court convenes.
He boarded the first train for the county
seat. The judge suspended the hearing of
the case then in progress long enough TO
have Cook tell of the affair that had just
happened and the part he was compelled to
play In 1t, and the law part of the affair
was over. ROBERT NJ. FISHBACK.