Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-01-24
ONE TRAIN ROBBERS WAY.
PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE
WITH BANDIT COOK.

Robbed the Passengers Before
Tackling the Express Car.
TOHN W. SPRINGER, of Dallas,
~ Texas, was one of the passen-
~ gers on the train that was
robbed by the Cook gang at
Wyback, Indian Territory. He is
one of the proprietor of the Cliff
ton-Holstein cattle ranch, and he tells
to New York Sun representative this
story of the way the Cook gang did
| its work:
eft was q full moonlight night, and
all the passengers in the sleeper
seemed asleep, when of sudden there
was a shrek from the locomotive.
Down brakes was whistled. looked
out and discovered that we had been
side-tracked. The suddenness with
which the train stopped caused us to
bump our heads against our berths.
Instantly there was commotion and
fusillading on both sides of the train.
Lifting my curtain 1 looked out,
and by the light of the moon l saw
standing by tree, about thirty feet
from my window, typical brigand,
with white slouched hat. He had
pistols in his belt, daggers in his boot
legs, and rifle in his hands. AS he
stood in the shadow of the tree 1 saw
him raise his rifle and fire it several
time. The porter began to crawl on
the carpet.
cat that moment dynamite bomb
exploded and blew away one end of
the platform of the express car. A
fusillade followed. The passengers
now began to discuss the possibility
OF resistance, but as the plate-glass
windows and mirrors were crashed by
bullets, strewing the floor of the
sleeper with debris, we decided that
discretion was the better part of
valor.
"After discharging three dynamite
bombs without being able to bring the
express messengers to terms, the des-
peradoes announced that if they could
not capture the express car they could
clean up the passengers. According
ly, three knights of the rifle were de-
tailed to rob us. They captured
passenger, green country boy from
Indiana, and invited him to carry the
sack. He demurred, saying, I'm
afraid I'll be shot. He was induced,
however, to move on when Bill Cook,
the boss bandit, cooked his rife and
put it at his head. AS the robbers en-
tered the various coaches and discov-
cred the men, women and children
down on the floor, under the seats,
and behind the stoves, they invited
every one of them to stand up and face
the music.
"A general uprising followed, and
hands went IN the air. Then the boss
robber paid his compliments to all
alike, beginning with the first seat
After he had gone all through the car
he ordered the passengers to turn over
all the seats and reveal the DOODLE
they had hidden. In the search that
followed two revolvers we're found
safely tucked away under the cushion.
They belonged to two deputy United
States marshals who happened to be
ON board. Bill Cook drew his gun
and wanted to know how those re-
volvers came there. The men solemnly
averred that they never owned revol-
vers in their lives.
'"The female passengers were noti-
fed that they had better be at home
attending to their babies than cavort-
ing up and down the country Each
woman was invited to contribute to
the good Of the cause, and all handed
over their watches, chains, rings,
bracelets, pins and money. Silver
seemed to predominant in the two
bushel sack, which was about half
full.
"We had no idea in the sleeper that
we would be molested, and the porter
had taken the precaution to turn out
the lights, leaving us in darkness.
However, after about an hour fusillade
(the robbers were firing into the train
to keep down the spirits of the passen-
gers), Bill Cook raped in deferen-
tial manner at the door of the sleeper.
Again did he rap, and failing to re-
ceive an answer he hammered on the
door with the butt of his gun, and in
a voice which seemed to mean bust
ness, yelled that if that porter, didn' t
open up in three seconds he would
blow up the car with dynamite. The
porter concluded that it was time the
door should be opened. Cook entered,
holding in his hand a stick of dynam-
ite. He said:
'I'm looking for that little dude
conductor. If you don't trot him out
in just two seconds I'll kill every
mothers son of you in sight"
1t is unnecessary to say that there
were few, If any, in sight in the
sleeper except Bill Cook, the porter,
and the Hoosier, who carried the sack.
The conductor, however, thought it
wise to show himself.
GLOW much stuff have you got? q"
Mr.. Cook inquired, and the conductor
replied:
"'About $40 or $50"
" Drop her in the sack, said Mr..
Cook, and the conductor did as he was
ordered.
sFrhe nhiaf of tho br;oonJ, +Lo,, lol