The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-07
RETURNED TO GET THE DOODLE.
Coils Train Robbers Visit Evans Farm,
XIII y Deputy and Escape.

Coils Train Robbers Visit Evans Farm,
XIII = Deputy and Escape.
VIsALIA. Cal, Aug. Swans and Son
tag. the Coils train robbers, came to
Evans house about II O'Clock last night.
and. after eating supper. went to the barn.
Five or six men standing guard, discovered
the robbers team in the barn
lot, but had not seen them come
in. Undoubtedly they returned TO
secure the hidden coin, as hole filled
with fresh dirt was found in the barn this
morning. Deputy Sheriff Oscar Beaver,
one of the guards, saw the men at the barn
and opened fire, the shot being returned
by the robbers. who wounded Beaver so
that he died at 8 o'clock this morning.
Fifteen shots were exchanged. Beaver
firing eight. Some of his shots
wounded the horses, so that one
had to be killed. Beavers body
was this afternoon forwarded to Lemoore,
his home. His wife was visiting in Rio
Vista and was telegraphed To come home
early this morning. Beaver was uncon-
: scious several hours previous to death.
Seventy-four small shot were found in his
body. The death wound was made by
buckshot in the abdomen and chest He
was a fearless man and had always been
in demand by sheriffs when desperate
work was required. A large delegation
OF friends from Hanford and Lemoore ac-
companied his remains home this even
ing. The funeral will probably occur to-
morrow.
The robbers undoubtedly escaped from
the barn while the attention of the guards
was called to Beaver None of the
guards would approach Beaver after
he fell TO the ground. Frank Byrd,
brother-in-law of Robber Evans, who was
ut the house, was called out to remove
the body. and was assisted in doing so by
ex-Sheriff Overall. However, Beaver lay
where he fell twenty minutes, and his
groans could be heard blocks away
1t was probably 2 o'clock this evening
when Robbers Evans and Sontag left the
barn and started north toward the noun
tains. The officers did not leave in pur-
suit until daylight. The men were easily
traced along the road for four miles, when
they took to field, where no tracks
were left. About o'clock this
morning they were fourteen miles from
town and called at the residence of ex-
Supervisor d. Y. Robinson for a drink of
water. A few miles further north they
came To the ranch of Harvey Ward, with
whom Evans was we'll acquainted. They
told Ward they had killed a man in Visalia
and wanted Ward to supply them with n
team. Ward told the dcsperadoes they
could have a mule and cart They ac-
copied the rig gladly, rs they were evil
IDENTIFY tired of tramping. Besides, Son,ag
is just recovering the use of leg that was
broken few weeks ago. Ward states that
the men appeared III a cheerful mood. At
s o'clock this morning the two flee
ing deSperadoes passe thed residence of
J. NJ. Dyer, seventeen miles northeast of
Visalia, going toward Stokes valley. They
espied team coming down the road
toward them, which caused them - turn
back and take :he road that leads Up Mig
ger creek and Drum valley, Fresno
counts. They watched the team while IN
sight, which then came on 10 town and
left notice aAthc shrrifl's office. Officers
have left ths ely on horseback. and il the
robbers Neut 40 Stokes valley they are
probably close on the track oil them, al
though nothing had been heard from the
party up TO o clock this evening
4 telegram from Reedley to Sheriff kav,
received ~ S.lr p. m. says Evans and
Sontas abandoned the mule and cart at
Niger Greek hill and took TO the brush.
The posse are III close pursuit.