The morning call., 1892-09-28
CHASING THE BANDITS.
Detectives Who Would Seem to Lack
Maryelously of Discretion.

Detectives Who Would Seem to Lack
Msryelously of Discretion.
VIsALIA, Sept. 27.-The Times has inter-
viewed j. z. Carroll, who was out with the
officers after Evans and Sontag, and the
story he tells Is good reading. He did not
come up with the bandits. Had he done so
1t is possible that there would have been no
story to tell
"rhe VIsala posse left this city on Sep
tember II" said Mr.. Carroll. land camped
at Buttons place in the foothills northeast
Of Visalia; they started by moonlight next
morning and took breakfast at Sands
Bakers. The Fresno posse under Sheriff
Hensley was at Bakers. and after break
fast Sheriff Hensley was elected captain Of
the entire posse, which now numbered
twenty-four men.
Part of the posse went to Yonng's house
and looked over the ground where the re-
cent fatal battle had taken place. The next
day Yeung's house was made the bead
quarters. Men were then placed on all the
trails. The greatest concern of Sheriff
Hensley was that some innocent person
would be killed while travelling the trails.
Tracks were discovered on trail that were
exactly like those made by Chris Evans
Soon Clark Moore was met. and it was
found that he was making the suspicious
tracks Moore and Chris Evans were part
ners IN mine near by, and Moore was
given 10 understand that he had better keep
out OF the mountains. He was not arrested,
as has been stated.
THE next day we arrived at Coffee's
place and lunched there. The Coffee
brothers knew nothing of the bandits. We
next visited Sulphur Springs in Davis Flat
and camped there for the night.
'tOn the way 10 Crabtrees. before going
to station on the flume, we visited the
rf1e-pit made as fort by Evans and Son.
tar 70 ina ha
trail. with plenty of good water near by. 1t
Is made under group of growing, scrubby
live oaks. with limbs dropping to the ground.
The rifle pit is square and seven feet each
way. The earth was thrown UP around the
inclosure and dead leaves were strewn over
the bank to hide any signs of work. The
branches over the pit on the inside were cut
away so that the men could stand erect if
they chose. The Indians did not suspicion
that fort was there; they had gone up to
the spot and were peerlng In when they dis
covered the blankets on the inside and also
some tomatoes. Sam Ellis buggy robe was
found in the fort, and was destroyed by the
officers who could not take it along Had
Evans and Sontag been in this pit when the
posse approached 1t the bandits could have
slaughtered every one of them.
1.-THE next morning part of the posse
went back to Coffee's. and Clark Moore
went with them. We then went to station
on the flume and inquired into the story
of a man with gun who took some fish
from an Indian without paying for them.
The supposed Chris Evans proved to be a
demented sheepherder. The headquarters
were now changed to the Sequoia Mills.
Four men left our party the second day.
they having become weary and discouraged.
This was no loss, for the posse was In fact
too large. A small posse was kept sta
toned at Young's. Smith and posse went
to Camp Badger Hensley returned to
Young's to get the men there, and next
day all the posse went to Camp Badger. We
took back trail, and camped at SeQuoia
Lake. Detective Smith was the cook
for the party. and Constable Barr of
Sanger had charge of the paek-anmsls.
During the eleven days l was with the
party we slept in houses two nights and
several times we had dry camp with no
water. We next visited the Sampson Flat
cent visit by the bandits. We returned by
the trail on Pine Ridge and made dry
camp" near Mainwaren's place. AS We
were eating breakfast that morning Sheriff
Kay and his party passed by and we hailed
them. Our posse started for the mills; Kay
and his party accompanied us part OF the
way, as he was bound for Drum Valley.
When my party reached the mills we found
that headquarters had been removed to
Canyon to Deans place in Eshom Valley.
Here we heard the story of young lady
who claimed to have seen Evans and Sontag
In a canyon near her house.
I'm Eshom Valley we suffered many
hardships. In going down Cow Creek we
| mad rough experience. We lost the trail
| and the place was rough and densely wood
| ed. Our clothing was torn nearly off us,
| and we were bruised by the brush and limbs.