The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-21
Midnight Tragedy on the Wharf
at Bio Vista.
Burglars Surprised While Trying to Break
Cp5l a Safe.
4 Wa.cbman Shot Down by One Of the Rob-
barS Escape Of the Murderer and
Ills Companions in Boat.

SACRAMENTO. Jan. Ca special 10 the
Evening Bee says that John Howard, a
p night Natchmau at Rio Vista on the Solano
County side. was shot and killed by a burg
lar ut O'clock this morning. The burglars
broke iu.o the Office Of the Sacramento
Transportation Company at Rio Vista
about midnight, aud succeeded IN drilling
open safe. One Of three men engaged in
tie work was stationed on the steamboat
slip outside, to act as guard, and was armed
with double-barrcled shotgun. The burg
lars were making good progress on the sale
inside the Office when the night Waterman
of the town. John Howard, saw the guard
on the wharf and hailed him. Without one
word Of warning the burglar jumped up,
pointed the gun full at the surprised watch
nan and fired, a charge Of tuckshot taking
effect in Howard's abdomen.
The shooter then ran down toward the
river and was Immediately followed by the
two others. who had become frightened at
the report and dashed out Of the transpoyta-
ton affice, leaving their tools behind them
in their haste.
ESCAPE II A BOAT.
Howard though MORALLY wounded, gath
cred sufficient strength to pull his pistol aud
fire several shots after the fleeing safe
crackers. None of them hit their mark,
however and as Howard dropped exhausted
on The wharf the three men pulled a small
oattoward Wood Island, which is situated
a short distance from the town up the river.
Howard kept on firing his revolver until
all the chambers were empty, in the hope
Of alarming the citizens Of the town Ia
this DE was successful as In about ten min
utps several citizens arrived on the scene,
among them being 5. c. Carter, who found
Howard lying in a pool Of blood on the
wharf, where he had fallen after the fusil-
lade. Death was last Gppr aching but
Howard had command Of his faculties long
enough 10 tell the whole story If The crime,
from N hiCh this accounts written. Twenty
minutes later he died.
POSSE IN PURSUIT.
A posse Of about twenty armed men, with
C1nst4bles FIstus and Elliott at rs head.
was at once formed and r0wed to Wood
Island, where search was made for the
burglars, without any result as Yet.
Tie Transportation company's safe con
succeed IN obtaining any OF il, they leaving
before the contents II The strong box had
been reached.
The KIT of burglars tools, which they
left behind, were clumsy articles and had
the appearance OF having been made by the
men themselves, giving some ground for
the belief that the burglars were new hands
at the business Howard was about B
years a age and leaves a widow and child
at Iig y ista.
SEARCHING THE RIVER.
Vallejo. Jan. o0.-SheriF Henderson
tHis morning received dispatch from RIO
Y i>t7, stating that night watchmau had
been shot ald killed during the night by
three burglars, whom he detected r0bbing a
safe. II he men took 20 flight In a boat Oh
tile river. Tire robbers are known TO have
leen In Antioch the night before. Their
boat was recently purchased from q Greek
fisherman here, and they have been using
il IN committing small r0beeTies along the
river They are wanted In several counties.
This afternoon Sheriff Henderson left here
in a fast fshing-boat, accompanied by a
posse, TO search the river for tile muTderers.
a Deputy Sheriff at Rio Vista has been in
stTUCted 10 follow them, and a telegram has
been sent to Sheriff Cunningham OF Stock
ton. asking him 20 mead them of. Il is be-
lleyed that they are surrounded and Will be
caught.