Evening journal., 1892-09-14
PlLING UP THE MURDERS
Outlaws Evans and Sontag Will
1Hfght to the Death.
THEIR HANDS AGAIN BLooDIADEN.

E-hG Train Robbers Shoot Three of the
shea3aSAi Posse Dead and Wound
Fourth While Desperately Resisting
Capture and Make Good Their Escape.
visAnIA, Cal. Sept A-The hunt in
Tulare and Fresno counties after the fugi-
tive train robbers, Evans and Sontag, which
cost one life az the outset, reached climax
today, when three men We're killed ana one
badly wounded by the desperate bandits
Chris Evans, John Sontag and George Son
tag robbed the Southern Pacific train near
Coils, Fresno county, on Aug. a. and got
away with about $500 in gold and silver
coin.
Three days later the detectives secured
clews that led them to Evans house In
Visalia, though they then did not suspect
Evans. Their evidence pointed to the two
sontags, who had just come from Mankato,
MINI. George Soutag was secured by STRAIT
agem, but when the officers went to the
house to get his trunk Evans and John Son
tag opened fire and drove them away, badly
wounding Deputy Witty.
Then followed one Of the most remark.
able chases ON record. The robbers actual
ly returned TO their own house late at
night and, being surprised, killed young
Oscar Beaver, who was on guard. They
escaped TO tho mountains, aud though they
have been seen since at several places there
has been no fight with them till today.
Riddled with Isuchshot
On Sunday night, Sept. Z, they stole a
horse and buggy from Supervisor Ellis, who
lives near Visala Two days later they
left the stolen outfit at Howelrs ranch,
saying they We're going to Samsons Flat,
where Evans has a mine and q ranch. On
last Sunday the robbers narrowly escaped
capture by posse headed by an Arizona
railroad detective named Victor Wilson,
who has been on their trail for two weeks.
Wilson came upon little camp In a Sc
cluded part of Kings river, and was
amazed to find the buggy robes and blankets
stolen from Ellis house week before. This
place is forty miles from Visalia. It was
evident that the robbers had heard the
posse coming, but had no time 70 remove
traces of their presence.
OF course this discovery greatly stimu-
lated Wilson's party, and they felt sure OF
the $1,000 reward offered for the bandits
They reckoned without old Evans gun
however.
In the morning as Wilson and hi.
men were riding past the house Of Ranchel
Young, in Samson's Flat, they We're fired
upon by Evans and Sontag. At tho first
FIRE Victor Wilson, the leader, United States
Marshal McGinnis, of Modesto, and Dickol
son fell dead from their saddles, riddlet
witk-bHelshot.
Al Whity, a brother OF tho deputy whC
was 80 badly wounded by Evans at Visalia
was severely wounded, and the horse o.
Constable Warren Hill was shot from un
der him. The fire was so murderous tina
Hill was the only one Of the five men WIT
was able to jump to place ofsnfety.
Wilson Was Fenrless-
The news came in by telephone, and tn,
operator said that after the murders Sontal
and Evans seized tho horses Of the muir
dered officers and escaped, no one DARN,
to modest them. Tho news OF the killins
created great excitement here, and larg
posse left at once for Samson's Flat, headei
by Sherffs Hensley and Kay and Detectiv
Hickey.
Wilson, who was shot down In this cow
sxdly way, was one Of the best trailers o
criminals on this coast. He was fearles
aud very expert in the use Of weapons ]
be had not been taken by surprise the ban
dts would have borne some marks Of hi
qua.
Later details OF the killing say that tn
five white men were accompanied By tw
Apache scouts, who had tracked Evans an
SonttSt0 Samson's Flat. just as the part
arrived ii front of Youngs house the doc
was thrown open and Evans aud Sonta
appeared with shotguns at their shoulders
They delivered broadside from both ban
Tpls before the officers could draw thei
weapons. Then tho bandits seized Wiz
5hesteTs and continued to pump lead int
the posse. The Apache scouts jumped b,
bind stones before the firing began and ei
capped unhurt.
The people Of Samson's Flat and the neigl
borhood are greatly excited over the fou
murders, and have agreed 20 help the OF
GERS and shoot tho bandits on sight witt
out tho aid Of the miners and s.ecp hcrdci
the fugitives cannot escape