The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07
SAFE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
TIE COILS TRAIN ROBBERS ESCAPE
AFTER KILLING A DEPUTY.

While a Posse aanop-d Mssiy on Their
Supposed Trail the bandits DoubIea and
Calmly Set About ObtsininG Stores =
They Were surprisea by the Beputy,
whose Temerity Cost Hin HIS Life.
vrsALIA. Aug 6.-The report which reached
hero last night OF the capture OF the COLTS
train robbers proves to be premature. 1t was
probably sent out by Railroad Detective viii
Smith. who was responsible for tho escape Of
the two criminals and the killing OF one OF the
SherifTs posse. 1t seems absurd. but Smith.
when he located Evans and SontaR. actually
set about capturing them by strategy instead
OF surrounding the place with a Gordon OF
armed men. He did not even wait for
Sheriff Cunningham. who had telegraphed
that he would be in Visaia In an hour. Smith
went out with a companion to Evans's house
and induced George SontnG to accompany him
to town. There Sontaa was placed In Jail.
and made damaging admissions against his
brother John and Evans.
So Hawkshaw Smith made another trip to
Evans's house with Deruty Sheriff Witty. with
the ludicrous idea that hc could get John SON.
tag to town.
Evans and Sontag suspected the motive OF
the visit and opened fire. Witty was badly
hurt. but Smith was merely scratched. Smith
failed to head off the robbers. who took his
team and drove away.
Smith insisted on being taken to Visaia,
where his wound was found so triiling that
every one laughed ut him. Then followed the
wild chase after the robbers in dead level
country. They ought to have been captured
but the pursuers evidently lacked nerve. for
the robbers. after hot chase Of several hours.
were lost on the river bank in tho tall reeds.
Hundreds Of men secured the country till
late at night. In the mean time the robbers
returned to their house. and about o'clock
this morning Oscar Beaver. who was on guard
saw tho two fugitiyes trying to get a buggy
out OF the narn He ,foolshy called Halt"
that the. robbers fired simultaneously, com
pletely ridding Beaver with shot.
After shooting Beaver the robbers made
good their escsne to tho neighborng hills. It
is thought that they ,risked the return to
Eyans,s n order r to lay in stock Of ammuni.
morning driving toward Samson's fat in tho
mountains. where re, Evans has mine. The
SHOULD they be- taken alive. fl
tpi details have been received OF the battle
she ToSoe p Ct a 1he rob
Evans's house. While the main posse was
racing across the country in another direct ion
they calmly ate lunch. leaving their stolen
As they were entering buggy loaded with
n hs b e8m aE snd bs
mand Beaver fred two shots at them with O
shotgun. badly Gripping one of the horses.
The horse was so badly hurt that it was i'm
possible for the bandits to leave in the buggy
When Beaver fell the bandits made off with
all haste. The other members OF the posse. who
were not In full view OF the bandits. thought
they had taken refuge In the barn. and this ac-
counts for the delay that followed after the
shooting
-, Beavers cries could be distinctly heard by
them. but the wounded man must have lain
on the ground ten minutes before any one
came to his assistance. The others were afraid
to venture near the barn where he robbers
were supposed to be still concealed.
The other members Of the posse say that the
shot came in perfect shower from the barn.
as the highwaymen fired four times. Beaver
died this afternoon. His death settles the fate
OF tha outlaws should they be caught.
Evans Is well of. having good ranch and a
mine. The Sontag brothers. though ordinary
laborers. managed to live with very !ittl" work.
One used to be q trainman. and tho other an
engineer on the Southern Pacific. which nc-
counts for their skill in holding up the train
and disabling the engine.