The morning call., 1892-12-11
WILD ADVENTURE.
What BefeIl Four Young
Trangressors.
LIKE EVANS AND SONTAG
Sheriff STANDBY of Mendociuo Captures
the Entire Band-Armed, but
Wet and Hungry.

doc" StandIey. the distinguished Sheriff
OF Mebdocino County, has just landed in
the Ukiah jail youthful band of four fol-
lowers of Evans and Sontag.
An officer OF that county. who was In the
city yesterday, detailed the account of the
capture to party of friends at police head
quarters.
The boys do not average much over Is
years each and are well known In the town
OF Uklah, where they were raised.
Aside from the serious aspect OF the
affair there is somewhat OF humorous side
to the matter
STANDBY has been noted for years as a
terror OF outlaws and when they came his
way he generally bagged them. yet he never
encountered such a band as those he now
has in custody.
They are Charles Bnrtnett. Alexander
1aneey, Jesse Heacock and Frederick
Osborn,
For the past several months there has
been large number of burglaries and a
great deal of petty theving which the
| Sheriff says he has traced to these buys.
ABOUT zen days ago one OF the leading
saloons was broken open and robbed Of
lot OF tobacco. cigars. pistol. gun and three
| or Tour knives. On the same night the par
sonage OF hthe Cristian church was broken
open and considerable plumber taken.
Having secured so many deadly weapons
that " oGld work for offensive or defensive
| purposes, the leader conceived the idea OF
following the example of Sontag and Evans
by striking out for the mountains with the
| plunder. fully determined to anDihilate any
| and all pursuers.
Ii was windy, dismal and wet the night
that they stinck out. In fact the weather
was calculated to dampen the ardor OF more
| hardened and inexperienced criminals:
| hence II was that Yancey and Osborn soon
| became disheartened aud deserted before the
band was mile away from the scene of
/ their crimes. They returned home, and a
| few days later were taken into custody by
| the authorities. IL WAS only short time
| before they were induced TO "squeaP' on
| their confederates, who they said were
| armed 10 the teeth and making for the
mountains.
A posse put off after them. and succeeded
| In tracing them for twenty miles, their
| tracks finally leading up TO an old barn
which was the principal house OF q small
| farm.
Here were Heacoek and BURNETT, foot
core. weary. wet and disguised, sleeping In
the hay with their weapons elutched In
death grip.
After considerable kicking and hammer
| Ing the young despersdoes were awakened.
They started up as if from a nightmare,
and were about 10 break wildly away with
out their weapons when STANDBY restrained
them.
Thinking that they would probably be
o''vA NoNH Ou StEbt as MtSof5. ENdUS anu
Soutag would have been they knelt and
entreated for their lives.
After their captors had enjoyed their
terror for time they were assured that
they would not be executed for at least
twenty-four hours, which had a modifying
| effect, and then they pleaded for foud. Their
| ratIoDs had consisted of cheese and a few
| crackers at the beginning. all of which was
consumed in the first twenty -four hours,
and they had been more than that time
without any f90d whatever.
AS consequence they had maze their
| last meal on handful of wheat which had
been secured from an open sack In the barn.
They did not dare TO forage outside, as they
felt assured. as they stated, that hundred
armed men were on their trails with Win
| chesters and the moment their outlines
were visible score OF bullets would pene-
| trate their hides.
Two runaways were never more willing
| TO return, which they did after they had
| been fed at the farmers house
Efforts are being made now by the friends
| OF the boys TO prevent prosecution, but the
number OF depredatiOns traced TO them is
so great that all attempts at compromises
have as yet failed.