Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-04
BANDITS EVANS AND SONTAG,
Supposed to Have Been Seen
Near Cotton.
Deputy Sheriff Russell and Detective
Smith on Their Trail.
The Two Robbers Supposed to Have
Been seen Near Colton-Posses Out
After the Men-The Experi-
ence of Mr.. Leck.

Information was received in this city
yesterday morning early, that man
had notified the officers of San Bernar-
dino that two men resembling Evans
and Sontag, the Coils train robbers,
had passed his house. The man who
brought the news lives between San
Bernardino and Riverside, and said that
the men were well mounted and heavily
armed. They asked for something to
eat, and made some threatening move
ments with their guns to hasten up the
grub. They did not stop to eat it. but
took it along with them and rode off.
From the description he gave Of the
men, the officers thought they might be
train robbers, and notified Sheriff Glib
son OF this city. AS soon az the news
was received, Jailer Rus sell and Detect
i've Will Smith started for Cotton, and
are now following up the trail of the
men.
If they should prove to be E vans and
Soptsg, they are in all probability strik.
ing for the Mexican line, and are we'll
on their way to it bv this time. Moth
ing was heard from Russell or Smith up
to late hour last night.
THE AFFAIR BY TELEGRAPH.
SAN BERNARDINo, Sept. 3.-Yesterday
evening, about 5 80 O'Clock, man went
to Mrs. Robinson's house, about mile
west of Cotton, and demanded some
thing to eat. He said he was no tramp,
but had money to pay for what he got.
He was disguised with a long red wig
that fell down over his shoulders, and
long false whiskers. He carried Win
chester rifle and a six-shooter in his
belt. After getting something to eat he
Joined another man who was in the
brush near the house, also heavily
armed. AS the first man walked away
he limped just ae Sontag, the Coils
train robber, is said to limp. Mrs. Rob-
inson went to Cotton about 8 O'Clock
and informed the officers what she had
seen, who at once telephoned the sher-
iff's Office H. San Bernardino. Deputy
Sheriff Holcomb, in the absence of Sher-
iff Sey more, at once formed posse of
four men who joined the officers in Col
ton, by half past 10 O'Clock.
There two squads were formed of three
men each, one going by the way OF Box
springs, the other by the way OF Reche
caf1on, searching all the trails for tracks
OF the two men. The two squads met at
Moreno early this morning, and, having
found nothing, started out on the return
to this city. On their way back they
struck the fresh trail of the two men
leading into the foothills through the
brush. The officers followed the trail
several hours without result, and finally
gave it up, as the robbers had twelve
hours start. New posses are now being
formed in Cotton by Detective Will
Smith, in conjunction with the sheriff.
office, to head off the men, and it is be-
lieved here that there is good prospect
of their capture.
RIVERSIDE, Sept. 3.-A man who ar
rived in this city from the mountains
this morning claims to have met near
here two men whom he believes to be
the Coils robbers. Both were heavily
armed and well mounted.
THE HUENEME STORY.
The source of the rumor that the Col
lis train robbers were in this county
was found yesterday by HERALD re-
porter.
1t seems that Gene Maxwell, as the
stalwart revenue inspector of this dis
trict is familiarly called, was, on Tues
day, in Hueneme, and there heard the
basis of the story, which was as follows,
as narrated by the chief actor.
On the morning of that day man
named Frank Leck was driving into
Hueneme. He had lived for many years
at Visalia, and was we'll acquainted
with the Evanses and Sonntags. While
two miles from the town he overlook
man riding big bay horse. AS Leck
drove by he looked at the man, and, as
he claims, was much astonished to see
that it was Chris Evans; at the same
time the rider looked at Leck and recog-
nized him. Quick as flash he drew a
six shooter, and made his old townsman
swear by all that was holy, that he
would not divulge Evans's presence, nor
move from the spot for an hour. The
promise given, the supposed Evans
wheeled his horse and dashed away
across the country.
Leck whipped up his horses, and got
to Hueneme as fast as possible, where
he hunted up Constable Ryan, and the
two procured arms, and started off after
the man on horseback.