The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-14
Special to the REcoRp-UN1ox.


much-read-about robbers, have been stay
ing in the neighborhood of place called
Sampson Fiat, a thickly wooded, rough
country in the mountains, where they
could secrete themselves to a certain ex-
tent They wandered around in a radius
of few miles, and were repeatedly seen
by parties knowing them. They were
seen by some of the Kings River Lum-
Der Company's hands on the morning of
the 10th, apparently enjoying a some
what meager breakfast of fish which they
had caught in Kings River, and were not
in the least disturbed at being observed.
Sampson Flat is about eight miles north
east of Dunlap, and about thirty miles
from Fresno.
Having heard of their whereabouts,
Will Smith and party of six white men
and two Indian trailers, who had been
specially brought from Yuma, Ariz., for
the purpc,e of tracking the robbers, had
been in that part of the country for sew
eral days. The posse was on its way to
Sampson Flat, and had got within about
two miles ~ that locality when thew
stopped at the cabin of man named Jim
Young. They stopped there to cook some
provisions, not expecting to meet the
train robbers in that immediate neighbor-
hood. Being perfectly at their ease, they
did not have the slightest idea that Evans
and Sontag might be in the cabin at that
time. They had been to Young's house
the day before this, and had not observed
the least trace of anyone having been
there for some time, consequently they
did not expect that the enemy was en-
trenched within barricade which gave
the two desperadoeS an advantage over
battalion of armed men.
The posse was going down a narrow
track which turned in plain view of any
one who might happen to be in the cabin.
They were proceeding leisurely Indian
file, Wick Wilson, Deputy United States
Marshal of Tucson, leading, with Frank
Burke, Deputy Sheriff OF Yuma, next, a
man named McGinn next, then Warren
Hill, one Of Sanger's constables, who was
leading pack animal loaded with food
and articles they had taken from Evans
and Sontag's camp, which they had come
across in their march. and near which it
was their Intention to wait till night in
order to surprise the robbers. After Hill
came VIII Smith, then came the two In
dian trailers from Yuma, a. L. The men
were selected for their great expertness
in tracking.
They arrived at Young's cabin, and
Wilson and Burke had gone within the
fence and were within ten feet of the front
door, when the door was suddenly
thrown open and Evans and Sontag came
out as quick as a flash and opened regu-
lar tusillade of shots on the party. Will
son and Burke, before they could turn
round or reach their arms, were killed
in their tracks.
At the time the shots were fired at
Wilson and Burke Warren Hill was ty-
ing his horse ana the pack animal to the
fence; McGlnnis was standing alongside
of Warren Hill. As soon as Wilson and
Burke had fallen the murderers turned
their attention to the rest of the party
and rapidly fired numerous shots at
them. One rifle shot passed through
Whitty's neck, inflicting an ugly though |
not dangerous wound. McGinnis was
shot, and dropped down by Hill's side. |
1t is not said whether he was killed in
stantly or not. a charge of buckshot |
was fired at Warren Hill, but he hap
pened to be standing behind his horse,
and was not hurt, the horse receiving the
entire charge, but his hat was lifted from
his head and the horse killed.
The party was taken completely by
surprise, and did not have time to re-
turn the fire. The two Indian trailers.
however, always on the alert, discharged
their weapons on the robbers, but it is
not known how the shots affected them.
The horses of the posse stampeded in the
tumult. The remainder of the posse then
dispersed themselves under cover.
Evans and Sontag then Immediately
turned and went through the house out |
at the back door and escaped, going in
northeaSterly direction, and that was the |
last seen of them.
VIII Smith and the Indian trailers
stayed to deal with the wounded men.
Warren Hill started after one of the
frightened horses, and succeeded in cap
turing it in about half an hour. He then
carried the news of the disaster to the |
Sequola Mill of the Kings River Lumber
Company, and transmitted it to your COR
respondent. Hill says they were going
down there to lie in wait for the robbers
tonight.
Sheriff E. w. Kay of Tulare County
was in Sanger tonight and gave it as his |
opinion that the robbers had the idea of |
drawing all the active fighting force of |
the neighborhood into that part of the |
country preparatory to making swoop !
on the plains.
In talking with Hill this evening he in |
formed your correspondent that he
thought it likely that they would attempt
TO escape by coming down the lumber |
hume on rats, and that they would prob |
ably stop all communication for time
by cutting the telephone wires.
Sheriff Kay had been out with the posse. |
ana came away sick, and had just arrived |
at Sanger when he learned of the disaster. |
lie stated that Frank Burke. who was the |
Deputy Sheriff of Yuma, Ariz. told him |
on his way up that he had the night be- |
fore singular premonition of the death |
he was to meet. He had been ont three
or four times before, but nothing had |
happened to disturb his equanimitv' He
was man noted for his GOODNESS and his
courage. He was never known to he
afraid of anything. But the night he |
started to his doom, his dog, which had |
hitherto allowed him to depart without
making any signs of grief or any unusual
manifestations, this time was filled with
some alarm, and barked and growled, and
even caught him by the clothes in his
efforts to prevent his going. His wife OBJ
serving this, told him he had better not
go, as there must be something wrong,
and begged him not to go. Burke told
Kay that he was not superstitious, but,
Notwithstanding, he could not shake off
the impression this incident had created.
When the news was telephoned to
Fresno this afternoon Sheriff HensGy
Immediately started to meet Hill and the
others at Dunlap. Parties are being
formed in ali of the small towns of the
foothills tonight, and a large body of
men will in the next few days give the
murderers a hard chase.
1t is thought it will now be impossible
for the robbers to escape, their camping
outfit having been captured and it being
assured that their ammunition is not
very plentiful.
An intimate friend of Chris Evans told
one of the herders on the fiume that he
had seen Evans day or two ago, and