The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-24
HUNTING BANDITS.
a Sort OF Chase ia Which the Pursuer
Must Be Ever Alert.
Fron. the San E,ranctsoo Eranfnsr.

MUST BE Ever Alert.
From the San Francisco Examiner,
lit is not at all surprising" said an old
pioneer and Indian fighter yesterday, THAT
Evans and Sontag have thus far SUCCESSFULLY
eluded capture. Two men, well-armed, ac-
customed to outdoor life, and with a thor
ough knowledge OF the country ia which
they are travelling can stand OFF and evado
ten times their number without much risk
to themselves. 1t is all nonsense for city
officers who are not mountainous and
hunters to chase men like these two
train robbers. Both times when Evans
and Sontag have come into collision with the
officers one side has been surprised and
caught without their arms handy. The sur
prised parties both times were the hunters
and not the hunted. l do not doubt for an
instant that the men engaged In the pursuit
Of the murderous couple are brave men.
They are simply trying to do something
they are not familiar with, and two men
who are well up at that sort of game are
trying to prevent them. The bravest OF
men, unless they are thoroughly seasoned,
and sometimes even then will become rat
tied when attacked unexpectedly The
kind OF men needed to hunt Evans and
Sontag are those who can tell by the trail
how near they are to their game, and men
who, when on q chase of that kind are
never parted from their arms on any pre-
text.
81 was amused to read how th Q man hunt
ers at SIMPSONS Flat returned from the
chase when darkness came, stacked their
guns in a corner and turned their pistols
over to the barkeeper. In the first place,
why did those men leave their posts at
night? To be sure, they might not be able
to follow a trail in the dark, but it would
not hurt them to sleep out of doors, and
they would be able to start out at the first
break OF day without going over their
ground again. A genuine mountaineer
and hunter such as used to know In the
early days, when night came, would have
curled up under tree or beside q rock, and
morning would have found him ready to re-
sumo the hunt without any waste OF time.
1t does man no harm TO sleep in the open
air here in this glorious climate Of Cali
tornia. Men who are engaged in man hunt
ing and who are too tender to stand the
nippinR night air have no business IN the
profession they are following They ought
to be home, where they can be safely tucked
under the blankets every night.
Speaking of SURPRISES" continued the
pioneer growing reminiscent, reminds me
OF something that happened back in SO
and which illustrates my point that a sur
prise Is demoraliZing to the best OF men.
An emigraut train composed Of men from
the eastern states had travelled across the
plains with their wives and children. There
were QGty-tOur aDle-OOQled men in the
party, aud their bravery had been thor
oughly tested on the way across the CONT
nent. They had repulsed numerous bands
OF hostile Indians, for whom they were con-
stantly on the watch. They came along
the old emigrant trail and one
hight camped near the Humboldt river in
Nevada. They mad safely encountered per-
lis aud privations which they had expected
to meet and were almost in sight OF
promised land. A few days more would
bring them into California, the land of gold.
The fact that they were so near their jour
ney's end made them careless, and all
thought Of danger from Indians was for
gotten. No guards were posted, and the
men stacked their guns against one OF the
wagons. Men, women and children we're
gathered about the camp fires resting after
a hard days Journey. Suddenly they were
attacked on all sides by what seemed 10 be
8 large band of indians. The horses
were stampeded and the men were
shot down as a band OF Indians dashed
through the camp. These brave emigrants.
who had fought their way safely 30 far
against greatly superior numbers. fell over
each other in their efforts to g.t away,
Not q man OF them thought of resistance.
but fed, terror-stricken. without even a
thought for wife or little ones The train
was scattered, and it was several DAYS be-
fore the fugitivee came together again.
Twelve Pluto Indians, for it was after
ward sscertained that he band contained
that many, routed 6fty-four white men,