The morning call., 1893-06-13

water and after drinking from canteen
said: My thirst was hurting me worse
than the wounds" Soon he asked again
for water and one of the posse rendered
him some whisky. He first declined to
take any. but in a few minutes took a
swallow.
One of the posse then procured some
cold water and washed the blood and DIRT
off the wounded mans face, and it was
found that he had four small wounds. APP
parently from scattering shot, upon his
countenance. The face was badly powder-
marked.
Luke Hall remarked: ut looks like If
he tried TO shoot himself"
Sontag Immediately spoke and answered
Yes. l lost so much blood and was so
cold did try to shoot myself. but | was
so weak l could not make it a success"
He said he asked Evans before the latter
left to shoot hiu, but Chris would not,
and. after saying gOod-by, left him.
Evans, he said, was not wounded at that
time.
Sontag talked quite freely about himself
and spoke highly of Evans. but was
guarded in his replies to all questions in
reference to the escaped bandit
When the photographer was ready to
take the views of the cabin and posse Son.
tag offered no objection to being taken in
the different views. The distance to the
cabin from the dug heap is about ninety
yards and the cabin is rddled. some bullets
having gone through four thicknesses of
boards. There are about twenty holes in
the side of the building besides the marks
of a few buckshot.
While the photographs were being taken
Marshal Gard made his appearance in a
wheat field on the opposite side of the road
with white handkerchief tied around his
head. When Burns was sent TO Hoffman
for team to carry Jackson to town he
borrowed the MarshaPs hat with the
handkerchief
Mr.. Hall said he would get his spring
wagon, and in about half an hour returned
with the wagon, containing comforters and
grain sacks. SOnlag was carefully placed
In the wagon and covered up with the
buggy robes and overcOats. The wagon
was small and they had to place him in
feet first. The wagon was stopped at
Hoffman's. where milk punch was made
him and large parasol procured to shelter
the wounded bandit.
Snntag talked calmly and cooly. He
refused to state what he and Evans had in
contemplation. he seemed confident that
Evans would never be captured alive. His
show of nerve during the conversation
was remarked by all present.
The scene Of the conflict last night was
near the mouth OF Wilcox Canyon, through
mile and half cut on the plains. Of
fcers had been lowering around there for
eight days. lying in ambush during the
day. along the trails and on the hills,
where they had a good view of the roads
leading that way. One man was always
on guard during the day while the others
slept.
Luke Hail. who lives near the scene.
says the fighting lasted two hours, and
that he stood in his door till quiet reigned.
Next morning at daylight he went to the
cabin to see what had been done, and the
posse from Visalia having just arrived
they thought Hall was one of the bandits
and commenced searching for their car
tridges to open fire. Then all the posse
started to the straw pile aud found Sontag
Some one said, supposIng it was Evans
under the straw pile, Chris, where is
John?'
Then a voice came from, the straw pile ):
II am john" s~.
L ne lOduS DeiUE SUlD6W UdJ rough an q
dusty, we drove slowly and made several
halts TO rest and give him water. He was
taken sick on the trip twice. but made no
complaints. Only once, at the Patterson
bridge, near town, he said: II am very
tired" At this same bridge we met the
fist teams out, and a number of people
from Visalia were waiting for our coming.
They fell in the rear and followed US
quietly.
Coming down Church street to the jail
the street seemed alive with people wait
ing to catch a glimpse of the wounded
train robber. Under Sheriff Hall and
Jailer Broder, with the assistance of the
posse and local officers. soon made an
opening, and the crowd fell back anu
behaved splendidly. There was deep
interest. but no excitement.
Sontag was carried to the iailers room,
but IN few minutes was carried to the
second story of the building. A physician
was sent for and b is wounds were washed
and dressed, Very few were admitted to
the room where he lay. and the crowd took
the refusal with good grace.
Shortly after his. wounds were dressed
he requested that Mrs. Evans be sent for
Mrs. Evans. the wife of Chris Evans, was
soon on hand, accompanied by Miss Evans.
A touching scene followed Miss Evans
recognized the guns belonging to Sontag,
but could not recognize the other shotgun
and rifle as her fathers.
Last night it was thought that Evans
had been shot and that Sontag had escaped.
just before shutdown, when the shooting
commenced, Evans at the first fire was
seen to fall backward. Sontag pitched
sideways behind tie straw and kept up
his shooting. Sontag was the wounded
man that remained, Evans escaping over
the hill, it is thought with wounded arm.
Both Evans shotgun and his rifle were
found near their fort, as well as Evans
white hat with blood on it. Evans rife
stock is completely covered with bloud.
When Chris escaped he only had his six
shooter.
II is thought that Evans, when he went
over the hill. took the road toward Visalia.
Some of the early risers at the Hoffman
ranch thought they saw him pass, and
later on, on looking in the road, they
found his tracks for long way leading to
town. His home and the homes of his
friends Will be carefully watched, and il
he is wounded. as all indications show. lie
cannot escape from the officers, as the
country is pretty well watched il all direc-
tions.