The morning call., 1893-06-14
EVANS CAPTURED.
Both the Bandits Now i'm
Custody.
AND GRTEVOUSLY WOUNDED.
Chris Found With Both Arms
Broken.
AND GRIEVOUSLY WOUNDED.
A BALL LODGED IN HIS EYE.
The Outlaws Narrative of His Crimes
and Trials-JeaIousy Over the Cap
ture of the Robber.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

VIsALIA. June 3.-Ten months and ten
days after Chris Evans and John Sontag
stopped the Southern Pacific train at
Coils and robbed the Wells-Fargo ex-
press-car the bandits were lodged in jail at
Wis alia, in sight of their home and by citi-
zens with whom they had associated and
who had held them in high esteem before
that memorable morning of August 5,
1892. The ten long months have been
spent by the outlaws in almost con-
tinual warfare with pursuers. They have
endured hardships innumerable. and now,
with the lives Of three men, and it may be
four. at their door and the wounding of
half score Of men, one of whom has lost
his leg. John Sontag lies In jail mortally
wounded. and across the corridor from
him lies Chris Evans. blinded in one eye
and probably cripple for life.
All the robbers netted out of their des-
perate deed, the murders and ten months
of wandering, hunted from crag to canyon
and canyon to cave, was S126 1t has cost
the State, the railroad and the express
company upward of $4,000 to capture the
outlaws. outside of the rewards that must
he paid.
What will become of Evans and Sontag
should both get well is as yet but con-
lecture. but certain it is that the lives of
not only the families whose husbands and
fathers the bandits slew but their own
families as well are forever clouded. Des-
perate men they were. but they have paid
even now a fearful price for their greed of
gold.
At IL: AS O'clock Monday night E. b.
Perkins, a schoolteacher, who lives with
brother and widowed mother on q
ranch about twenty miles from Visalia,
rode up to the Sherff's office here in Visa
| liza, and asked for Sheriff Kay. Deputy
Sheriff William Hall told Perkins that Kay
was in San Francisco, and asked him what
he could do for him.
| Chris Evans" said the schoolteacher,
''is at our house, blind in one eye and
wounded in both arms. don't need any
| body but yourself to take him :; but come
| qnick.''
| Hall told Perkins 10 wait a minute and
sent for George Witty and Joe P. Carroll,
The CALL CORRESPONDENT, who has been
constantly in the field with the officers and
had rendered efficient service. Upon the
arrival of Witty and Carroll Hall, with
Perkins and the two men, jumped into
two-seated vehicle that happened to be
htched near the Jail and started the
horses on gallop for the Perkins ranch.
Hall had posse watching Evans' hom e.
because about sunset Mrs. Evans had. sent
for doctor and later on sent for a lunch
to be sent to her. and, while not suspicious
Of Perkins, Hall proposed to leave no place
unguarded. While he needed more m en-
than himself. Carroll and Witt, he was
afraid to take any from the posse at the
bandits house, and bitter experience had
taught him the danger of making public
the news he had received by going down
into the town for men.
AS IL was the fact that Evans was at the
Perkins ranch got abroad and strong
body of officers. headed by Sheriff Scott
of Fresno County and Hi Rapelje, started
for the place. Hall drove on run, and
he and his men arrived at the Perkins
ranch at / AS o'clock. having driven
twenty odd miles in less than two hours.
Hitching their horses. Perkens led the
way to the house. the officers following
close behind him. When the door was
reached Eli Perkins. young brother of
the schoolteacher, opened it and said:
He is up there in bed" Hall ordered
the boy Eli to go upstairs and tell Evans
the officers we're there. This the boy did
and then came to the stairway and called
his brother.
E. 81. Perkins went upstairs and a Sec
ond later called out to Hall: "CoIne up;
it's all right"
Hall, Witty and Carroll were heavily
armed and went up the stairway prepared
for fight. In small room at the head of
the stairs they saw Evans lying in bed
with Perkins holding his right hand.
The officers surrounded the bed and Hall
asked, "Have you got pistol?"
"Yes." said Evans, "it is under my head
But you needn't worry, can't use it. My
left arm is gone and Perkins has my right
hand. and am blind in my left eye. Billy,
I'm all shot-shot to pieces"
The wounded outlaw seemed utterly
disheartened.
While the officers were looking for the
pistol Evans said: "Have you got Son:ag ?"
He was told that his partner was in jail.
Poor old pardy." he said. SIS he badly
hnrtP"
When told that Sontag's wounds were
probably fatal, Evans said:
"This Is bad business. boys. bad
business"
The pistol, in a seabbard, with belt
full of cartridges. was found under the bed
clothes near Evans right hand, but he
made no attempt to use IL.
When the weapon had been found hall
said: "Chris. l am sorry to disturb you,
hurt as you are, but l must take you in.
''All right. Billy" answered Evans.
The wounded man lay on the bed with
bis shirt aud overalls On. He had taken
off his shoes and socks, and while E. II.
Perkins had gone 10 town Mrs. Perkins
and the boy. Eli, had bound up as best
they could the wounds in his arms, but
had not touched the eye, which, was
swollen and shut. The bullet entered
right at the corner of the eye, but certainly
had not penetrated the brain.
While Witty and the elder Perkins were
getting wagon ready to take Evans into
town Hall and Carroll stayed in the room,
and Carroll interviewed Evans Sitting
down on the edge of the bed, Carroll said:
Chris, who fired the first shot In Sun
days battle?"