The morning call., 1893-06-09
WERE THEY THERE
Report That Evans and
Sontag Were Home.
KAY WAS EASILY SATISFIED
A Small Army Surrounded the House
but Made No Search-Mrs.
Evans Facetious Threats.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

VIsALfA. June 8.-The train-rob bbers,
Evans and Sontag. are IN the hands of
fate. Ever since Will Smith and George
Witty ran against them and felt their bull
lets last August, everything seems to favor
them. Poor Oscar Beaver wanted to be
sure they were the right men and called
out to them. He lost mis- life for being
cautious.
When the officers were at Sampson Flat
they went over to Young's cabin at Pine
Ridge for the purpose OF leaving note at
1oung's Tor one of their posse, having no
idea that Evans and Sontag we're in that
locality. The posse dismounted and left
their guns strapped to their saddles, walk
Ing up to the house for drink of water,
and two of the bravest officers were mur-
dered and AL Witty was Wounds in the
neck. Contrary 10 the sensational records
OF the killed and wounded. there was no
man, officer or mountaineer killed nam ed
Richard Olsen.
Sam Black, who has been working since
October around Camp Badger for the pur-
pose of locating their hiding-place, found
1t just two hours prior to being shot down,
and If he hsd not been brave and deter
mined man, eXertng all his siren 9Th in
crawling into his cabin and getting his gun
to defend himself, they would have shot
him just as they did McGinness after he
had his death wound.
Last evening Sheriff Kay was Informed
that Evans and Sontag were at home.
About two hours later other information
was brought to him that the robbers were
at the house in women's clothes, and
black horse and strange cart was in the
barn. The officers held consultation and
agreed that the best plan was to wait for
the morrow and MAKE daylight fight OF
it, All morning the Sheriff waited for his
picket-men to send him word, hut minutes
wore slowly by and no word came.
About p. II, information came from
reliable source that two men were seen in
the house. The posse was soon on its
way to surround the house. In a few
minutes the news spread that Evans and
Sontag would meet with their last battle,
and some cute men made for the court
house cupola to watch the fight, while
others stood around in groups on the main
street. The suspense must have been
terrible to them. With the exception of
the small boys no one went out to the
a fight to the death.
Sheriff Kay found Eddie BYRD, nephew
Of Mrs. Evans, and got him to go to the
gate with him for the put pose of removing
the women and children out of the build
ing to safer quarters. The children came
first. and from their laughter it was easy
to see thew had nothing to fear. Next
came Mrs. Evans. followed by her mother,
Mrs. Byrd.
On the Sheriff explaining his mission he
was told he could not go in the house. He
explained that he could go anywhere, and
would. After quiet talk Mrs. Evans in
vlted him to enter. This appeared to
satisfy the Sheriff, for he Immediately
gave orders to return home. Part of the
posse examined the barn for the black
horse and the cart, but they were nowhere
to be seen.
Phipps, the engineer, whose train Evans
ana Sontag held up, who is now running
on the east side road from Fresno to Por-
terville, told a citizen of Porterville this
morning that Evans and Sontag were in
Visalia last night. On being asked his
reason, he said that they crossed the rail-
road at Tarusa last evening. The citizen
reported the facts on his arrival.
One OF the posse that was out to-day is
resident OF Tulare and was with his
own team. After orders to return were
given he brought his shotgun to where
Under Sheriff Hall was standing, leaving
it against post, thinking Hall would take
1t home. Hall saw the gun, and not know
ing who was the owner, LETT IT. Shortly
after Mrs. Evans came out. and seeing it
picked it up and placing it to her shoulder
said:
"Ob. il that was only Will Smith 1
would let him have one barrel"
Her daughter, Eva, standing within
hearing. said: Mother; why not give
him both loads? ?"
Mrs. Evans answered: "I would. but it
might kick me over"
A few young men came along after all
was over and walked near the house
Mrs. Evans called out to them:
You are within range of the upper
windows"
The young men explained they were not
hunting men, only came out to see the fun.
Mrs. Evans then became quite talkatve
and said it was good thing that Kay did
not 90 upstairs. Such talk on the streets
makes people believe that the train-robbers
are still there.
Many people believe the bandits are still
in town and Evans house will be guarded
tonight. and the roads leading to the
mountains are lined with men.
This evening Mrs. Evans and her daupb-
ter, Eva, called at the Sherff's Office and
got 32-caliber gun belonging to them.
Drlvlng up Main street they purchased
cartridges at gunstore. This fact caused
excitement among the citizsas.