The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-03


| possee are in the mountains near here
! looking for john Sontag and Chris
! Evans, the train robbers. Mrs. II. Ker-
merson, who lives on the Stevens Greek
road, in the vicinity of Soda Rock,
visited Sheriff Bollinger yesterday and
stated that on Monday afternoon she had
occasion to visit the home of the Mark
ham boys, who reside on ranch three or
four miles back from Stevens Creek, in a
wild and seldom-visited portion of the
mountains. When on her way there,
and just as she was crossing a small
stream in one of the numerous gulches in
that portion of the mountains, she spied a
man asleep on the hillside a short dis
lance away.
This in itself was not startling, but the
wariike appearance of the stranger eX-
cited her apprehensions. By his side,
and within easy reach, were two shot
guns and a rifle and the butt of a pistol
protruded from under his coat. On him
was hunting vest filled with shotgun
cartridges, and around his waist was a
belt filled with rifle cartridges.
Before she had time to make any fur
Their observations a dog, which lay near
the stranger, began barking furiously.
The sleeper awakened, grabbed his guns,
! jumped to his feet and cast upon the
woman startled look. Seeing it was a
woman, look of relief passed over his
countenance, and he sank back into a sit
ting posture.
Mrs. Kermerson passed on. and ar
irving at the Markham residence related
her story. The Markham boys concluded
to investigate, and going to the gulch,
which was but a short distance from their
place, found the stranger still there, and
engaged him in conversation. He evinced
an unwillingness to talk, and responded
shortly to all questions asked him.
As it was growing dark he was invited
I to spend the night at Mark hams house.
and accepted the invitation, though with
evident reluctance.
At the house the stranger refused to ac-
cept anything to eat. and as he carried a
sack with him it was supposed this con-
tanned food. In response to inquiries,
the stranger said his name was John
Ryan, and that he was going to New
Almaden, where he had a partner, the
name of whom he did not divulge.
In explanation of the arsenal of weapons
which he carried, he said he had been
hunting ducks in the San Joaquin Val
ley, and had more recently been in the
vicinity of Pescadero. He asked for
newspapers, which were given him, and
which he read eagerly. He seemed to be
thoroughly unacquainted with Santa
Clara County, or any of the towns in it,
and asked many questions concerning
the location OF towns, the distances to
them, and the routes of various roads.
Incidentally, Ryan said he had part
ner earlier in his trip, but they had be-
come separated near Pescadero, and he
had not since seen him. Ryan, when
asked his business in the mountains. re-
piled that he was ''Just sorter killing
time"
The following morning one of the
| Markham boys accompanied the stranger
to the top of an adjacent hill, and pointed
ont the various towns and roads leading
to them. Ryan particularly asked about
the road leading to San Jose, and having
| been thoroughly informed took his de-
parture, presumably to come to this city.
| The Markham boys thought nothing
particularly of the occurrence, though
wondering at the arsenal of the stranger.
and his rather suspicious actions, until
/ Tuesday evening. Then one of the boys,
who was some distance from the house.
saw the alleged Ryan disappear over the
| top OF a hill in the vicinity. He seemed
to be heading toward New Almaden
| through the brush and over the noun
tains, as there was no road in the direc-
ton he was taking.
This circumstance aroused the suspi-
cions of the Mark ham boys, as Ryan had
| left their place early in the morning, and
| it was evident he had been in hiding in
/ the woods in the vicinity during the en-
tire day, and it was evident also that for
some reason best known to himself, he
wished TO do his travelling in the night
time. The idea that he was a fugitive
| from justice was the most probable sup
| position, and Mrs. Kermerson thereupon
came to San Jose and communicated the
/ circumstances to the Sheriff.
Last evening Deputy Sheriffs Shore
| and Tennent visited the Markham place.
verified Mrs. Kermerson's story. and re-
! ceived more detailed description of the
stranger. The officers already had sus-
picion that the so-called Ryan might be
the train robber Sontag, as it was known
| that the latter has relatives living in the
mountains back of Los Gatos, and it was
supposed he might be heading in that
| direction, with the ultimate object of
reaching the sea coast and embarking on
some foreign-bound vessel.
Tho
strengthened this belief, for it tailed ex-
actly with the published description of
Sontag barring the lameness in the right
ankle. Ryan showed no lameness.
The officers further learned that one of
Ryan's shotguns was a muzzle-loader,
and the other breech-loading rifle of the
Remington pattern, and the pistol a COM
mon one of 32-caliber,
Arrangements were made for search
for the stranger, and posse consisting of
Sheriff Bollinger, Deputy Sheriffs Ten
nant and Rucker, and Deputy Constable
Bob Anderson left to make search of
the mountains in the vicinity of Los
Gatos and the New AImaden mines.
Deputy Sheriff Rucker and Bob Ander-
son went to the vicinity of Guadaloupe.
while Sheriff Bollinger and Deputy
| Sheriff Tenant went to Los Gatos, and