The sun., 1893-06-13
BANDIT SONTAG CAUGHT.
BE Is BADLY WOUNDED IN A FIGHT
WITH OFFICERS OF THE LAW

HI, Con,-sde, Evans, Escapes to the Noun
t.in-- Desperate FiEtts They Have Had
with Men who Have Long Been Securing
the NJ fountains for the Famous Outlaws
vlsAL1A. Cal. June 12.-Another fight be-
tween Evans aud sontae. the Collis train rob-
bers. and the officers OF tho law took place
sunday evening During the conflict an officer
was shot in the leg. and Sohtag was wounded
Al the time the wounded officer left the scene
sontag was lying on the ground. Evans had
e.cared and taken to tho hills, followed by n
heavy FIRE. which, 1t Is believed did not injure
him. us 1, was dark. and his retreating form
could not be soon.
II. |. l|npclJe. Deputy Sheriff OF Fresno coun-
ty. and FroG Jackson. an officer from Nevada
have been in the mountains week hunting
for Evans and sontaR. They were accom-.
panied hy Thomas Burns. the man who was
with Deputy United States Marshal Black
when he was shot while In Camp Badger, three
weeks ago. On sunday morning they en-.
CRmped Mt n vacant house about eighteen
miles northeast OF this city and about six miles
west from Wilcox Csilon. They spent the day
Sleeping and making preparations to continue
the search for the bandits.
About twenty minutes before sunset Rapelje
wont to the rear dooc OF tho house and saw
two men coming down tho hill. They proved
TO hc Evans and Soutag Evan was in the
lead and carried a rifle and shotgun. while
son'ag carried n ride jackson. the officer
who was shot. went to the rear door where
NaueLe was Standing. and said:
They are the m on We are after"
Burns and United States Marshal Gard were
ut once awakened. The officers went out OF
the front door, AS they turned around the
rear corner Evans saw Rapelje. and. throwing
hls Winchester to hi, shoulder. took deliberate
aim and fired. Just then jackson stepped
ltound ana both oflicers opened fire on tho
landits. !>ontnC was seen to throw up both
hands and fall backward. Then the firing be-
with vtnesanse Jackson a went around our f"Hs t%s
fur end OF the house to get better place from
to 9bs As he ssspsd around he was
apd darkness ended the battle.
Il pi!o of rubbish. and Rapelje again opened
PR IN him. He He then ran towards the hills.
fyans did not return the fire. aud was 81 SOON ,"1i
out Of sight. RapelIc, returned to the house.
secured w4son an 9ToaGt hhaekson to this
TO -end out a posse. and officers will go from
this city to the scene Of the conflict.
m"rnins. me is MORALLY WeundeS. H d. io'o 'hs
Sontag says he spit blood ali night. There
IS a elancing wound along his forehead and on
vii be watched DAY and night. sontaS talks
not care for the future. 1t Is possible that
:>ontag may recover from his wounds. though
the attending physicians will express no de-
chled opinion. Officers are now searching tho
hills in tns bore of finding Evans and COM
picttnx at once the long chase.
The trail robbery which was the beginning
OF this criminal chapter occurred at a station
named Coils. near Fresno. Cal. on Aug. =,
1882. An express car was blown up with
dynamite and Express Messenger George d.
Roberts seriously injured. Officers soon after
arrested George sontag at the house OF Chris
Evans in this city. lie was afterward tried
an! sentenced to the rpuitentiary for life.
When an attenlpt WAS made to arrest Evans,
he aud John SontnR orpned fire on the officers.
E"unding George Witty. Ina second encoun-
teT Oscar Beaver. an officer. was killed in front
al Evan>'s honsr. On Sent. II, Andrew Nc
tinness and Victor c. Wilson were killed in
thc mountains 10y tho Lan,lits and two other
"frars were wounded. On Mny 2,i S. j. Black,
another officer was wounded by the bandits in
III. mountains
M previous crmir oil incident in the history
OF California has occasioned greater public in
trrc.t. Until the train robi'ery occurred Evans
had horne good reputation. and grcnt sur
prise was felt when the crime was traced to
his door. slir Is nm educated man. u native OF
Canada. and 1t is said that his early schooling
WAS TO fit him for the priesthood lie has q
wife and children living In this city. The two
tnntng brothers lived in Minnesota coming to
this state a few Years ago.