The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-01-06

[ElY PURE
CHRIS EVANS AT LARGE.
Escape Of the Noted Outlaw from
the Fresno jail.
Fresno is up in arms, and the
whole country excited over the
daring escape on the evening of the
18th ult. of Chris Evans, the famous
bandit, who was sentenced recently
to life imprisonment for his crime
The scheme of the escape was a
deep laid one, and Evans succeeded
in securing q confederate to help
him out in the bold break for lib
erty.
Mrs. Evans, the bandits wife, ar
rived at Fresno in the morning, and
visited her husband in the cell sew
eral times during the day. the last
visit being about 6 o'clock in the
evening. She was followed a few
minutes afterward by a waiter from
restaurant with a private dinner
for Chris Evans. As Mrs. Evans
had often furnished private meal &
for her husband, there was no sus.
picion attached to the incident OF
her presence and the waiter with the
tray of victuals.
Mrs. Evans was there in all prob.
ability to advise her husband of the
plans made for his escape. By
strange circumstances the Jail was
left in sole charge of one guard,
there being no other attache about
the premises. After Evans had fin
ished eating bis supper, the waiter
called to the jailer to come and let
him out. Unsuspicious of danger,
the jailer unlocked the iron door,
stepped inside and walked up to
the table where the remains of the
meal still lay on the tray. Mrs.
Evans sat near her husband ap.
parently unconcerned, while Evans
showed not the slightest bit Of
excitement. Suddenly the waiter
drew a pistol and pointing at the
jailer's heart, ordered him to throw
up his hands. The jailer was taken
by complete surprise, and at first
thought it was joke. Quick as a
flash of lightning, Evans drew q
pistol from the bottom of the din.
ner tray, where it had been con.
cealed under a napkin. that's
right" said Evans coolly, "hold up
your hands, Ben" The cleaning
of the pistol in the hands of the
desperate bandit proved convincing
to the jailer that il was a case OF
life or death for him, and he held
DIP his hands, letting the keys fall
to the floor. Evans then ordered
him to open the doors, and was
marched in front of them at the
point of pistols. After getting out
of the Jail into the yard the jailer
was allowed to lock the doors, and
Evans and his confederate walked
out into the street, still keeping the
jailer a prisoner in front of them.
Mrs. Evans in the meantime lay in
a swoon on the floor Of her hus.
bans cell.
Soon after reaching the street
they met Mayor Cole, who had just
left his residence. Evans thrust
pistol in Mr.. Coles face and ordered
him to hold up his hands, which he
did, and then the two men marched
the mayor in front with the jailer.
The streets were dark, which were
10 their advantage in making an
escape without being molested. |
They next encountered the city
marshal, who was standing on the
street talking to another gentleman,
whom the waiter ordered to hold up
heir hands, and while he was
'earching the gentleman's pockets
he marshal threw his arms around
he waiter, while his friend clutched
It the pistol. They were fast over
the waiter, when he called
'ut to Chris Evans for help, and to
boot the men. Evans rushed up
With his revolver, while Mayor Cole
nd the jailer, taking advantage of
he opportunity, took to their heels
nd escaped. Evans fred twice at
darshal Morgan, wounding him Sc
iously. Evans and his companion
hen rushed up the street, and meet
ng a newsboy in q cart took pos
ession and rode of. Several men
tarted after them in hot pursuit,
ut they turned and opened fire
n them, when the pursuers stopped
nd abandoned the chase. The
esperate men deliberately turned
ack toward the city, and took the
pad leading toward Visalia. They ,
re now supposed to be hiding in
ae mountains surrounding Fresno.
Investigation since Exams escape
as revealed that the man who car
ed the dinner and pistol to him !
as q stranger in the disguise Of 3
alter. Mrs. Evans is held IS a
risoner. There are fully 500 men j
/ pursuit Of the bandit, and every !
bad leading to the. mountains is
The escape Of Evans is the dra. ,