The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-08
Man-Hunters Find No Tangible
Clew to Guide Them in
the Pursuit.
MANY FALSE LEADS TRACED
Members of One Posse Still Confident
That They Were Close Upon
the Fugitive.

SAN JOSE, CAL, June 7.-Sheriff Lyp-
don returned to this city this evening,
tired, sore and discouraged, but still de-
termined to leave nothing undone to APP
prehend Durham, the murderer of the
McGlincy family. Sheriff Lyndon left San
Jose last Tuesday morning, which was the
day after the ending OF the search at
Smiths Creek, for the mountains east of
Hollister, to endeavor to cut off the fugi-
tive in his supposed fight southwark.
Although the Sheriff and his party were
unable to strike the trail, they stayed with
the search until they were fully satisfied
that if Durham should be in hiding, wait
ing for lessening of the vigilance of the
officers as time for escape, they had the
people so thoroughly posted that word
would be sent to the Sheriff's Office as soon
as the criminal showed himself in the To-
calities they have visited.
1--WE have gained but little information
of service to u.s. said Sheriff Lyndon to-
day, soon after his arrival on the o'clock
afternoon train from Monterey. 1--WE did
not strike his trail at any place, and from
all we could learn it seems that he could
not have passed through the mountains
there without being seen and identified.
Sheriff Ballou and / left on Tuesday
morning and went to HOLSTER, where we
were joined by Sheriff HoIbrook. That
afternoon we started into the mountains
and arrived at Quien Sahe ranch, about
sixteen miles from Holhster. We found
nothing there to encourage US, SO we
procured sadole-horses and started in the
direction of the Staten mines. We arrived
there at o'clock Tuesday evening.
eat daylight the next morning we
struck out again. Sheriff Ballou. with two
men named Miller and Triplet, went
around to the left, and Holbrook and 1
went to the right through several canyons,
taking a circuitous route. We met near
the Mountain House. Neither party
gained any clew. Ballou and Triplet then
went to Bells Station and Holbrook and
have been together since then, travelling
all the time.
"We went to the San Luis ranch and
from there south through the mountains
to the South Fork of the Los Banos. We
then struck into what is called the Cleve-
land country. This is sparsely settled by
cattle and sheep men. Then we went to
the San Miguel grant, which includes
about 10000 acres. From there we trav-
eled south through canyons, along ridges
and in every place where we thought
there was any prospect of striking tracks
or information.
I'VE got into Little Panoche Valley, and
went south about four miles to MERGERS.
We learned that the MADEIRA Sheriff and
other officers had been through there, and
that Edison, hummer and Sweigart had
also worked in that locality, so we turned
and went up Fren chman's Gulch about six
or seven miles.
"This is as rough country as any one
ould care TO travel in, and in many
places it seemed almost impossible to get
our horses up or down. We then came
over the ridge and camped at Ed Georges
last night. This morning we rode our
horses to Quien Sabe, and from there drove
in cart to Tres Pinos and boarded the
train for home.
1--WE did find at the Mountain House
that stranger slept in manger there,
but there was nothing further to assure us
that it was Durham. Old inhabitants in
all this country visited told us that it
would be almost impossible for person
without food with him to go through this
country without beng seen, for he would
have to get food from some of the cabins.
| think we visited nearly every cabin in
JQb Hills III budI UlTeCClOU, OF nave nedTU
from them, and no food has been taken or
given.'
''Do you think Durham has gone that
way2 p was asked.
No, do not; but know it is possible.
If we could have struck a trace of him and
held it [ would have followed it as long as
it lasted-to Mexico if necessary. But we
didn't find thing"
What do you propose to do now?"
al had nor heard a word from the ofhnr
posses, until to-day, for three days, go l
shall wait developments tonight and in
the morning take up some other course,
but do not know just now what it will
be-
Sheriff Lyndon in speaking of the SER
vices rendered by Sheriff Holbrook of Hol-
lister said he was a trump" and a
"stayer." Holbrook knew every trail in
the hills, was acquainted with many OF
the people and was strong and enthusias-
tic in his work.
Juan Edison, Harry Plummer and George
Sweigert, who left here last Tuesday on a
search for the murderer in the Panoehe
country, also returned this evening.
In the Big Panoche Valley, about six
miles from Hays station, they found what
they considered to be ''good signs An
old man named Schurmann resided at
this place and he told them that a man
came to his house the day before (Tues-
day. about noon and asked for drink of
water. The stranger was sent to a rain
barrel at the rear of the house and there
procured water. Sehurmann was unload
ing hay at the time and saw nothing more
of the visitor. His description of the man
was almost identical with that of Durham.
Edison, Plumer and Sweigart found the
fellows footprints about the barrel and
took measurements of them. They tailed
with the footprints found near Smiths
Creek. They were almost certain that
they were on Dunham's trail, and they
pr oceeded at once to Hays Station and
telephoned the news to Under Sheriff
Benson.
They went down Cantua Canyon with
team, and the next day traversed the can
yon to its head. They could find no fur
ther tracks. AS their horses were ex-
hausted and as they could not procure
others, they were forced to make their
way homeward. They left the canyon on
Saturday morning.
They believe that Durham, on leaving
the Schurmann. place. went over the ridge
into Spring Valley and then went south
ward. He could get through that way to
Los Angeles, Or he could have taken the
Cantua Canyon pass.
LrosF raturpad ~, k.o;. 4l,;. "a.