The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
SEARCHING IN THE BRUSH.
Hundreds of Armed Mem Are Camping
on Mount Hamilton.


on Mount Hamilton.
SMITHS CREEK, CAL, May 3d.
Smiths Creek Hotel tonight presents an
appearance of life that it has not known
for years. Besides an unusual rush of
visitors armed men have been arriving ali
day long. Most of the Sheriff's posses,
with the exception of those under the d.
rection of Sheriff Lyndon, have come in,
but report no success in their search for
Dunham. The country between here and
Mount Hamilton, for two or three miles
each way, has been thoroughly guarded,
and tonight the officers are no nearer the
fugitive than they were Thursday evening,
when Dunham was seen at Oscar Parker's
cabin. His horse has been found, but his
whereabouts remains mystery.
There are at least fifty well armed
and determined men here, ready to take
the trail as soon as Sheriff Ballou's blood
hounds have secured a scent. So far the
hounds have proved a disappoin ment,
but this is due to the fact that Du nham's s
feet are encased in sacks, which are con-
tinually being made wet by fording
streams.
During the day armed men have been
continually coming ana going. The hills
have been thoroughly searched, and if
Dunham is not lying dead in Indian
Gulch he is undoubtedly making his way
southeast through the San Isabel. The
hotel here tonight is crowded, and while
the weary officers are sleeping visitors are
making merry with songs and other en-
tertainment.
Sheriff Lyndon's posse arose about
O'Clock this morning, and by 5 o'clock,
after a light breakfast, was securing the
gulches in every direction. The country
hereabouts is rough, and it is impossible
to see few feet away through the under
brush. Indian Gulch is about two and a
half miles long. 1t starts at the summit
of Mount Hamilton and follows almost a
straight line to Smiths Creek. Branching
from it are many gulches, rugged and
almost impossible.
This morning Lyndon divided his posse
into two squads. The first consisted OF
Lyndon, Ballou, Parker and Jim Edwards.
They had the hounds with them, and
went to Deep Gulch. They followed the
gulch to its head, but found no trace OF
the murderer. They returned about 1
o'clock.
The second posse was in charge of Con-
stable Daley, who rode the buckskin mare
which Dunham had abandoned. His COM
panions were Harry McClintock, al Hanks
and !. e. Atmore. They went to Indian
Gulch, where Dunham's horse was found
yesterday, but were unable to find any
traces of the man. They followed up the
gulch and near the head a large number
of buzzards were seen circllng in the air.
This is considered a sure sign that there is
carrion in the gulch and it is thought that
the pistol shot heard shortly after the
finding of Dunham's horse yesterday may,
after all, have sounded the hour of Dun
hams suicide. A careful search failed 10
reveal his body. The search will be re-
sumed in the morning.
A great many hold to the belief that
Dunham killed himself. When the posse
was up there yesterday no buzzaros were
observed.
Just before the departure of Lyndon s
party this morning Detective Irwin Frost,
Seth Churchill and Sam Bane left fol
Mount Hamilton and went over the ridge
in the vicinity of Wandelrs ranch. Here
they met Juan Edison, District Attorney
Herington, George Sweigert and H. f.
Plumm r.. who left Smiths Creek last
night at IL o'clock for the summit by the
trail. AT WandelPs the fresh prints of q
boot with pointed toe were discovered.
similar to those seen about Parker's cabin.
Edison returned this afternoon and said
the tracks were fresh and puzzled him. as
few men in this country wear pointed
shoes.
Now, that the funeral of the victims at
Campbells is over, the young men of that
vicinity are coming up in numbers and