The San Francisco call., 1897-02-04
CAPTURE OF SLIM BIRCH.
Tie. .H6;orjoUs Alaskan Desperate Taken
g.. sAfIer Killing Ore Officer and
. WoundLnq Two Others

= PORT TOWNSEND, WASH, Feb. g.
. Slim Birch. one Of Aisska's most notorious
desperadoes, VINO escaped from jail at
Juneau month ago on the eve of his
transportation 10 San Quentin prison in
California TO serve a three-vear term under
sentence on a charge OF mayhem. mas been
recaptured but this undertaking cost
Alaska the life OF one of her bravest and
best known officers and entailed the seri-
oOs wounding of two others who partici-
pated in the bloody pitched battle that
followed the meeting of puIsuers and pur-
sued.
On the night before the ak sailed on
her trip previous to this one three masked
men called at the jail in Juneau where
Birch was confined and forced the jailer
not only to unlock Birch's cell but TO go
; in and De locked up himself.
Since the sensational jail delivery an
UnremIttent search has been kept up with
out results until the middle of last week,
when the prisoner and his three COM
I panions were reported by an Indian to be
occupying a cabin on a small island thirty
miles from juneau. A posse was at once
formed, headed by Marshal Hale and in
Guiding Deputy William Watts, Jailer
Indquist and an Indian policeman, who
went 10 the island in a steam launch.
The laborious trip over the toughest
kind of country covered with snow and
Ice brought the party to the cabin. Watts
went 10 the door and demanded admit
tanoe. The reply was four rifle ba, Is two
OF which pierced the unfortunate man,
who reeled down behind two logs for pro-
lection. While lying there he was shot
again by TWO of the outlaws, who in the
excitement were allowed TO escape from
the cabin to rocky eminence near by,
from which they poured a leaden shower
on the heads of the officers.
The fusillade continued five minutes
when the posse broke and ran for the
lauuch, three miles distant, returning
post haste to Juneau and leaving poor
Watts at the mercy OF the desperadoes
and severe weather, from the effects OF
VI hicb, later developments showed, the
brave fellow died.
Next day a second party left Juneau
bEt returned the following morning
empty-handed and frost bitten. A gen
eral man hunt was then inaugurated, par
ticjpated in by the people of Juneau,
Sitka and the neighboring canneries. To
two big fellows employed in cannery,
named Olson and Cheney, belong the
credit and reward, $500, for making the
ca pture.
q. After the killing the desperadoes sepa-
rated, Slim and man named Shell, who
robted the TreadwelI mill some years
the island. where they sought rest and
food at an Indian ca bin, and later making
their way to narrow gully where both
went asleep, each with a revolver in hand
ready for use on a moments notice. To
tLis retreat Olson and Cheney tracked
them, effecting the capture in novel
manner.
i: First assuring themselves that both men
swere asleep the cannery men climbed by
4 roundabort trail to a point twelve feet
above and then jumped bodily on to the
sleeping murderers, VINO were manacled
before they had recovered from their sur
prise al the human avalanche which
struck them. The men were relieved of
the weapons with which they were armed
and hurried over to the United States
steamer Pinla, upon which they were
o taken" to Sitka, fears of a Iynchlng bee
prom pting he officers not to attempt to
re!urn to juneau.
When the Al-Ki left the excitement was
al nigh pitch and it is very probable
that both men have bern hanged ere this.
Watts, the murdered man, was looked
upon as the bravest marshal in the Terri
tory. Marshal Hale was shot through the
chest and may die. Guard Bays escaped
with severe flesh wounds