The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-10-24
pOBBIrG SAILORS.
S--catnP 70 Gang Of Thierss on me
albornia Coast.

rem island of San Clementc. II wa
given a Christian name 10y the Sranisl
conquistadores but almost ever sine,
has been the Larbo- OK refugees from
Justice Until the American conques'
1t was known rs "smugglers island
because the Mexican blockade run
ners used IL 20 defraud the custom,
authorities. az which the latter IRE
quently winked. Then it became the
resort Of robbers and marauders who
fled from the pueblo OF LIS Angeles
who came over from San Pedro In fish
ing boats.
The island is about twenty miles I'm
length by from one mile TO five ia
width and Is almost ui solid rock, ris
ing sheer out Of tic ocean to the
heigbth OF from $40 TO 1000 feet.
There arv only two or three coves, or
landing places, and these are almost
hidden by outer rocks through which
! the craft must thread its way careful.
y or be dashed TO pieces When once
on the island the criminal was com
paratively safe for it is almost uatur-
al fertilization and the enemy can be
seen approaching at a long distance
The island is intersected with ravines
in which are overhang ng rocks and
caverns aifording safe aiding places,
and good ambush from which 10 fire
upon au approaching officer
Ned Wooten and Ben Worley, who
had been suspected OF belonging - a
gang Cf burglars in the pueblo Of Los
Angeles, were run out Of town by the
vigilante Worley went down 70 the
San Bernardino valley aud engaged ia
the business OF running horses across
the line to Mexico and bringing bands
OF stolen cattle TO San Pedro TO sell to
ships that put in for stores Wooten
went to San Pedro aud under the guise
OF fisherman robbed drunken sailors
whom he enliced from the saloons un-
der the cover OF night.
At this port the two criminals again
met, after a short separation and re
newed their partnership. Wooten was
"a thick-headed, ignorant, british fell
low " no revelod in crime, and only
spared the life Of his victim OF robbery
from fear that the traces OF blood
might lead to his detection. He had
served a term in an eastern periten
tiary ahd his heart, II he possessed one
was hardened against humanits; His
mania for crime was partly inherited
and increased by his natural deprayity
and surroundings
His partner, Worley, was OF Mormon
descent, his parents having moved
from Salt Lake to San Bernallino val
ley soon after the infamous Mountain
Meadows Massacre, aud IL is believed
that his father was one OF the men
who assassinated l27 emigrants in
Utah IN 1895 However,
Worley and othcrc escaped TO the San
Bernardiuo valley here they founded
a Mormon settIemeAt, aud were never
Rpprehendeo for n those days that
sectsn was mainly inhabited by In
d ans and lawlsss white renegades.
Burglaries became more frequent
after the arrival OF Morley in the sea
port town, aud IL so happered that af-
ter eace ROBBERY Horley and Wooten
returned from the isiuEd Of San Gle
mente, claiming tha4 they had been
there for several days. The sailors
Rest" saloon huu been robbed OF ~ 900
in gold and on the day after these fei-
lows returned from the island they ex-
pressed much surprise in common with
the other villahers, and WoOteu at
once began 20 cast suspicion upon
others and constituted himself a de-
tectiye TO hunt the criminal. In fact
he stated tnat he had one time follow
ed the business % a sleuth,
Pedro Ortega did the work." said
Wooten, after making what he said
%es a thorough invsstigation, and the
unfortunate SieNicau was put In jail
on the false accusation OF the real
A few days afterwards Wootcn and
Worley sailed over 20 San Clemente
island for the purpose OF further secur
ing their 81 600 booty, which they had
taken over there on the night OF the
robbery. They were closely followed
by two officers ia sail boat, who
after landing, fecreted their boat be
hind ledge OF rocks and climbed 10
the precipice through ravine. They
took a position about 100 yards hack of
the precipice overlooking the ocean
Near the brink stood small tree and
for this spot Wooten and Worley start
ed as toon as they reached the cliff,
The moon was dimly shiyinR and its
falling shadows made the thiekening
darkness more perceDtible. The OIL
GERS could merely see the two forms
cautiously creeping toward the lone
tree on the brink. They walked lightly
and cast furtiye looks Rrould, as II
expecting the arm OF the law 10 G. uteh
them, yet they had no reason 10 think
that any one else was tn the island
Perhaps il was the force Of habit
at is here, said Wooten Dig 10
up and ws'll divide il, and each man
can take care Of bis own"
All right said Worley as he knelt
and began 10 unearth tAe leather sack
containing the 81 900.
He had delvod only short distance
when Wooten dealt him severe blow
in the back OF the head with an iron
bar, knocking him almost senseless.
He arose, and as he raised his pick 10
strike Wooten struck again, anu as the
man staggered WoOten clutched with
him, dragged him 10 the precipice and
rolled him over backward.
"Hands up g" shouted Dixon and
Henderson, the officers But their
summons was answered by shot from
Wooten, and Henderson fell dead.
Dixon and Wooten fred simUltane-
ously, both receiving slight wounds
Al the next shot tho officer missed ais
mark, and the r0bber clinched with
him in death struggle on the brink
The officer had received two wounds,
though not dangerous but he was fast
losing blood and was an unequal match
for the strong robber, who evidently
was not dangerously wounded. Both
threw down their weapons and were
now struggling for their lives, as in
moment the weaker must be hurled