Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-16
INDIAN MURDERER
LEAVES RETREAT
WILLIE BOY RESUMES FLIGHT
ACROSS DESERT
THREE POSSES SWALLOWED BY
DESoLATE WASTES
ThIrty-six Hours Passed Since Word
Was Received from Sheriff
RaIphs or His Man
Hunters
[snecial to The aeraId.l

SAN BERNARDINO, Oct. 15.-As
with Willie Boy, the great desert
Wastes have swallowed the three armed
posses which form the expedition in
search of the Indian murderer, ana
where the chase will now lead through
the fugitive's own country cannot be
authentically told until the hunters
either send word to civilization or fol-
low the fleeing murderer across the
paths of returning miners or prospect
ors leaving the forsaken regions in the
course of their Wanderings.
Thirty-six hours have now passed
since the last word reached here from
Sheriff John Ralphs, who had divided
his posse at Big Bear valley, prepara-
tory to the drop into the dreary regions
where they hope to meet Willie Boy
face to face, and when the Indian, it is
thought, will battle for his life, and
from the present indications it will be
many days before the grizzled veteran
is again in direct communication with
his anxious friends and subordinates in
this city who are waiting for the news
of the capture or death of the fugitive
Not since they left Wednesday morning
at daybreak has Deputy Sheriff Hewins
or his men, who departed from Victor
vile, been heard from.
Fugitive Leaves Stronghold
The first man to return from the des-
olate region into which the posses were
headed is John Brock, a member of
Ben De Crevecours party, who has
reached Banning for additional supplies
and has already again departed with
wagon load of provisions. Brock brings
confirmation of the reports that Willie
Boy has left the region of the battle.
The vanguard of the party, riding
ahead of the remainder of the posse,
reached the canyon in which the Indian
made his stand, routing his trailers,
and there is no trace of Willie Boy,
either dead of alive.
The theory that the solitary shot
which fell on the ears of the lonely
party long after dark, as it was wend-
ing it's way down the bleak mountain
side carrying the wounded deputy,
Charles Reche, ended the life of the
fugitive is now exploded. Brooks re-
port verifies the statement of George
Churchill, a scientific miner, who un-
aware of the terrible history of Willie
Boy, in the course of his explorations
of that region came across the battle
ground the day after the fight, finding
two dead horses and another dying, but
no signs of the murderer.
At Doble, near Rose mine, he was in
formed of the fight between the fugi-
tive and the sheriff's men. Will Tai
madge, a cattle man, arrived here to-
day with the report that since the bat
tie he has crossed the region of the last
hunt and saw no signs of the Indian.
Nothing Seen of Piutes
Brock states that his party picked up
the report of the presence of armed
Piutes in the country, but although
horsemen were sent out in all directions
from their line of march, no signs of
the Indians were seen.
Armed with a corn knife, in addition
to a Winchester, an Indian has been
sighted near Little Bear valley. and al
though said to fit the description of
Willie Boy it is not believed that the
fugitive has taken to that region, where
his presence would be quickly known.
The sheriff's office is now receiving
numerous messages from about the
county, and in some instances as close
as fifteen miles to this city, from
ranchers who believe the murderer is
hiding about their farms and ranches.
One nervous individual insists that the
sheriff is in battle with the murderer
a short distance from his place. He
had heard shots.
From Ottumwa, Ia, w. E. Ritchie
writes asking if Reche the injured dep
uty (the name was spelled incorrectly
in the clipping which he inclosed) was
not his long lost brother.