The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-03
Fire Chief of Winehaven Wound
ed, Bandid MOrtally Shot
and Two Captured
Five Robbers Put to R0ut by
Posse in Sangninary
Conflict
Water Outlaws Try to Escape
in Stolen Boat Mid Rain
of Bullets
Surrender When COmrade Drops
by Shot, But One Makes
His Escape
[SpeeiaI Dspotch 10 The Call

ISpeciaI DsFdtch 10 The Call
II ICHMOND. May 2--Bay pirates
* who looted a warehouse at Wine
haven this afternoon. taking sew
eral casks OF wine. fought a desperate
battle along the bay shore with large
posse of armed men in an attempt TO
escape. after having wounded Charles
Mahnkee, the hre chief. In the con-
fict, which lasted for several minutes.
one of the pirates was mortally
wounded while rowing in the bay in a.
stolen boat; his comrade was captured.
and the other member of the gang es-
capped by land and water.
Invade District in Launch
The thieves invaded Winehaven, which
Is about four miles from Richmond. in a
launch at o'clock today. They We're
seen TO land, i've strong. and MahnkeeH
observed them stealing wine
AS a peace officer he went 20 the wa
ter front to stop the thievtng- Threats
followed from the fve men Finally he
threw back his coat to display a star as
his badge OF authority IN interfering
This act was the signal for shooting
One OF -he pirates Immediately drew a
revolver and emptied it at the plucky
ofncer. Six shots were fred. one strik-
ing Mahnkee IN the left leg above tha
knee. He fell backward, while his as
sailant continued to shoot until the
pistol was empty. About 25 men en-
ployed az the refinery at WmehaEen
saw the ire chief go down.
Posse Joins Battle
An alarm was raised that bay pirates
had killed Mahnkee. and this began the
general conflict. Nearly all the en-
ployes of the refinery were at the
winehaven hotel, short distance from
where Mahnkee fell Obtaining re-
volvers. knives and rifles. the refinery
workers rushed TO the shore and sur
rounded the spot. where they were
Joined by deputy marshals.
This attack drove the five bay pirates
into cover. Two leapsd into the launch
in which the gang had come to Wine
haven, one ran down the shore to a.
road and succeeded IN eludtng pursuit
by reaching underbrush. which con-
cealed him until he was over the brow
OF a hfIl. The two men who had
reached the launch were fred at by
the pursuers. but speeding up the craft
made around San Pablo point before
they could be reached or halted
Pirates Hide IN Bushes
This separated the two men remain
ing near the warehouse from the con-
federates, and the chase was conferred
on these fugitives. One OF them
was supposed to have been the
man who shot Mahnkee. although that
is still uncertain. Seeing escape from
the inland cut on, the two pirates ran
down the shore for a considerable dis
tance and hid behind a cIump OF
bushes.
While the refinery workers were
surrounding the two fugitives an
alarm was sent to Richmond for help,
and Marshal Gregory started for Wine
haven, which is distant from the main
part Of the town. Before he reached
the place the two ambushed men had
been driven from cover by shots. and
had raced toward the water front.
The pirates came across a rowboat.
with one oar. They leaped in and
pushed on from the shore. enabled by
their lead to get almost beyond pistol
range before their pursuers had
reached the point where the boat had
been moored.
Eighteen Shots Fired
But they were handicapped by hav-
ing only one oar and made slow speed.
Also the tide was against them.
Finally one OF the refinery men,
armed with a small caliber rifle. hit
one of the pirates in the back The
wounded man fell and both pirates
threw their arms overheard
Marshall Gregory. who had arrived.
procured rowboat and took both men
into custody. The wounded pirate was
taken 10 the Abbott sanftarium. where
It was found that his wound probably
would be mortal.
The wounded ire chief. Mahnkee had
been taken to Richmond and to the
hospital. His injuries consisted OF a
revolver wound in the left leg and
shock.
Attempts to identity the two cap
.tives failed. both refusing to talk