SIDNA ALLEN SEEN AND SHOT AT BUT MISSED

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, W. Va.
Wednesday, April 3, 1912

SIDNA ALLEN SEEN AND SHOT AT BUT MISSED

Posses Driven Into Hillsville by Rain Will Resume Man Hunt Today.

DETECTIVES CARRY DOGS TWENTY MILES ON SADDLES

Rode Through Mud Knee Deep to Put Fanny and Topsy on Trail But Re- ported on Return to Town That Leader of Outlaws Escaped Them.

ROADS IN THE MOUNTAINS ARE STILL CLOSELY GUARDED

Hillsville, Va., April 2. --Sidna Allen, chief of the mountain outlaws who shot up the Carroll court house and has been hunted in the mountains ever since, was seen yesterday and shot at by Alex Divine a farmer. Allen, however, was out of range and got away.

Detective Payne and Lucas returned to town tonight after a hard ride through knee-deep mud and reported Allen's escape.

Two bloodhounds from the state farm, "Fanny" and "Topsy" are the main hope of the man-hunters now. Heavy rains have washed away all trails and the dogs make little headway. Last night Payne and Lucas carried the dogs twenty miles on their saddles to put them on a new scent.

Some of the posse are still in the mountains guarding the roads but the heavy rains drove the main parties into the settlement tonight for food and shelter. They will resume the hunt tomorrow.

The second attempt to run down Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards with bloodhounds began today when dogs were carried to a new trail in the Fancy Gap section of the Blue Ridge, near Floyd Allen's home.

Positive information that the outlaws wee seen in that section yesterday was brought to detectives by Scipio Gray and Alexander McGraw, residents of the neighborhood. The two dogs used in the search are prize? trailers of the state farm's pack. It was regarded as certain that they would lead the detectives to the outlaws' hiding place if given half a chance. According to the latest theory the fugitives have been moving slowly back and forth between two bases of supplies, one Hubbard Easter's, near where they were seen yesterday, and the other ten miles away through the mountains.

Every available man was summoned to join the posse in the mountains. It was believed Sidna Allen and Wesley Edwards had been located at Volunteer Gap, thirteen miles away. Sergeant White and Corporal Hartigan, of the state militia, whose chief duties heretofore have been to guard Hillsville, left hurriedly to join in the search.

Today's report confirmed advices that the Allens were moving eastward. All available men were gathered from Mount Airy, N. C. Bloodhounds preceded the detectives and pointed out the way.