Fatal Shootout at the Pacific Hotel

In attempting to release his son-in-law, Ed Harris, from the custody of three deputy sheriffs, William Masterson, the notorious leader of a gang of horse thieves, was shot dead in the Pacific Hotel this evening. The officers, who were en route from Montana with Harris, had missed a train and put the prisoner under guard in the hotel. Masterson and John Burk, a wealthy brewer, entered the room and attempted to extinguish the light. When the firing began, Deputy Sheriff Eacho caught Masterson’s hand to prevent him from using his revolver, but Burk handed him another pistol. Deputy Miller attempted to grab this, but Masterson fired two shots at Deputy Rawles, who was holding him. Dropping the prisoner, both Rawles and Miller opened fire on Masterson, while Eacho struck him over the head with a revolver. Masterson kept firing, but after the third shot he was struck by four bullets and staggered into the room, dying almost instantly. Deputy Rawles was shot twice in the shoulder, but his wounds are not serious. In the melee, Burk was hit on the head with a pistol and could not use his own gun. Harris tried to escape but was recaptured.