Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-10-19
THE ENDOF TRACY.
How a Chicago Citizen Made His
Exit
From the Hart ord. Ct, Courant.

From the Hart ord, Ct Courant.
The ambitious cit of Chicago, intent
always upon figuring as high as possible
in the census, lost citizen last week by
a sudden death. His death. followed,
though by a considerable interval. the
sudden death Of another citizen. These
make two deaths to count against the
city. The first the pair was murdered.
The second was hanged for that reason.
But Chicago cannot see how hanging one
Chicago man for killing another con-
tributes in any way to increasing the
city's population. If he'd kill a st. Louis
man the two might be paired off, like
congressman. But this case was dead
loss. Accordingly when James Tracy
died upon the gallows last Friday, the
Chicago papers gave up four or five col
umS of space each TO an account Of how
the city lost its citizen. Tracy got up
early on his last day and ordered and ate
eggs for his breakfast. He was not hanged
until after dinner and at no IN he ate six
eggs more, so that he swallowed II eggs
in two meals. Had the sheriff been ten
der hearted, he could have hurried up
supper little, given Mr.. Tracy another
half-dozen for tea, and let the eggs in
stead of the gallows do their deadly
work Of strangulation. But he wasn't
inclined to pity, and he hanged the man
at 2:0a p. m, Chicago time. The treat
ment Of Mr.. Tracy, aside from permit
ting him to make hens nest of himself
has it's interests for those about to leave
Chicago by way Of the gallows. the air line
route, as they faeetiously term it. His
last "a hours were not without their
events. He went to sleep at 2 O'Clock in
efforts had failed, by the subduing in
fuence of ali the whisky he could
drink. He woke st 7 and ordered his
eggs, but before he got them he put
down four ounces of whisky just to be-
gin the day with. After breakfast he
made farewell tour of the Jail. In
murderers' row he was especially pa
thetic. The sentenced mnrierers he
urged to be plucky when their time
came. To man who kicked his wife
to death he gave his wishes for light
sentence; to another murderer
he extended his best hope for acquittal.
He wished they might all go free. In a
general way he left his benediction upon
all murder and murderers. Whoever
ACfOsti6OT fcCSltcot tuc Nt'tu ItSdTuS vi
james Tracy or his shade. After this
interesting passage Nh. Tracy retired FOR
prayer. Subsequently he had reeep-
ton, bouquet in hand, until, as tho pa
pers say, the sheriff found the man was
being talked to death. We know moth
ing that will more resign man TO the
galloMs than this other affliction, but the
sheriff apparently thought it might prove
fatal and he put an end to it, Finally
Tracy reached the gallows. The sheriff
advised him to take his coat off, but
Tracy, who had eaten IL eggs he could
never use, owing to a limited supply Of
time, refused to remove his coat. He
said there might be some delay and he
should catch cold if his coat was removed.
Forethought like this is unique; and 1t
aided not little in exalt,ng Mr.. Tracy
as hero. But what exalted him most
was very evidently Chicago whisky.
Robbed of its fascinating details, the
story of his hanging reads very much as
if q drunken wretch, after stumbling
about for hours in a vague delirium OF
liquor and fear, had finally been put
out of the world.