The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-07
LIKE The RATTLESNAKE
Which Prefers Death by It's Fangs to
Any Other.
A SHORT WILD RACE FROM THE OFFICERS
Surrounded in Wheat Field, His Leg Broken
by a Bullet, This Haunted Magnificent
Savage Dies Rather than Sur
render His Liberty.
render His Liberty.
(By the Associated Press


Spokane, Wash, Aug. 6-Harry Tracy,
the notorious outlaw, who, with David
Merrill, escaped from the Oregon peni-
tentiary at Salem, June Q, after killing
three prison guards. killed himself early
this morning, after being wounded by the
rie of one of a possee in pursuit. Tracy
was surrounded in a wheat field near
Fellowes, station on the Washington
Central Railroad, about fifty miles west
of Spokane, last night. Word was sent
back to Davenport, the county seat, and
large number of armed men hurried to
the scene. The posse, under Sheriff
Gardiner, opened fire on the outlaw, and
one bullet pierced his right leg between
the knee and thigh. About twenty min
utes after being wounded, he shot him.
self with one of his revolvers and his
body was found this morning after day
break. The revolver with which he killed
himself was grasped tightly in his right
hand
After battling the officers of two States
after wonderful flight of nearly four
hundred miles across Oregon and Wash
ington, Tracy was hunted down by four
citizens of the little farming town OF
Creston, and lone deputy sheriff. Sheriff
Gardiner and posse arrived in time to
guard the wheat field through the night;
but the work had already been done
The posse that will share the reward
was made up as follows:
c. A. Straub, deputy sheriff: DR.. E. c.
Lanter. Maurice Smith, attorney; J. j.
Morrison, railway section foreman, and
Frank Lillengen. These men, armed to
the teeth, set out from Creston yester-
day afternoon about o'clock
They were working on the information
of the Goldfinch youth. who had been
forcibly made the companion of the Ore
gon convict for over twenty-four hours
at the. ranch of L. B. Eddy, on Lake
Creek, about three miles south from
Fellowes, station on the Washington
Railroad The party made all possible
haste in getting to the ranch. When
within few hundred yards Of the farm
they encountered Farmer Eddy moving
in one of his fields. While engaging
him in conversation they saw a man
issuing from the barn door.
us that Tracy?" asked one of the
party.
at surely is" replied Eddy.
The party separated, Lanter and
Smith accompanying Eddy in the direc-
ton of the barn, while the other men
swung around to the other side Two
Of the manhunters stepped behind the
barn on slight eminence, from which
they could watch everything that went
on, and Eddy continued on up to the
door Tracy came from the barn again
and began helping his host unhitch the
horses He carried no rifle, although he
had his revolvers in place.
The fugitive finally saw eight men
carrying rifles and turned sharply to
Eddy and said:
''Who are those men,"
81 don't see any men," said Eddy.
Tracy pointed out the two men on the
hill Eddy informed his companion who
the men were and the outlaw made
leap for the barn door. The pursuers
stepping a bit closer commanded, Hold
up your hands The outlaw jumped be-
hind Eddy and first placed the farmer
aud then his horse between himself and
the pursuers. He commanded the farmer
to lead his horse to the barn and re-
manned under cover, moving toward
shelter. When near the stable he broke
and dashed inside. He qnickly reap
peared, rife in hand, and started on
dead run.
Turning on the two men nearest him,
the desperate fired two shots, but with
out his usual duck neither bullet taking
effect Without waiting for further fight
ing Tracy made a dash down the valley
leading south from the barn, and headed
for the brush. In an instant the man
hunters were off in pursuit, firing as they
ran. Coming to rock. Tracy lodged
behind it, and resting his gun on the
rock began fusilade. Eight shots in
all were fired by the outlaw, not one
hitting its mark. Seeing he was 1ot
succeeding he bolted for wheat field
close by. At the edge of the field he
stumbled, falling on his face and crawled
into the grain on his hands and knees.
1t was growing dark and the pursuers.
not daring to move in closer, decided TO
surround the place and wait for daylight.
In the meantime Sheriff Gardiner with
Policemen Stauffer and Gemmerim. of
Spokane: Jack O'Farrell, of Davenport,
and other reinforcements had arrived on
the scene, and they went into camp
around the field during the night. Short
ly after Tracy disappeared shot was
heard from the direction of the wheat
field No Investigation was made. how
ever, until this morning. AS 500 mas