The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-07-05
ON THE WATER
TRACY COMPELLED FOUR MEN
TO FERRY HIM OVER PUGET
SOUND.
Has Parted from Merrill-Says He
Killed His Companion-Has
Gone to Seattle-A Story
of Boldness that Out
does Fiction.


of Boldness that Out
does Fiction.
Olympia, Wash, July Piracy and
and Merrill, the escaped oregon convicts,
have separated, and Tracy is out on Pu-
get Sound in gasoline launch after Sc
ries of escapades that would put fiction
writers to blush. Yeaterday tafternoon
Tracy robbed:the house of an agedScotch-
man named Alexander Laird, who lives
alone four miles southwest of Olympia,
left Laird bound hand and foot on the
bed, stole horse from another rancher
named Mcleod, and saddle and bride
from neighbor named Johnson. Tracy
passed through Olympia at I:3O this
morning and reached the upper end of
South Bay ats a. m. On the way he
broke the leg of the horse, abandoned it
and stole another.
At South Bay, the Capitol City Oyster
Company, of this city, has four men at
work seeding oyster beds. Two of the
men were in a small cottage, sand when
they arose at 5 this morning Tracy was
at tine door with his rifle, demanding
breakfast. When the two other men,
who were staying in the float house, ar
rived for break fast they were also
lined up. Anchored in the bay was the
large gasoline launch N. & S., chartered
by the oyster company to tow oyster
scows from big Skcokum Inlet. On board
were Captain Clark and his son, who al
so were lined up when they arrived for
break fast.
When breakfast was over, two of the
men, Will Langrige and Will Adar, were
left tied in the cabin, and at the point
of the rifle the other two men, with
the captain and son, were driven on board
the launch and the party sailed away.
Langrige and Adair were left with their
hands tied behind them and their legs
doubled back and tied to the hands. Ira
cy had bed brought down from the cab
in attick for them tolie on. They sue
ceeded in breaking their bonds at II o.
clock this morning. but did not reach O.
lympia until late this afternoon. The |
two men taken with Captain Clark and !
his son were John Munro and Frank /
Scott, Of this city.
The fact that four men were taken was
due to the demands of the captain, who
claimed that number was necessary to
run the boat. Will Langrige, who brought,
the news to town.. is a son of leading
farmer OF this county, and is thoroughly
reliable. He tells very straight forward
story, in which there is no shadow of
doubt. He says that Tracy talked inces-
sanity. He told his captives that he had
killed Merrill because he discovered the
latter had played him false and because
Merrill was careless and made too much
aoise in the woods.
Tracy said he was going to Tacoma,
where he said he had friends, and he
:oek the best clothes he could find in the
cabin, in order, he said, to disguise him
self. Both stories are believed to be false
here Merrill is believed to be on his
way to Mason county. Tracy told of
driving through one toWnsin buggy in
daylight, and of travelling part ofthe way
IN the train. Langrige said he was suf-
ering from loss of sleep, and talked like
crazy man. Tracy said he would have
40 compunction in killing to effect his es-
cape; that he was never so cool as when
lighting, and gloried in it.
Word of Tracy's escapades was brought
% town this morning by Johnson, Nc
Leod aud Laird. Tracy appeared at
Laird's house at O'Clock yesterday and
looked a meal after he had tied the aged
.ancher securely. He was in the house
Until 5 o'clock, and when he left carried
l note from Laird, which he promised to
lai1 to Johnson's fence. The note asked
ohnsou to release Laird, but the latter {
;ucceeded in extricating himself about :
hat evening He was afraid to go out
asst evening, but this morning notified
ohnson and another neighbor named
Mcleod, and the three came to town to-
sether. The note was found tackled to
ence, as Tracy promised. Tracy was
!rmed with rife and had 200 rounds OF t
He exchange his2 under !
1oths for a suit OF Laird's, left his shoes ]
nd took pair of rubber boots, and $
coat for black one. He !
old Laird that Merrill was two or three
niles away.
On learning of Tracy's presence, the
,osse, which was at work near the town
f Roy, was called in and was put at
york guarding the roads leading to Ma s
on county.