The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-08


Spokane, Washn. August 6.-Tracey.
the notorious outlaw who with David
Merrill escaped from the Oregon peni-
tentiary at Salem, June IS, after killing
three prison guards, killed himself early
this morning, after being wounded by
the rife of one of the posse in pursuit.
Tracey was surrounded in a wheat field
near t'ellowes, a station on the Wash
ington Central railroad, about fifty
miles west of Spokane last night. Word
was sent back to Davenport, the county
seat, and a large number of armed men
hurried TO the scene. The posse under
Sheriff Gardner opened fire on the out
law, and one bullet pierced his right
leg between the knee and thigh. About
twenty minutes after being wounded, he
shot himself with one of his revolyers
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 a wonderful flight of near
ly four hundred miles across Oregon
and Washington, Tracey was hunted
down by four citizens of the little farm
ing town of Creston, and alone, Deputy
Sheriff Gardner 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.
G Lanter. Maurice Smith, attorney:
J. j. Morrison, railway section foreman
and Frank Lillengen. These men arm
ed TO the teeth, set out from CreSton
yesterday afternoon about 2 o'clock.
They were working on the informa-
ton of the Goldfnch youth who had
been forcibly made the companion Of
the Oregon convict for over twenty
four hours at the ranch of L.. B. Eddy,
-on Lake Creek about three miles south
from Fellowes, a station on the Wash
ington Central railroad. The party
made all possible haste in getting to
the ranch. When within a few hundred
yards of the farm they encountered
farmer Eddy moving in one of his
fields. While engaging him in CONVEX
sation they saw man issuing from
the barn door.
rs that Tracy asked one of the
party.
1T surely is" replied Eddy.
The party separated. Lanter and
oLuIIH accompanying EUQy III the OIL
rection of the barn, while the other two
men swung around to the other side.
Two of the men hunters stepped be-
hind the barn on a slight eminence,
from which they could watch everything
that went on. and Eddy continued on
up to the door. Tracey came from the
barn again and began helping his host
unhitch the horses. He carried no
rifle although he had his revoivers in
place.
The fugitive finally saw the men car
rying rifles and turned sharply to Eddy,
and said:
WHO are those menu
'I don't see any men, said Eddy.
Tracey pointed out the two men on
the hill. Eddy informed his companion
who the men were and the outlaw made
a leap for the barn door. The pursuers
stepping a bit closer, commanded:
Hold up your handsr' The outlaw
jumped behind Eddy and first placed
the farmer and then his horse between
himself and the prrsuers. He COM
manded the farmer to lead his horse
to the barn and he remained under
cover, moving toward shelter. When
near the stable he broke and dashed
inside. He quickly reappeared, rife in
hand, and started on a dead run.
Turning on the two men nearest him,
the desperate fired two shots, but with
effect. Without waiting for further
fighting Tracey 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,
Tracey lodged behind it, and resting
his gun on the rock began a fusilade.
Eight shots in all were fired by the out
law, not one hitting its mark. Seeing
he was not 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 day light. In the mean
time Sheriff Gardner 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. Shortly after
Tracey disappeared a shot was heard
from the direction of the wheat field.
Tracey's dead body was found Lying
amid the grain with his face turned to-
ward the sky. His left hand thrown
over his head held a revolver which
had inflicted the death wound. The
thumb Of his hand was on the trigger
Of his pistol. His right hand, thrown
across the lower part Of his body, nrmiy
grasped the barrel of the famous rifle
Death was inflicted by a revolver held
close to the forehead. The top OF bis
head was barely shattered.
Two bullet wounds on the left leg
showed the cause of the mans despon-
dency. One shot had broken the leg
between the ankle and the knee. The
other cut the tibial artery, which of 4
itself was sufficient cause for death.
Tt is believed that both of these
wounds were received after the con-
Wet left the shelter of the rock and