The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-06-19
CONYICTS HAVE
AGAIN VANISHED
Men Last Seen Near The Nichol.
son Farm on Tuesday
Afternoon.
DOGS FAIL T0 TAKE TRAIL
Proof Given That They Have
Not Crossed Lewis River
Crossroads Are Being
Closely Watched.

VANCOUVER, Wash, June is.-~
The seach for Harry Tracy and David
Merrill. the escaped convtets from the
Oregon penten'iary. 20 far ct least
as the armed posse which made This
city their headquarters for the past
three days are concerned. has been
abandoned for tn. time eing and the
majority n officers. detectives and
mIlitlamsn have returned here this
evening Nothing has been seen OF
the fuyi'ives seen yesterday afternoon
when they passed the Nicholson farm
near Pioneer on nor seback. The gen
erai opinion among the pursuers IL
that the outlaws are stih IN the woods
south of Lewis ldger a close watch
| has been kept at all the crossings OF
the ri3sr. as they are certain the
n'HVHidu'FS hui HuR NFbSs ti9e NNF4ah
at any of these points last night or
today Proof that the convicts are
located in ;he timber along Lewis
/ River came today In a report by
man named Lindsey. who runs a log
ging camp W that vicinity md who
Informed ,he oflicea '"at ihe eonylcts
had appeared at his place In the woods
/ late las, evening and demanded a sup
per which was given them. after
which they went away. but Ia which
direction the informant ould not tell.
II IL ala, reported by Detective ker-
rlssN ~ Portland, who returned here
;onlgFe ihA Sheriff huntington, of
rowlt= County. between which clark
County and the upper fork of Lewis
River Is the dividing line, Aas Il ken
up the search on the north side of
the r'iv .r and that he has posted guard
at all the crossings. while Sheriff
Marsh still maintains armed atchors
on the CLARK County side OF the river.
As to the hunt. 1t stin lacks good
managem mt, Judgment and concerted
action. The chance OF capturing the
Convicts Il small and the final get
away seems almost a certainty. While
the officers In charge. Sheriff Marsh,
assisted by Detectives Day and Wei
ner, Of Portland, have figured out a
score OF plausible theories. none seem
To hold water. Cooperation On the
part of farmers could he improved on.
The strangers, as a rule do not noti-
fy the posse with dispatch when they
have information The country Ia Wild |
and no5ered with miles upon illes OF !
timber ANA Tracey and Merrill 81 ould |
have no trouble keeping out of sight |
for weeks or even months, should they |
SO elect. Even members of the posse !
supposed to be thoroughly familiar |
with country are found at fault and |
during the tramp through the woods
there were times when tine man hunt
ers were practice" n7'hl some
backwooisman would set them Alright
with new directions There are about
30 gritty men in the posse determined
To bring Tracy and Merrill back to
civilization, dead or alive. Among
these are Sheriff Marsh, Sheriff Tot
ten, Detectives Day and Weiner,
Charles Ferrell and J, L. Sklpton, of
Salem; ]. Prettyman and Mr.. John
son, Of Portland, Captain w. w.
Sparks. Burt Smith. OF Vancouver, and
others. Many m these people are
dead shots. and are here on business.
II any one started out with the idea
that ,haktng convicts Is summer
outing, this supposition has long since
been eliminated FROM their winds, 1t
Is work, walk and ride hard fIom
until dark, and there Is no
time for rest. Meals cannot be had
m the trees and the posse occasional
" has to forage In waysde stores,
buying out the entire stock of rrovis-
Ions.
Where Merrill and rracy secured
either brakfast or dinner, to say
nothing Of supper is mystery, as
no reports have been received of their
holding up defenseless farmers wives.
Hhe hunted men probably left The
military road, turning into the forest,
lfter leaving salmon creek bridge.
but We're too hard pressed bv the
posse to delay their hike long enough
10 satisfy The cravings Of hunger,
Guard Carson, with his hounds, has
lgaln demonstrated the usefulness of
hose intelligent brutes. The trail
through the woods was correct, as
outlined by the hounds, and they cid Il