Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-08-13
TRACY MEETS
HIS FATE
Was Cornered In Central Washinoton
by Small But Determined Posse
of Citizens.
HE DIED BY HIS OWN HAND
Brought to Bay He Took Shelter Be.
hind Hay Stack and When
Wounded Killed Himself.

Spokane, Aug. 6.-Harry Tracy, the
notorious outlaw, whose escapades
has filed the nation for the past go
days,lies dead in Davenport, with u
bullet from his own revolver in his
brain. Cornered. wounded and des-
perate, Tracy took his own life. A
sheriff's posse and others are disput-
ing for possession of his body.
Sheriff Cudihee of Seattle. who came
across the state to take up the long
and battling chase, positively identi-
fed the outlaw at the inquest today.
The death was intensely tragic.
For two days Tracy had terrorized the
occupants of the Eddy ranch out in
the Lake Creek country, three miles
from the little siding of Fellows on
the Washington Central railway.
Then five determined citizens of Cres-
ton, hearing of his presence there,
took their rifles and revolvers and
went after him. They knew their man
and acted accordingly. When Tracy
ran they plunged boldly after him.
Sighting the men, and securing his
rifle, Tracy sought cover behind
hay stack. escaping several rifle bull
lets. The posse then found cover be-
hind a large rock, and for while it
looked like siege. Tracy broke for
a large bowlder, lying on the edge OF
a large wheat field, and this dash was
his undoing, for just as he came to
the rock he fell forward. a rifle bull
let having broken one leg. He plung-
ed into the wheat, leaving bloody
trail.
After receiving the wound, he
crawled rs yards on his hands and
knees, In order to reach spot that
would command the posse. and enable
him to fire upon them. but once only
was he able to fire from his vantage
point. Then weakened by loss of
blood, he tried to staunch his wound,
failed, and with his revolver sent a
bullet through his brain.
By this time dusk had fallen and
the posse, unaware of the seriousness
of his wound and fearing that his
silence was intended to lure them into
a deadly ambush. posted themselves
to prevent his escape and patiently
waited for the dawn. During the
night others came to the scene and,
Joined the Gordon. At daylight they
found the outlaws dead body.
None of the posse was wounded,
though all of them had a narrow es-
cape. When they were firing from the
cover of the rock they had to lift
their heads above cover and every
time this was done Tracy's rifle rang
out and a bullet Clipped the rock.
His Last Stand.
Spokane, Aug. 6.-Harry Tracy. the
notorious outlaw who, with David
Merrill, escaped FROM the Oregon PEN
itentiary at Salem, on June 9, after
killing three guards, killed himself
early this morning, after being
wounded by the rife of one of the
posse In pursuit.
After battling the officers of two
states. after his wonderful flight of
nearly 400 miles across Oregon and
Washington. Tracy was hunted down
by four citizens of the little farming
town of Creston and one deputy sher-
iff. Sheriff Gardner arrived In time
to guard the wheat field through the
night, but the work had already been
done.
Armed to Tia Teeth.
The posse that will secure the re-
ward was made up as follows: Z. A.
straub, deputy sheriff; DR.. e. Q.
Iantes, Maurice Smith. Attorney D.
]. Morrison, and Railway Section
Foreman Frank Lilligan.
These men, armed to the teeth, set
out from Creston yesterday afternoon
-
about 2 o'clock. They were working
on the information of the Goldfnch
youth, who had been forcibly made
companion Of the Oregon Convict Tor
over "a hours at the ranch OF L. b.
Eddy. on Lake creek. about three
miles south from Fellows station, on
the Washington Central railway. The
party made all possible haste In get
ting 70 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 conversation, they saw man Is
suing from the basn door.
"Is that Tracy?" asked one OF the
party.
"It surely is," replied Eddy.
Tracy cornered.
The party separated. Lantes and
Smith accompanying Eddy inthe d.
rection of the barn, while the other