Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-08-08
CONVICT TRACY
ENDS HIS LIFE
Man Who Had Been 1errori1
Ing Washington Dies in
Wheat Field.
WOUNDED BY HIS PuRsUERs
Realizing That His Time Had Come
the Desperate Criminal Placed 3
Revolver to His Head and All Was
Over.

Spokane, Wash, Aug. Harry
Tracy, the outlaw and escaped convict
killed himself with one of his own re
volvers while lying in wheat field or
the Eddy farm, eleven miles south
east of Creston, Wash, where he had
fed after running fight with -four
men who were in pursuit.
When Tracy's body was discovered
II was found that he had been shot
through the right leg between the
thigh and the knee and that severed
artery had been bleeding profusely,
Beside the dead outlaw lay his rife
and q revolver. Another revolver was
clutched in his left hand and the top
of his head was badly shattered.
Drove Outlaw TO Death.
The men who drove Tracy to his
death were citizens of Creston, head.
ed by G. A. Straub, deputy sheriff.
The other four men were DR.. E. c.
I4anter, Morris Smith, an attorney; j.
]. Morrison, railway section fore
! man, and Frank Lillinger.
The posse from Creston took the
trail and got their first information
from boy named Goldfinch, who had
been compelled by Tracy to assist him
It the farm Of B. L. Eddy, on Lake
creek.
Tracy had been at the Eddy farm
for nearly twenty-four hours when his
pursners arrived there and found
Farmer Eddy at work.
They knew Tracy was somewhere
about and began TO make inquiries.
Discovers Pursuers.
Tracy came from the barn and be.
gan helping his host unhitch the
horses. He carried no rifle, although
he had his revolvers in place The
fugitive finally saw the men carrying
rifles, and, turning sharply to Eddy,
said: Who are these mem"
Tracy pointed out the two men on
the hill. Eddy Informed his compan-
ION who the men were, and the outlaw
made leap for the barn door. The
pursuers, stepping bit closer, com
manded: Hold up your hands" The
outlaw jumped behind Eddy and
placed first the farmer and then his
horse between himself and the pur-
suers- He commanded the farmer to
lead his horse to the barn. remaining
under cover, moved toward shelter.
/.
When near the stable he broke and
dashed inside. He quickly reappeared,
zrifle in hand, and started on a dead
run.
Turning on the two men nearest
him. the desperate fred two shots,
but without his usual luck, neither bull
let taking effect. Without waiting for
further fighting Tracy made a dash
down the valley leading south from
the barn and headed for the brush.
In an instant the man hunters were
on In pursuit, firing as they ran. Com.
ing to q rock Tracy lodged behind it
and resting his gun on the rocx began
Z fusillade. Eight shots in all were
(; "a SU ~ Inc JULIAN, not one nlCtlnP It's
mark. Then Tracy bolted for wheat
Held close by. At the edge of the field
he stumbled, falling on his face, and
crawled into the grain on his hands
and knees.
Escapes in Wheat Field.
Il. II was growing dark and the pur-
suers, not daring to move in closer,
decided to surround the place and wait
for daylight.
The watchers at daybreak began a
cautious advance toward the middle of
the wheat field, where Tracy was sup
posed to be. After a few minutes
search Tracys body was found.
The fugitive had taken a strap and
buckled 1t tight around his leg in an
attempt to stop the bleeding. Despite
the tightly fastened strap the bleeding
continued until he probably realized
his hopeless condition and ended the
struggle.