Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-27
OUTLAW TRACY'SCAREER
MOST REMARKABLE MAN HUNT IN
THE ANNALS OF CRIME.

The death of outlaw Tracy by his
own hands ends perhaps the most re-
markable man hunt in the annals Of
crime, and closes life and death
chase which lasted without cessation
for 5S days and extended over the
greater part of two states.
Since June 9 last Tracy, hunted by
Indian trackers, bloodhounds, hun
dreds of authorized officers Of the law,
the state troops of Washington, and
unnumbered volunteer bands of vigi-
lantes, with a price on his head that
amounted to a fortune, travelled over
about fifteen hundred miles Of wild
country, and defied capture to the
last.
From the moment of his daring es-
cape from the Oregon state peniten-
tiary to his last stand in the swamps
of Lincoln county, near the eastern
border Of Washington, he killed
six officers of the law, slew his
fellow fugitive, David Merrill, in a
duel fought while men and hounds
were on his heels, wounded nearly a
ties, and terrorized the people of two
states.
Living on the country he passed
through, Tracy rode down stolen
horses without number, robbed farm
ers of food, clothing, and money need
,ed for his fight; crossed and re-
crossed rivers, hiding when he could
and fighting when too hard pressed.
Six times he shot his way through
pursuing parties which surrounded
him, and struggled on in his desperate
race against death for liberty.
The criminal exploits of Frank and
Jesse James, the Younger Bros, Muir
rell, and all the horde of desperate
outlaws of the west pale beside the
determined daring and reckless cour-
age Of the Oregon convict.
On the morning of June 9 Tracy,
then serving a sentence of 20 years
Imprisonment for robbery and shoot
ing sheriff's officer who had attempt
ed to arrest him, made his successful
dash for freedom from the Salem pris-
on, aided by his fellow-criminal, David
Merrill, who was serving term Of
13 years for completely in the robbery
of which Tracy was convicted.
That there was aid for the two des-
perate men from the outside is GER
tain, for on the morning of the day of
their escape, two repeating rifles were
left in the Jail corridors, where Tracy
and Merrill easily could reach them
as they marched with the other pris-
oners from their cells to their days
work.
Tracy believed all along that Mer-
rill, who first was arrested for the rob-
berries they both committed, at Port
land in February, 1S99 had betrayed
him to the officers of the law, but new
ertheless he consented to plot with
Merrill to break prison. and their plans
were carefully made.
AS they passed the guns left for
them each seized a weapon and made
a rush for the walls around the peni
tentiary. The guards attempted to
stop them, and Tracy, dead shot,
killed Guard F. B. Farrell and wound
ed Frank Ingraham, a life convict who
a'oemp'eo 10 aiu tne guards
lheh, IN inc race Oh heavy nre
from other guards, Tracy and Merrill
i@iseo d iaaaer anu escapeu over 'he
wall, stopping long enough 10 return
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