The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-07
HENRY TRACY DEAD
REMARKABLE CAREER OF CRIME
ENDS IN SUICIDE.
HAD KILLED TWELVE MEN.
MORTALITY WOUNDED HE BLEW
OUT HIS BRAINS.

day Morning by Posse, Which Had
Inflicted the Wounds and Had Him
surrOunded-Causht at Farm He
showed His Usual Wit and Nerve,
but His Workmanship Was Poor,
and for the First Time the Posse
Escaped Unscnthed-FOur Country
men and a Deputy Sheriff Did the
Work Which Hundreds of others
Had Failed to Do.
Spokane, Wash, Aug. 6.-Harry
Tracy, the notorious outlaw, who. with
David Merrill, escaped from the Ore
gon penitentiary at Salem on June 9,
after killing three prison guards, killed
himself early this morning after be-
ing wounded by the rifle of one of
posse in pursuit. Tracy was surround
ed in wheat field near Fellowes, a
station on the Washington 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 hur-
ried to the scene.
The posse, under Sheriff Gardner,
opened fire on the outlaw, and one bull
let pierced his right leg between the
knee and thigh. About twenty min
utes after being wounded he shot him
self with one of his revolvers, and his
body was found this morning after
daybreak, the revolver with which he
killed himself was grasped tightly in
his right hand
After battling the officers of two
states, after wonderful fight of
nearly 400 miles across Oregon and
Washington. Tracy was hunted down
by four citizens of the little farming
town of Preston and a lone deputy
sheriff Sheriff Gardner and posse ar
rived in time to guard the wheat
field through the night, but the work
had already been done.
The posse that will share the re-
ward was made up as follows: c. A.
Straud, deputy sheriff; DIR. F. c. Lam
ter. Maurice Smith, attorney; ]. ].
Morrison, railway section foreman,
and Frank Lillengen. These men,
armed to the teeth, set out from Pres
ton yesterday afternoon about
o'clock They were working on the
information of 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
Lalle creek, about three miles south
from Fellowes, station on the Wash
ington Central Railroad. The party
made all possible haste in getting TO
the ranch When within a few hum
dred yards of the farm they encoun-
tered Farmer Eddy moving in one of
his fields. While engaging him in
conversation they saw man issuing
firm the barn door.
rs that Tracy?' asked one of the
party.
ut surely is replied Eddy.
The party separated, Lanter and
Smith accompanying Eddy in the di-
rection of the barn, while the other
two men swung around to the other
side. Two of the manhunters, stepped
behind the barn on a slight eminence,
from which they could watch every
thing that went on, and Eddy continued
on up to the door. Tracy came from
the barn again and began helping his
host unhitch the horses. He carried
no rifles, although he had his revolvers
in place.
Tracy Discovers Posse.
The fugitive finally saw the men
carrying rifles, and turned sharply to
Eddy and said:
who are those menu"
II don't see any men," said Eddy.
Tracy pointed out the two men on
the hill. Eddy informed his compan-
ion who the men were, and the outlaw
made a leap for the barn door. The
pursuers stepped a bit closer and
commanded Tracy to hold UP his
hands. The outlaw jumped behind
Eddy, and first placed the farmer and
then his horse between himself and
the pursuers. He commanded the far
mer to lead his horse to the barn and
remained under cover moving toward
shelter. When near the stable he
broke and dashed inside. He quickly
reappeared, rifle in hand, and started
on a dead run.
Turning on the two men nearest to
him, the desperate fired two shots, but
without his usual luck, neither bullet
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 manhunters were
on in pursuit, firing as they ran. Com
Ing to a rock Tracy lodged behind it.
ana resting his gun on the rock began
fusillade Eight shots in all were
nred by the outlaw, not one hitting its
marx Seeing he was not succeeding,
ne holted for a wheat field close by.
Al the edge of the field he stumbled
and fell on his face. He crawled into
the grain on his hands and knees. 1t
was growing dark and the pursuers
.iot daring to move in closer. decided
20 surround the place and wait for
uayllght. In the meantime Sheriff
gardner with Policemen Stauffer and
Iemmerim of Spokane, Jack O'Farrell
OF Davenport, and other reinforce
!nents had arrived on the scene and
Shey went into camp around the field
curing the night.
rracy's Death shot Heard.
shortly after Tracy disappeared a
mot was heard from the direction Of
ehe wheat field. No investigation was
tHaoe' however, until this morning. As
In as dawn came an entrance was
tnaae into the wheat field. Tracy's dead
10y was found lying amid the grain