Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-12
RUMORED TRACY KuLSSEVEN
Report on Streets Of Seattle Of Battle with
Escaped Convict,
SHOTS ARE FIRED At CLOSE RANGE
when Deputy sherins Are Sure Once
More They Have Their Man
He Again slips Away
from Them.

SEATTLE, Wash, July 11.-Bloodhounds
and scores Of deputy sheriffs were unable
stir outlaw Harry Tracy from concealment
in the brush near CovinRton today.
Because Of the midnight battle last night
the posse were sure of the convict's where
abouts. A Gordon Of experienced marksmen
encircled that place earlier in the evening
and there was no possible avenue Of escape
for the fugitive without a fight. Hounds
we're started on the trail early this morn
ing and worked in every direction today, but
without success. Darkness fell with less
encouragement for the hunters than on
Wednesday evening.
Every kind Of rumor was received from
the scene of the sheriff's deputies search
today. At one time report was started
that a battle had been fought, resulting in
the death OF seven deputies and the wound
ing of the convict. Diligent search for the
source Of this report met with failure 1t is
believed to be absolutely groundless, yet It
can not be branded SO until every part Of
the pursuing crowd has been heard from.
The nature OF the country through which the
chase leads would make 1t possible for
battle to be fought in one Of the ravines and
| little be heard OF It in the neighboring
towns for many hours
Fight mt Close Range.
| Al lls4O last nlgnJ tracy arrived at the
sawmill plant of the Covington Lumber COM
pany, a mile from this place. Deputy
| Sheriffs ]. A Bunce Fred c. Bunce Calvin
and Grove had been sent to guard this
point. Deputies Grove and the Bunces
| father and son, had posted themselves on
| the railroad near the sawmill at the en-
trance Of big cut near a rise Of ground,
the Bunces being on the outer guard line
They were hardly settled when they heard
footsteps approaching from the Auburn side,
but remained on the quiet until the unknown
had almost come abreast Of them, when the
challenge to halt was given.
Hello" responded the stranger.
What's your name?" demanded J. A..
Bunce.
"My name is Anderson"
AS he gave this reply Tracy, for 1t was
! he. started to run. The deputies again
called upon him to halt, but he kept going
and they opened fre. shooting four times
each. Tracy ran up the track and a few
yards further encountered Deputy Sheriff
Grove
"who goes there" challenged the oficer.
"A deputy" coolly responded the outlaw.
Taken for n Deputy.
Grove, thinking II was the elder Bunce,
started to approach, when Tracy commenced
shooting at close range. firing two shots.
The bullets whistled harmlessly by and
Grove suffered slightly from the burning
powder as 1t sped from the muzzle Of the
rife, --.,.- ...e--.s.-s i;e.,, -. y-ss4ss
After the shooting Tracy turned and en-
tered the brush along the side OF the track,
where he was lost in the blackness Of the
night.
The deputies made a hurried circle
through the woods to Covington to head
Tracy of, but on arrival found that he had
not passed the station.
dispatch dated a. m. adds that since
his escape from the north side of Sluice
creek Tracy attempted to board one Of the
eastbound freights. The grade is heavy at
this point, but the train was running light
and at such speed that Tracy was unable to
board 1t. Another train passed and the
conductor reports that while running near
the sawmill someone called for him to stop.
There we're no deputies present and It ie
thought Tracy is the man who called and
the opinion is advanced that he may have
been wounded In the battle just before mid
night
A man thought to be Merrill appeared
yesterday at the home Of farmer a few
miles east of Ravendale. near here, and
wanted food. He remained in the vicinity
all day.
TACOMA, Wash, July l1.-At 8 O'Clock
posses arrived at Covington, about twelve
miles from Tacoma, where Tracy eluded
the posse at midnight.
Every train going toward the Northern
, Pacific tunnel through the Cascades II
stopped and searched. The location OF tht
country is such that Tracy may be said tS
be naturally cornered in the point OF a tri-
angle and therefore developments are mo-
mentarily expected.
All indications are that Tracy is following
the Palmer cutoff up the mountains, keep.
. ing In the timber as much as possible. H,
has about five miles start OF the posse.
> special to the Times from Covington
Wash, says: man answering the de-
scription OF David Merrill, Tracys partner
appeared at Ravendale yesterday after
noon. He forced family two miles east oi
that place to give him diner and later re-
turned to the house and procured a supply
of provisions.
Sheriff Cudihee and Guard Carson, with
bloodhounds and a small posse, left Auburn
at o'clock this morning for the poin
where Tracy was last seen.