The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-06
TRACEY'S WILD CAREER
Most, Dangerous of All Out1aVvs-No
Regard for Life.

TRACEY's WILD CAREER
Most Dangerous of All Outlnws-No
Regard for Life.
Harry Tracey escaped from the Oregon
state penitentiary at Salem on June .
in company with David Merrill. after
killing four men, Frank w. Wetherell, u.
R. T. Jones and B. F. Tiffany, guards ana
Frank Ingraham, a convict, who tried TO
prevent. his flight. On June % Tracey
killed Merrill near Napavine, Wash,
shooting him from behind and leaving
his body in the forest where it was found
on July 15 On July 3, near Seattle, IN
fight with a posse, Tracey shot and killed
Charles Raymond, a deputy sheriff, E. E.
Bresse a policeman, and mCrtally wound
ed Neil Rawley, who died on the follow
ing day, and seriously wounded Carl An
derson and Louis Zafrite, newspaper re-
porters.
II 1897, Tracey murdered Valentine
Hoge. a colorado cattleman, and William
Strong, boy in the same state. A total
reward of $5,6OO was offered for his ar
rest, Governor Mcbride of Washington Of
fering $4,000 for his capture, dead or alive.
The state of Oregon offered $4,000, and
brother Of one of the guards killed at the
penitentiary, offered $100.
The reward for Merrills capture
amounted to $1,000, which has been
claimed by Mrs. Waggoner, the berry
picker, and her son, who found the body
near their home. EsssF "A
'[ How He Killed Merrill. -
AS an illustration Of the desperate and
bloodthirsty character of the notorious
outlaw his disposition" of his fellow CON-
vict, Merrill, stands out conspicuously.
Tracey murdered Merrill because he was
a coward. Tracey described the tragic
incident in these words to one of the men
he forced to accompany him after his
eventful ride on the stolen launch:t
L made up my mind that would shake
Merrill and go it alone because he was
coward. When I taunted him about his
cowardce he got huffy and we agreed to fight
duel. ... ~ q. r - .s.,--4s.$E
We agreed to start together from line and
walk ten steps each, in opposite directions
from each other, and then turn Simultaneous
ly and begin firing. From his haggling in
arranging the terms was convinced that he
was intending to turn before he had taken
the ten steps and I was determined not to let
him get the drop on me like that. So, when
I had taken eight steps I turned around and
took a shot at him. l hit him in the back.
The first shot did not finish him and shot
again. That finished him. I then concealed
the body in the brush and proceeded on my
way. '.@
Merrill only got what he deserved. He in
tended to turn and shoot me in the back,
then he would have sneaked out of the coun-
try through the big timber and would not
have been heard of for months I would not
only have been dead but would never have
been found, because he would have been
afraid to tell where my body was.
Routed Sheriff's Posse.
This fatal encounter followed one of the
most daring moves Tracey ever made.
Single handed, he held up six men at
South Bay, near Olympia, and forced four
OF them, including Captain Clark of "a
large gasolene launch, to embark with
him on Puget sound and convey him to
Seattle. He was in command of the
launch from o'clock in the morning until
$50 in the evening, and during all of this
time his nerve did not weaken for a
moment, nor did he leave the least open
ing which might result in his betrayal
and capture. #- =.
So long as the crew of the vessel obeyed
his commands implicitly, he treated them
kindly, but he announced in a positive
manner that he would shoot the first man
who made a move against him. And the
nervous Threatening way he toyed will
the trigger of his rifle convinced Captain
Clark's men that the outlaw meant busi-
ness. ;. 81
Captured u Launch.
Tracey broke ins:on the little fishing
camp about sunrise. He walked calmly
into the tent facing the six men as:
sembled for the morning meal: I'll -
LII 1IdCey, ue'Sdlu. WALL SOu1S-
thing to eat right away Be quiet anc
make fuss and I'll not harm YOU"
Captain Clark appeared on the scene
while Tracey was eating, and the convict
silenced him as readily as he had the
members of the crew. He ordered the
launch steamed up, even assisting in the
work, but he gave it out emphaticall!
= that he would shoot in cold blood the
first man who failed to obey his orders
Steam up and everything ready for tht
boat to cast off. Tracey ordered fou!
members Of the party to bind the othe!
two This was done, and with his un
willing crew and good deal Of clothin,
belonging to the fishermen, the bolt
bandit set out. X - ;
AS the little craft, under high pressure
passed near the entrance to Tacoma har
bor it encountered the tug Sea Foam
The master Of the latter, who knew Cap
tain Clark, but never suspected the grin
nature Of his voyage, kept near and one
made as If to crowd close up.S This visi
bly, worried Tracey. II guess I'll take
crack at the fellow said Tracey, rails
ing the weapon @asNif,to take aim at tn
man ats@the Sea Foarnss wheel. IS
Before he could shoot Clark begged hir
to desist, saying that The Sea Foam's ac