The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-08-09
THE FATAL VISIT
THAT LED TRACY TO HIS HOR-
REBLE DOOM.

and How He Made Fatal Err
ror--Made Himself at
Home and Worked with
the Men.
Spokane, Aug. 6.-Tracy's last
great stunt was one that will per-
haps be as famous in the dime nov.
Ell world as any of his other wond-
erful deeds. For two days and as
many nights this elusive but nervy
outlaw held the family of Farmer
L. B. Eddy under subjection. Here,
again, he showed the qualities of
nerve and cool. .headedness, but
these very qualities brought about
his downfall. Had he not allowed
Coldfnch to leave the ranch when
he did the story of today might be
Of a different color, but the outlaw
had too much faith in estimating
the terror his words of warning
would give to an Is year-old lad.
The story Of the exploits of this
famous bandit at the Eddy ranch
are given by the 1S-year-old boy
who was his servant for over a day.
1t was Sunday afternoor that G..
e. Goldfnch was riding a horse a.
cross the prairie not far from the
Eddy farm. He noticed a strange
man camped not far from where
be passed. To all appearances the
stranger was just having his sup
per, but young Goldfnch paid no
attention, nothing unusual in his
actions. Just as the boy was going
by the camper called out, asking
him to have some supper. With
the reply that be had finished his
supper, Goldfnch did not even
slacken the pace of his horse, and
passed the stranger. It was then
that an imperative command from
the stranger brought Goldfnch to
a sudden stop. He was ordered to
come back. This order the lad saw
it would be to his best advantage
TO obey, and complied.
With the usual Tracy ceremony
the outlaw, for it was he, soon>made
himself known. He inquired the
way to the nearest farm, and was
directed to the Eddy ranch. Tracy
at this time still had two horses.
One he rode; the other, the boy
says, was loaded with groceries,
meat, sugar, coffee and bedding.
One of the horses was minus shoe.
"You 60 ahead and tell them I'm
coming" commanded the outlaw.
Gold6nch readily complied, and
started ahead to announce the COM
ing guest. Tracy, however, kept
close on the heels of the lad, evi-
IDENTIFY not intending to give him a
chance to give warning.
On the way to the house Tracy
noticed rope trailing from his
pack animal.
"That's leaving a bad mark" re-
marked the outlaw, and stopped TO-
gather in the trailing coils. He
then proceeded on his way to the
Eddy ranch. Goldfnch was much
excited while telling the story, but
claims he took notice Of the visitor
sufficient to describe him.
Arriving at the Eddy ranch Gold
finch performed the service allotted
to him, and soon informed the fam
lily who the illustrious visitor was.
This created no great stir at the
ranch. Farmer Eddy and his son
were taking their Sunday rest.
The night passed without any
special happenings, so faras the lad
relates. In the morning, Tracy first
made his toilet. A bath and a
shave were included in the morning
makeup, the farmer and his serv-
ants providing soap, towels and wa
ter.
When the men started for their
work, Tracy discovered that they
were constructingan overhead track
in the barn for the fall crop. The
outlaw decided to make himself
useful, and divesting himself of his
Winchester and one of his revo1vers
labored with the other men during
most Of the morning. He kept one
revolver, however, in the holster by
his side ready for instant action.
During the day the outlaw want
ed his other weapons which had
been left with his bedding and trav-
cling outfit. He sent Goldfnch af-
ter the weapons, and proudly pass
ed them around to the awe-strick
en- workmen. They were allowed
to handle the weapons and inspect
them, but 1t is said they took care
not to have the muzzles of the guns
pointing toward the outlaw. Tracy
all this time had a revolver himself