The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-17
ESCAPED coNvlcTs GIVE PuRsu-
ERs THE SLIP.
DOGS FAIL TO TAKE TRAIL
Tracy and Merrill Come Out Of Tim.
Der During, Night and Go
North.

PCfLlanQ, June ll.-lFdCy anu MEL
rill, the escaped c%onvicts, eluded the
guard of troops and one hundred cit
liens during last night and left the
woods near Gervais, where they had
been hiding all day yesterday.
At Z o'clock this morning they ap-
peared at the farm house of A. Akers.
five miles north of Gervais, and de-
manded breakfast. The men had all
gone to work and only Mrs. Akers and
her daughter were in the house when
the bandits. walked up. They made
no effort to conceal their identity and
Tracy said:
II suppose you know who we are"
and without waiting for a reply, said:
I'VE are the convicts who broke out
of the p~enitentiary."
Mrs. Akers and her daughter pre-
pared a good meal for the outlaws.
who held their guns across their
knees while eating.
Mrs. Akers asked them to lay down
their guns while they were eating,
but Tracy said he preferred to keep
his weapon near him, but assured Mrs.
Akers that he would not harm her.
After finishing breakfast they start
ed north, and are now supposed to be
in the woods on Deep creek, between
Marion and Clackamas counties.
Mrs. Akers telephoned to Sheriff
Durbin at Gervais that the fugitives
had taken breakfast at her house and
that Tracy appeared to be wounded in
the right arm.
Sheriff Durbin Immediately prepar-
ed to follow the trail and with a posse
and bloodhounds arrived at Monitor
postofice near the Akers farm about
9 o'clock.
Sheriff Cook of Clackamas county or
ganized a posse and took the morning
train to Aurora, where he will en-
deavor to intercept the fleeing con-
victs.
At 1890 this afternoon the f%ugitives
lunched at a farmhouse near Needy,
and there they secured six pounds of
bacon and a frying pan, which they
took with them. Company A., O. N.
G., of Oregon City, was ordered out
late this afternoon by Governor Geer
to take up the chase after the fugi-
tives. They have been tracked all
day by the posse, and this evening it
is supposed that they are in the thick
woods on Deep creek, about seven
miles from WOODBURY., close to the
border between Marion and Clacka'
mus counties.
Sheriff Durbin turned the leadership
of the possee over to Sheriff Cook OF
Clackamas county, tonight, and re
turned to Aurora.
Guard Carson of Walla Walla, In
charge of the bloodhounds, also
brought the dogs in tonight for a rest
Three companies of militia are guard
ing the roads tonight, though the ex
act location of the fugitives is no
known.
Tracy and Merrill eluded the guart
shortly before daylight after two shots
had been fired at them.
Charles Tub, one of the sheriff
posse, had a stand near a fence clos
to the woods, but concluded that h
would go back so yards to a NOR,
commanding position. No sooner ha'
he taken up his new position whel
one OF the fugitives climbed over tn
fence. Tub fired at him twice with
double-barrelled shotgun, but misse'
both times. The bandit did not re
turn the fire, but started across tn
field. While Tub was firing at hi
man the other convict was seer t
climb the fence between two guard
who were stationed about 100 yard
apart. The guards did not fire, and tn
convicts were allowed to escape acros
the field. No effort was made to TO
low them until long after daylight. A
1890 this afternoon they took lunc
at a farm house three and a half mile
from Monitor postofice. The hound
were taken to the Akers farm whe1
the bandits took breakfast, but the
were unable to catch the scent.
The two militia companies are fo
lowing the sherin's posse closely
order to be in readiness for a fight
the fugitiyes r located.
3. p. o. e. Rates.
Annual meeting Grand Lodge B
nevolent and Protective order
Elks, Salt Lake City, Utah, Augu
70 to Ia. 1902.