Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-08-18
1.-THE LAST STAND OF TRACY.
Harry Bringhurst Writes From Seattle
of the Last Stand Made by
the Convict Tracy. .
Outlaws Vanity and Foolish Desire
for Notoriety Led to His Final
+ Undoing.
Great Interest Manifested in the Body
Of the Dead Outlaw Along the
Route to Salem.

\ Seattle, Aug. 1S.-The last chapter in
the story of the escape of convict Harry
Tracysis comparatively short; in fact
there would be very little occasion to
write it had there not been so many
extravagances in the accounts pub
ished in eastern papers. The final
conflict with officers of the law took
place in an out of the way part of the
state and the regular correspondents
and reporters were not in at the death,
consequently those who wrote the tele-
graphic dispatches must have drawn
largely on their imaginations.
1t is not yet known how OF where
the fugitive crossed the Cascade range
Of mountains, although it is supposed
he went through the Snoqualmie or
Natchez passes, either of which could
be reached from where he was known
to be in the dense forests on this side.
These mountains are high and rugged
and many of the peaks are covered with
SLOW the year around. Even in the
summer time those rough trails are
Travelled with difficulty. But the out
law not only gained the other side but
came into, possession of two horses
and a pack outfit somewhere on his
Journey; there is some probability that
the original owner Of these is now lying
dead at some point where his remains
may never be found. Doubtless an
unfortunate prospector was held up,
robbed and murdered. Fifteen days
had gone by without clew to the des-
perado when on July 30, he appeared
at a farm house seven miles south of
Wenatchee, riding one horse and lead
ing the other, which carried his camp
equipment. He announced who he
was at once and made himself at home
a. usual, the two men on the place not
caring to try conclusions with him.
Here he spent the day resting and lay
ing in supplies and provisions, not for
getting to entertain his hosts with his
opinions of officers of the law in west
ern Washington. At sunset he appro-
priated fresh horses and rode away in
fine spirits, first cautioning the farmer
folks to give out no information for
twenty-four hours. 1t was not until
the next afternoon that they did so
and meanwhile word came of his com
pelling a ferlyman to put him across
the Columbia river at point not far
distant during the night. A5
It was felt at once that the capture
or death of Tracy was now reasonably
certain for the country east of the
mountains, while rough and sparsely
settled, is almost entirely without tim
ber Sheriff ,Cudihee resumed the
chase at once and three or four other
parties, including a posse from Spo-
kane, took the field. But to show how
well the outlaw could get along when
he controlled his vanity and did not
make himself known, it is only neces-
sary to mention that in the evening of
August 1st he went into Wilbur, put
ny his horses at livery stable and
slept at hotel without arousing sus-
picion that he was more than a pros
rector or rancher. HIS presence there
was not known until the stable keeper
recognized him after death.
Sunday, August Sd, he rode up to the
Eddy ranch, II miles southeast of
Creston, and brought with him boy
named Goldfinch whom he had met on
the prairie. Here he remained until
Tuesday afternoon enjoying himself in
lis own peculiar fashion and even taxi
ing a hand and at farm work. At night
he slept on the hay in barn with one
of the owner Of the place. Meanwhile
the various posses had gone ahead and
were watching the different trails by
which Tracy. might gain the eastern
part Of the state and get over into the
Hole in the Wall Z region Of Wyom-
ing, which is where he said he was
going.
Monday evening young Goldfnch
wanted to leave and declared that if
les did not return home his father
would come after him. The convict
objected to this but finally bound him
TO secrecy and let him go. making at
the same time the remark that he had
been misinformed about the country,
that it was too open and he never
should have left the mountains. The
boy gave the promise but rode straight
to '1s Creston next morning and sent word