Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-07
OUTLAW TRACY OF OREGON POS
SIBLY A VERMONT BOY.

Harry Tracy, the Western outlaw, is be-
Iicved to be fIira Tracy. born in Essex,
where he lived until about 10 years ago.
Inc hrst Information received there that
fiira Tracy was the much-wantcd man IN
the Far West came from n San Barbara,
Cal, man and reached Essex Tuesday
This man gave information which leads
many TO believe that Tracy the outlaw
| is Tracy the Essex boy. The Tracy fam
ily, large one. consisting Of three girls
and three boys. formerly lived in .Bssex.
Harmon Tracy, the father, was an indus
trious farmer and his children we're reared
much as other children In rural Vermont.
Young Tracy was educated in the town
SCHOOLS and in the Essex Classical Insti-
tute. He and his brother Fred were pupils
In the same class. Fred, whose where
abouts have been unknown for years, was
the brighter of the two, so those say who
grew up with the boys. Fred was trouble
some and sometimes made 1t embarrassing
LOT tho instructors. lIr'a, or Harry, al
he was called in the West, was uninter-
ested in his studies and dull to a noticeable
extent. lie did not seem to care much
about obtaining an education. He had n
determined disposition and IL Is said that
when he once set his mind upon a thing
II was impossible to divert 1t. Harmon
Tracy the father. was gored to death by
n bull In his pasture. Harry Tracy was
then about "a years old and had married.
JIG sun lived on his fathers farm. Tho
bull was killed but this failed to satisfy
the ire or grief. or possibly both. of tho
young man. 1t is told Of him that he
took his Jack knife and literally gouged
out the eyes of tho bull. carrying them
away In his pocket. Shortly after his
fathers death, Hira Tracy and his wife
moved to Essex Junction. They resided
there but a short while. They then moved
TO Long Island, n. ", where IIira was
~ fnr Of
forward returned to Burlington, but their
stay was short. Their next residence waJ
at Now Rochelle, n. Y, where Mrs. Tracy
separated from her husband because Of Ill
| treatment. as she says. Tho story which
came from Santa Barbara told Of the Wis
1t to that place Of Hra Tracy before he
was sent to the Salem, Ore. penitentiary.
lie called on Henry Carly, who, as a boy,
lived in Essex, and complained of his hard
ships. and said that he was financially
stranded. Carly secured him a place on
the San Ysidro ranch. Tracy's term of
service was short lie got drunk and TAX
ing one of the horses from the ranch Gre
ated sensation in Santa Barbara. lie
rode away with the horse and also a suit
! OF clothes which Carly had been kind
enough to purchase for him. The horse
was afterward recovered, but Tracy never
put in an appearance in Santa Barbara
again. When the story of his escape from
prison and his remarkable chase over tha
country to elude the officers Of the law
became known in the California town, Car
tv recalled the visit of Tracy. and the pic
lures printed of him confirmed his belief
that he was tho boy whom he knew in
his Eastern home The Cartys lived in
what Is known as the Lost Nation district,
about four miles north from Essex Juno
ton. 1t was at the home Of the parents
of Henry Carly that Cen. ONeil of Fcnian
! raid fame made his headouartere When