The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-20
ON RIGHT TRAIL.

ON RIGHT TRAIL.
Portland, Ore, June 16.-Tracy and
Merrill, the escaped convicts, are now
in the timber near Vancouver, Wash,
and the posse of 200 men believe they
have the fugitives surrounded. Tracy
and Merrill appeared at the cabin of
a rancher named Peedy, about four
miles back Of Vancouver, at $50 this
morning, bound and gagged him, stole
his clothing and some loose garments
which were in the cabin. Then they
went away, leaving the ranchman ly-
ing on the ground. He was found by
~passersby an hour later and told his
story.
After going a short distance from
Peedy's cabin, Tracy and Merrill stop
ped and changed their clothing for
that which they had stolen. The dis
carded garments, including their pris-
on shoes, were found by members of
the posse later in the day. Among the
garments found were several taken
from Doctor White, who was held up
by the convicts in Marion county.
This establishes positively that the
posses is after the right men.
Peedy, in relating his experience
with Tracy and Merrill, said:
The Farmers Story.
Shortly before 8 o'clock, while 1
was still in bed, I heard a loud rap on
my door. l got up and opened the
door and was confronted by two men
carrying guns. They ordered me to
stand aside, which l did. They en-
tered and then showed me down on the
bed and tied my hands and feet. They
built a fire in my stove and fried some
bacon and ate breakfast, after which
they cooked all the bacon l had in
the house, about five to eight pounds,
and put it with what bread I had in a
sack. Each of the men put on a suit
of clothes, including a hat and a pair
of shoes, leaving their castoff things
in my cabin. Before leaving they
asked me if l had any money and pro-
.ceeded to go through my pockets, find
ing IS. They then put a gag in my
mouth and went away, locking the
door behind them, saying that they
would send someone to release me in
a short time. I managed to free my
self after hard work"
Peedy says the convicts talked in
~cessantly while in his house, telling
him they were Tracy and Merrill. A
pair of shoes from which the soles
were worn away, a pair of overalls
with several inches of one leg gone
a coat stolen from Doctor White at
Gervais and two old hats were found
in Peedy's cabin.
Blood Hounds Sent For.
The country surrounding Peedy's
cabin and the roads in the vicinity
were thoroughly patrolled by officers,
and Sheriff Marsh is convinced that
the convicts remained in hiding in a
strip of timber surrounding the cabin
today.
Deputy Warden Carson of the Walla
Walla penitentiary, was telegraphed
for yesterday and was expected to ar
rive here with bloodhounds this morn
ing, but he had not put in an appear
ance up to tonight. Late this even
ing a majority of the officers and 9TH
err searchers came to Vancouver for
rest and to await the arrival of the
hounds, when the search will be re-
sumed in earnest tomorrow morning.
In the meantime it would not be sur
prising to many people if the con
victs woul dattempt to reach the
house of Merrill's relatives here to-
and a close watch is being kept
by officers upon the house in which a
half brother and s~tepfather of the out
law live.
Member Posse Shot.
William Morris, a member of the
citizens posse from here, was brought
to the hospital tonight with his thigh