Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-07-25
SLIPPERY HARRY TRACY.
How the Western Outlaw Threw
Officers eff His Track and
Finally DISAPPEARED.
Interesting Letter From Harry Bring.
hurst to thse Tribune Gives Ad-
ditional Details.
Walks Coolly Out Of House Sur
rounded BY Armed Pursurers
and Makes Escape.

Seattle, July 23.-(Special.)-At the
time of writing my first letter about
Tracy, the Oregon convict, and the ire
mendous sensation caused by his pres.
ence in the northern suburbs of Sc
attic, he had just been heard of on the
other side Of Puget Sound. Word
coming Sunday morning, July 6. of his
leaving Port Madison in a row boat
with a big !Swede named Anderson,
whom he had brought along vi ct ar
mis- to do his hard work for him, the
search was at once shifted to Balm
bridge island and the numerous bays
and channels near by. For fifty miles
to the north patrol boats and launches
sought along the broken and rugged
shores Of This great inland sea for a
white boat with blue trimmings, and
several parties of innocent wanderers
were }oYerhauled and badly frightened.
However, Tracy had fooled them all
again. When he left the west shore
Of the main arm at the Sound as IT was
growing dark Saturday night, he head
ed straight for Seattle and before
morning was concealed in the woods
on the opposite side Of the bay. In
fact he arrived here. before the news
of his appearance at Port Madison and
from his lurking place on the side OF
the bluff could watch the tug start
across with the sheriff. and deputies.
The Thought that he might have doub-
led On his trail seemed to occur to no
one. Sunday night the miserable
Anderson was forced to launch the boat
again and row Tracy across the bay
where the skiff was tied under Newell's
mill. There was no difficulty in gain
ing the woods from here and before
daylight several miles were made to
the southwark. During part of Mon
day they lay hid in the depths of the
forest but late in the afternoon their
weary scramble through the thicket
was resumed and not far from the town
of Renton they met four. men as
though by appointments. Here Ander-
son was kept in the rear and finally
blindfolded and tied to a tree while
Tracy went away with the others.
Tuesday morning they returned and
the nearly exhausted Swede was re-
leased and forced to cook breakfast
for the party.
That afternoon. the excitement COM
menced again in Seattle and within a
few hours had reached proportions
never known before or since. To be-
gin with, the boat was found about
noon and soon identified by an officer
from Port Madison. Word was ait
once sent out UP and down the Sound,
recalling he searching parties, and
just as the deputies were preparing to
follow the trail from Newell's mill a.
youth named Charles 3Gerrell walked
into the sherif's office with two
watches that he said were given him
" pawn Wy 11olAy IL aSS WIZ oI ILoO
moment was at the Gerrell home near
Renton, about ten or twelve miles
south from Seattle. The boys story
was evidently true and the watches
were those taken from the Johnson
home On cambridge island. Three
deputy sheriffs and a reporter started
at once for Renton and on passing the
Gerrell's home on an engine, could see
Tracy sitting inside with several
women. The party stopped at some
little distance and came back on foot
ITO the house where they hid in the
brush to watch for their pey, who it
happened, was also gazing at them
with the most phenomenal unconcern.
1t was two hours before reinforcements
came and meanwhile full particulars
were posted on the newspaper bulle-
tin boards and the crowds on Second
avenue in Seattle were so great that
policemen had to force a way for the
street cars. s5 N 4@5
This Gerrells boy was walking along
the railroad track with two women
about a half hour before noon when
they were pleasantly accosted by
Tracy who emerged from the brush
with Anderson dragging himself at his
heels. We'll, 1 guess you have heard
of me; am Tracy" said the outlaw.
At the very evident CONSERVATION in
the party, he FASTENED to reassure
them and after some talk announced
that they must all go to the Gerrells
home near by, which they proceeded
to do. How he knew that there was
not a man on two about with the nerve
to let fly a charge Of buckshot at him,
is one OF the many mysteries attend
ing his escape. but no men were at
home.
Mrs. Gerrells was very much alarmed
on seeing who was approaching her
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