The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-08


in all were fired by the outlaw, not one
hitting it's mark. Seeing that he was
not succeeding, he left his position
and made dash for a wheat field not
far distant Just as he was entering
the field he stumbled, and, falling on
his face, crawled into the field on his
hands and knees.
Surround the Wheat Field.
& BY the time Tracy disappeared in
the wheat field it was getting dusk
The pursuers did not dare to pro-
ceed, as they did not know where their
man was. After holding q consultar
ton they decided to surround the
place and wait for daylight to come
to their assistance.
In the meantime Sheriff Gardner,
with Merchant Policeman Stauffer and
Gemmrig of Spokane, Jack O'Farrell
sof Davenport, and other reinforce
aments, had arrived on the Gene, and
Ithey went into camp around the field
during the night.
A Shot Rings Out.
Shortly after Tracy's disappearance
into the field of weat the watchers
heard shot which sounded as though
coming from the spot to which he had
crawled. No investigation was made,
however, until this morning, but that
shot is supposed to have been the
perado into the great beyond.
Early this morning, as soon as it
was possible for the hunters to see
everything going on around them,
a rush was made into the wnea. field.
Come Upon Dead Body.
In a few minutes the party came
upon the dead body of Harry Tracy,
lying amid the grain with his face
turned toward the sky. His left hand,
thrown over his head, held a 45-cali-
Der Colts revolver, which had evi-
dently inflicted the mortal wound. The
thumb of his hand was on the trigger
of the pistol His right hand, thrown
across the lower part of his body,
firmly grasped the barrel of the ia
nous 1920 Winchester.
The body was cold when found,
pointing to the belief that the shot
heard by the guards about 8 o'clock
last evening was the fatal one.
Upon examination it was found
that the would which resulted in the
outlaws death, was inflicted by 45-
calibre revolver held close to his fore
head. The top of his head was bad
ly mangled.
Had Been Badly Injured.
Two bullet wounds on the left leg
showed the cause of the mans
dependency. One shot had broken
the leg between the ankle and knee.
The other cut the tibial artery, which,
of itself, would have been sufficient
to cause death. 1t is believed that
both of these shots were received af
ter the convict left the shelter of
the rock and made his break for the
wheat field.
The murderer had taken a strap
and buckled it tightly around his leg
in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Despite the tightly fastened strap the
bleeding continued until he probably
realized his hopeless condition and
ended the struggle.
He was dressed in blue overalls,
white shirt and wore no coat or vest.
He had a bicycle cap on his head and
pair of rought, heavy shoes on his
feet. He had only one rifle with him
and two revolyers, one in his hand
and the other inside his trousers.
Dispute as to Who Gets Reward.
Sheriff Gardner of Lincoln ounty
and his assistants arrived on the
scene in time to help in the final dis
covery of the body, and it is said that
he maintained that himself and dep
uties were entitled to at least share
of the booty. This was disputed by
the Creston party, the members of
which maintain that they did the
work and to them belongs the rewards.
Finally Sheriff Gardner was allowed
to take the body with the understand
ing that he recommend the reward
be paid to the five men from Creston.
Corpse Removed to Davenport.
The body, the effects and the horses
of the notorious man were taken in
charge by Sheriff Gardner and taken
direct to Davenport, where they will
be kept, pending decision as to the
final disposition.
Reports coming from Davenport
state that wild excitement prevails.
Stores are closed and the people are