The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-12
CRAZY
RELIC
HUNTERS
Tracy's Clothing Divested of
All Buttons
Undertaken Nearly Lost His
Embalming Outfit

A dispatch from Davenport. Wash
ington. tells Of the actions Of a crowd
of half-crazed relic-hunters at that
place in the following terms:
There is still intense interest here
over the killing of the famous sheriff
fooler, Harry Tracy. The body, en-
balmed, was stretched out on a couch,
covered with a sheet A new shirt.
with a stiff lay-down collar attached,
had been put on him. It was probably
the best shirt he has had for months.
His feet and limbs we're bare. Hun
dreds of people lifted back the sheet
and viewed the wounds made by the
determined men who hunted him to
his death. While the body was being
prepared by the undertaken and ply
sician the crowd had to be fought
back and the doors and windows
barred.
Relic Hunters Again.
Buttons were cut from his clothes
and his suspenders we're taken, as
were his shoestrings and shoe eyelets.
Dr. Whitney. who was working at
the inquest, laid his coat aside and
some relic fiend now has It in his pos
session. II was a light summer coat,
and DR. Whitney says that he expects
to hear the report that Tracy was a
captain in the civil war, as the coat
had a G. A. r. button on 1t.
Embalming Outfit In Jeopardy.
The undertaken came near losing his
entire embalming outfit. Some one in
the crowd started the report that the
array Of pans and bottles on the floor
containing Mr.. Stones embalmlng
fluids were Tracy's camping outfit. and
one man was headed OF who was maxi
Ing a noble race for cover with a large
dlshpan, which was bigger than the
desperado's entire kitchen outfit.
Some one picked up large. fancy
linen tablecloth, which was doubtless
the pride of the Stone household. The
idea that it was the cover for the
numerous banquets which Tracy had
given to the Andersons and others of
his guests seized upon the crowd, and
in a moment 1t was in shreds. and
every one present had at least a
thread.
Dutch Jake" Wants Goldfinch.
Young Goldhnch, who gave the in
formation leading to the final result,
has been offered a good sum by
Dutch Jake" of Spokane. to fn an
engagement at his place of business.
The boy has not yet decided whether
to 60 The officers say that the young
man showed remarkable judgment In
giving his information. and in his sub
sequent actions. Goldhnch said that
when he was travelling with Tracy TO
the Eddy farm every time they would
come to a rough place or a turn in
the road his companion would send
him back. remarkng as he did so;
Il am Tracy, the convict. and am liable
to be ambushed at any moment, and
do not want you 10 get hurt"
interview With cudihee.
Upon returning TO Seattle, sherIn
Cudlhee. who accompanied the cap.
tors OF Tracy's body to that city, gave
the following interview:
"The fellow fooled me. even at the
last. was about IS miles away when
he killed himself was guarding the
south end Of the county, as we figured
that he would take that course when
he made his final try 10 escape. He
would never have left that country
alive We knew positively that he was
In certain territory, and every ayen'
ue. OF escape and every road was
guarded by armed men.
Il am Of the opinion the Goldfnch
boy, who told the sheriff OF Tracys
whereabouts, displayed the best judg
ment Of any one. lie should share
equally In the reward. No. I'm moi
coming in for any OF the blood money
and | don't want any. | made up my
mind that / would follow that fellow
To the end OF the earth. II he wasn't
captured or killed In the meantime.
have done as / said / would and am
satisfied.
impossible 10 Escape,
Tracy put himself In bad hole Al
the Eddy ranch The farmhouse II
down IN the center Of a valley, sur
rounded by high hills. II would have
been almost impossible for him 10 gel
away, once the posse knew he wal
there. He made a good fight at th'
last. aad. as you know, ended II all b.
shooting himself through the heai
with a 45-calibre revolver I reaches
the body about two hours after II wal
found As stood there and gazes
down on the cold, stiil face Of the MAJ
who has made me almost a physica
wreck, / must confess that a feelini
Of thankfulness came into my heart
and It's there yet"