The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-05-04

luot a tCIIiUlO uiSidho ud0 DeSu
made. These fears were quickly
allayed by Detective Snow, who ar
riv d in few minutes, and posi-
lively identified the wounded sn1
expiring man as Frank Smith, the
criminal and Snow and Detective
Resing had arrested Monday week
fer the robbery of the Troutdale
postofhce, and the man who had
daringly escaped hand over hand
on a thin electric light wire from
the Portland city Jail.
Congratulations Immediately fol-
lowed, and there was gigantic
cheer from the throats of the army
of manhunters. Meanwhile, Smith,
with a jagged hole In his temple,
was breathing heavily.
Put another bullet into him and
put him out of his misery" said
posseman. q
"No," cried another. HE had
no mercy on others, 90 let him suf-
fer."'
The outlaw was dragged from the
brush to the railroad track and laid
on . handcar. A dozen men push
ed the car the quarter mile to New
Era. Smith groaned the entire dis
lance, and had not died when the
posse began wiring for t,ausporta-
ton home.
When a search was made Of Smith
his revolver was found plugged with
cotton. The weapon was clean, and
in one pocket the desperate had 16
cartridges for his 4O.caliber revolv-
er, with which he snuffed oct the
life of Patrolman Hanlon, of Ore
gon City; Sheriff Shaver, of Clack.
anas county, and Captain Hender-
son, of Woodburn. There are some
who contend that Smiths plugged
gun indicated that be was willing
to surrender, and that he hoped to
be taken alive and was trying to
hand his weapon to @Graber when
the latter shot him. Against this
is the argument that the men who
lined the track and covered every
outlet of escape had repeatedly call
ed Smith to cone out and they
would give him chance.
A better place to trap the outlaw
could not have been designed. A
short quarter-mile south of the lit
tie hamlet of New Era there is q
thicket of Willows, cottonwood and
few fir trees. between the railroad
aud the Willamette River. This
enclosure extends for about half a
mile. and Is about 900 feet broad at
its widest part. Owing to its posi-
ton, a getaway was impossible.
The railroad track was guarded on
the east, New Era was on the north,
the river was on the west and to the
south were guards.
With the death of Desperate
Frank Smith, quietness again reigns
in the Willamette Valley. The far.
mers who have tramped weary
miles, with shotguns in their hands,
and yes strained looking for the
outlaw, have returned to the pillow
The chase is ended. There is moth.
ing left to do but bury the criminal
who died with his toots on and di.
vide the $500 reward among the
officers.
As yet it is not known hoV The
price placed on Smiths head viii
be apportioned. Harry GRADER, th'
humane officer of Spokane, whe
owned the bloodhounds, aud The
man who killed the outlaw, will re
ceive the lions share. The remain
der it is presumed, will go to th'
three officers who were with him a
the log where Smith was shot.
Few men have had less sympa
thy extended them in their dyinl
hour than that accorded the despe
rado. Smith lay bathed in his life
blood breathing his last, and utter
i"g eroans of main, as he lay ther'
Unconscious. His plight and suffer
ing evoked less compassion thar
would dog. 1t was as though
Smith was a wild animal who need
ed determination.
Unlike Tracy Smith did not try
| to seek notoriety and newspaper
!, publicity, otherwise he would no
have hesitated to boldly holduI
farm houses and obtain the food ht
required and fresh clothing.
After the work accomplished by
the bloodhounds imported from Spo-
kane, another example is presented
to prove that the state penitentiary a
Salem should be equipped will
dogs. II there had been we'll train
ed hounds at Salem, the dogs coulo
have picked up Smiths scent afte,
the killing of officer Hanlon, at Or
egon City, and this would have
tsaved the lives of Sheriff Culve
/ and Captain Henderson.
t Sharpen Up.