Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-05-04
OUTLAW SMITH SHOT.
Blood Hounds Lead to Despera-
dos Lair.

OREGON CITY. Or, May L.
Desperate Frank Smith, murder
er of three officers of the law,
was killed this forenoon in the
woods south of New Era, Clacka-
mas County, by bullet in his
head from the revolver of Harry
Draper, of Spokane.
Prior to his destruction Smith
had made a sensational escape
into the timber and had been
surrounded and penned in by at
least 200 officers and volunteers.
Dynamite had been used to
dislodge him, and the woods had
been fusilladed with bullets, all
of which he escaped unharmed.
Smith was tracked to his lair
through the sagacious intelli-
gence OF Draper's bloodhounds,
which did the best work that
bloodhounds have ever accom-
plisned in this state. In the
chase for Smith, the finish could
not have been more spectacular
nor more dramatic and filled with
startling sidelights had the en-
tire # .ir been p'anned and ex-
ecuted by the brain OF master
stage director.
It was exactly 1I:Io when a
leaden missile from Draper's
weapon ended the career of the
outlaw. It was less than two
hours after the first information
had been received by Sheriff
Culver that a suspect had been
seen near Candy. The trail
which had been cold and DOR
mant for the past four days, de-
veloped with remarkable
rapldity, and the more the officers
investigated the hotter it grew
until the great climax was reach
ed and bathed In blood.
Concealed behind a fallen log,
less than IS feet in a straight
line from the railroad track,
Smith was brought to bay and
there crouched until the pursur-
ers came upon him. The flush
Ing of Smith was unexpected,
although the men were certain he
was in the timber. The officers
stumbled upon him and were
standing within three feet of him
when he was espied. The dogs
which had been following the
hot scent and uttering loud cries,
stopped at the log and shifted the
air, holding their heads aloft.
Draper had the beasts in least,
and was urging them on. Di.
rectly across the log and at tn e
feet of Draper lay the desperate.
To the right of Draper was
Detective Vaughn, or Portland
snd Sheriff Culver.
To Draper's left crept Deputy
Sheriff Morden, of Portland
These men were slowly advancing
through the brush when the
dogs paused and the rifles of the
men were held in readiness
Suddenly Draper glanced down
and there, concealed partly by tn,
log, was the murder and fugitive
Smith saw he was cornered ant
made no outcry. He was indus
triously pulling the 1azsrs
warches, and jewelry from hi
coat pocket and hiding then
under the log when Draper saw
him.
"Are you Smith," demande'
Draper.
eyes" was the brief answer
As Smith made this reply b
pulled his revolver from tn
inside of his coat and started t
level it at Draper.
"Plug himr exclaimed tn
detective and Sherifos ofhc
men, and in the twinkling of a
eye Draper had whipped out hi
own revolver and sent a bulle
crashing through Smiths temple
Smith did not die instantly
but lay groaning in a terribl
manner, while the crowd of arm
ed men, which had guarded th
railroad track, came vaultin
over the wire fence which er
closed the track of brush betwee
the roadbed and the river.
For a few minutest here was
feeling of anxiety on the part {
Draper and the others immediat.
ly connected with the shooting
for despite the telltale blue ca