USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 21
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 21
USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 21
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 21
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the "Adrian Cut-off," a line of road since built between Coulee City, the terminus of the Central Washington Railway, and the town of Adrian, on the Great Northern Railway, about twenty miles in length. President Mel- len said that the road would cost $350,000, and that it was a gift, as the country through which it would pass was barren and unprofit- able, all of which is doubtless true. But he said that this matrimonial alliance between the Northern Pacific and Great Northern systems would place Davenport and other towns along the Central Washington Railway on a through line to the coast, thus saving the haul to Spokane and doubling back on the main lines, west. This announcement was greeted with cheers and other exhibitions of marked en- thusiasm. President Mohler made a few re- marks mainly in a humorous vein.
Following the speaking at the Auditorium the entire assemblage repaired to the Armory Hall. Here a banquet had been prepared to which, in the language of the average convent- ional newspaper, "all did ample justice." President Hill mingled with the crowd and touched elbows with everybody in a most friendly spirit. In the afternoon the differ- ent delegations met with the railroad presi- dents in the lodge room over the Auditorium. Here all the grievances were presented, dis- cussed, and measures of relief promised. Mr. T. M. Cooper presided at this meeting. Charles Bethel, Jolın F. Green, J. W. Fry, T. C. Lakin, WV. P. Nichols, W. H. Childs and Mr. French presented the side of the farmers and business men in as favorable and forcible a style as pos- sible. They placed the cost of raising a bushel of wheat at from 35 to 42 cents. Mr. Hill oc- cupied the floor about half the time replying to questions and explaining why certain rates were maintained. The discussion was con- "The Oregon convicts who have escaped over the Washington line are, evidently, im- pressed with the terror their names inspire. Upon entering some farm house they an- ducted along the most amicable lines. There was an absence of any bitter criticism of the railroads, some of the farmers going so far as to say that they had no particular criticism to ' nounce their names and then proceed to issue
make. President> Hill, however, made no definite promises, further than to say that af- ter confering with the farmers in other sec- tions, the presidents would consider the ques- tion as to how great a reduction in freight rates they could make. At 4 o'clock, p. m., the conference adjourned, and the presidents and other visitors immediately went to the depot and returned to Spokane the same evening.
Shortly after this visit a reduction of ten per cent was made on grain rates from eastern Washington to Puget Sound, and also to east- ern markets.
It was in Lincoln county that the great man-hunt after the desperado, Harry Tracy, came to a tragical close. This is not the place to rehearse the history of his original crime, or to feed the morbid appetite of youth with the story of this outlaw's miserable and worthless life. It is sufficient to say that he, in company with one Merrill, escaped from the penitentiary in Oregon, overpowered and killed the guard and fled north and eastward. Having after- ward murdered Merrill in cold blood Tracy continued on his way east, crossed the Cas- cades and entered the Big Bend country via Moses Coulee. Until he reached the Eddy farm, near Creston, Lincoln county, hie suc- cessfully evaded pursuit, although closely harried by Sheriff Cudihee, who was hot on his trail. Shortly after Tracy's escape, and while he was committing his first desperate deeds of blood, the Lincoln County Times con- tained the following editorial. Subsequent events proved the Times to have been right. yet at the time it was written the editor of the journal had not the faintest idea that the concluding act of the tragedy was to be played on Lincoln county soil. He said :
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orders as though obedience would immediately follow as a consequence. They are liable to go up 'against the real thing' somewhere in their travels, however."
The following concise account of the final scenes in the life of this miserable criminal and degenerate, Tracy, is taken from the columns of the Davenport Tribune, and is uncolored by prejudice :
"Two months, lacking three days, from the time Harry Tracy killed the guards and es- caped from the Oregon penitentiary, his re- mains were brought to Davenport, he having sent a revolver bullet through his brain, shoot- ing himself in the right eye. From the day he left the timber and took his chances in an open country, it was only a matter of time when he would be captured or killed.
"To George Goldfinch more than any other person belongs the credit of hastening the end. George Goldfinch is a young man about 19 years of age. He met Tracy near Lou Eddy's place on Lake creek, fifteen miles southwest of Davenport, Sunday afternoon, August 3. 1902. He came upon a man in camp on the high divide, who invited him to take tea with him. The boy refused, having recently par- taken of dinner. Tracy passed himself off as a miner and insisted upon the boy eating, stand- ing with a revolver and rifle in his hand. The conversation started about the crops in gen- eral, then to the Jeffries-Fitzsimmons fight, and finally drifted to Tracy. He asked where Tracy was, and Goldfinch replied that it was re- ported he was near Wilbur. Then the man re- plied. "I am Tracy." He then demanded of the boy to guide him to Lou Eddy's place and coiled up a rope that had been dragging, say- ing it was a bad sign, and accompanied him four miles to Eddy's place and went to the house.
"During the trip he said if the road was obstructed by a clump of bushes or high rock, to have Goldfinch drop behind him, as he did not desire that he should be the one killed
should there be a posse ahead of him. When they arrived at the house he informed Lou and Gene Eddy who he was, and as Lou had his team hitched up, going to Ben Hurley's, he made Lou put his team back in the barn, and all three go into the field and cut hay for Tracy's horses. At the house he got Lou to fix a holster for his revolver, sharpen his razor. knife, and mend his cartridge belt, as the loops were too large for the cartridges. After- ward Tracy took a bath, shaved and ate sup- per. He let Goldfinch depart, threatening that if he informed as to his whereabouts he would find the two Eddys stiff in the morning, at the same time saying he might leave that evening and take Lou with him. Goldfinch left for Blenz's ranch where he was employed, and told Blenz that evening, asking his advice as to what course to pursue, but received no satis- factory answer. Goldfinch, having left a let- ter at Eddy's, returned Monday and was sa- `luted with a "hello" from Tracy, who asked where the sheriffs were, and was answered that he didn't know. Tracy at the time was at work helping the Eddy boys to put on a track to the barn door. He had no rifle and simply had his revolver upon his person.
"Goldfinch returned home, went to Cres- ton and called up Sheriff Gardner, asking the operator not to make it public. A posse was immediately formed at Creston, and Tuesday evening, about six o'clock, Tracy was discov- ered in a wheat field on the Eddy place and a number of shots were exchanged. Marshal O'Farrell met Goldfinch at Fellows, by agree- ment, and together they went to Eddy's, where they took up a position within forty yards of the house, in a gulch. the only escape in that direction. The Creston posse had the ad- vantage in position, having Tracy at a disad- vantage. Guard was kept during the entire night and at the first dawn of morning all closed in, and the corpse of Tracy was found in the wheat field under the bluff, with the right leg broken and a bullet through the
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brain-the latter having been fired by his own hand. Tracy had remarked at Eddy's that he didn't mind being killed, if he was killed out- right, and not burned at the stake, as he dreaded. When found the revolver was grasped in his right hand with his finger still on the trigger which sent the bullet upon its deadly mission, only one cartridge having been fired from the revolver.
"The remains of Tracy, and his camp accoutrements were brought to Davenport and taken to the undertaking parlors of O. W. Stone. Within a few minutes every man, wo- man and child seemed to be drawn toward Harker street. Coroner R. P. Moore impan- eled a jury and examined the remains before them. It was found that he had been shot twice in the right leg, one bullet striking him in the hip and ranging downward; the other bullet broke the leg above the ankle. The missile which did the deadly work entered the right eye, ranging upward, and coming out near the crown. Coroner Moore called the following jury who viewed the remains of the dead convict, Tracy: P. W. Dillon, A. J. Grant, G. K. Birge, William Newton, L. A. Davies, and E. E. Lucas. George Goldfinch was the first witness. Doctors Whitney, Moore and Lanter corroborated each other as to the manner by which Tracy died-from a self-inflicted wound from a 45-Colt's revolver, the ball entering the right eye and coming out at the back of the head. Dr. Lanter then stated how young Goldfinch came to Creston and sent word to Sheriff Gardner. A posse of five was organized by Constable Straub, of Creston, and they arrived at the house of Lou Eddy about 4 o'clock that evening. They ap- proached the house from the west side and saw a man answering in dress and descrip- tion to Tracy, coming out of a blacksmith shop. Dr. Lanter had thought that they had better take a shot, but Smith advised caution. They were advancing with drawn guns when Tracy discovered them. He then dodged behind a
horse and went toward the barn and when within twelve feet he made a jump and landed inside, secured his gun, came out of the barn another way and, shielding himself behind two hay stacks, struck out for a large rock in the barley field adjoining where he opened fire, which was promptly returned.
"Tracy made a good target, as every time he rose to shoot he showed his white shirt. After the exchange of eight shots he shifted his position and crawled into the barley. The posse kept shooting whenever they saw any movement. No shots were returned, and in the course of three-quarters of an hour a muf- fled shot was heard in the field and that was supposed to be the fatal one with which Tracy took his life. Dr. Lanter and Smith fired two shots, and then lay down to await events. This was at 4:30 o'clock in the evening.
"Tracy was found lying almost on his face, his left hand holding his Winchester rifle, his revolver in his right, pointing to his forehead. He had, before taking his life, dragged him- self a distance of forty yards, indicating that his leg had been broken behind the rock. Con- stable Straub talked with Eddy who was mow- ing hay, before Lanter and Smith came upon Tracy at the house. At first Eddy denied that he had such a person around, but admitted that there was a visitor. Straub corroborated Lanter as to the shooting. Sheriff Gardner ex- hibited the Colt's revolver, and said he fired one shot. The balance of the evidence was in the same strain, and the jury found a verdict that the deceased man was Harry Tracy, and that he had come to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by his own hand."
Such is the repulsive story as told by a lo- cal journal of good repute. There have been bickerings and recriminations by the score con- cerning the exact details of this tragedy in the Eddy barley field; it would be impossible for the most careful historian to separate fact from fiction ; to assert that he, the writer, could pose as an impartial arbiter of questions innumer-
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able, questions still debatable at the time of the present writing. But as reported by the local papers of the immediate community in which these scenes occurred we give the story to our readers without malice and with charity for all. During, or soon after the fight, the in- terchange of shots between the Creston posse and the hunted desperado, Sheriff Gardner ar- rived on the scene. It is his testimony before the coroner's jury that he fired once into the field. He then sent to Davenport for rein- forcements to guard the field until morning. Throughout that night armed men gathered around the battleground anxious to be "in at the death," still unconscious that the cold hand of death had already been laid upon Outlaw Tracy.
It was on Wednesday morning that the re- mains of Tracy were brought to Davenport and taken to the office of an undertaker. Throughout the day crowds lingered in the vicinity anxious to obtain a view of the dead bandit. It was a gruesome spectacle, as he lay on the fioor in his blood-stained clothes, the top of his head gaping open from the self- inflicted gun-wound. He was awaiting identi- fication by Oregon authorities who were ex- pected in on every train. Stories grow with repetition and travel. This is particularly true of the many wild statements regarding al- leged "Tracy relic hunters." In papers out- side the state of Washington it has been pub- lished that the remains were denided of the clothes ; that the hair was cut away. This was a gross exaggeration. Relic hunters did pick up a few buttons and other trinkets, but they did not cut any clothes off, and the dead man's hair was untouched. While the body lay in the undertaker's parlors the Lincoln County Times said :
The sensational events of the life of the outlaw during the few days he passed at the ranch of Lou and Gene Eddy were told to the writer by Lou Eddy. The many reports pub- lished about the incidents of these few days con-
flict with each other and, in many accounts, with the truth. The following account of the tragedy and the events leading up to it is written from notes furnished the writer by Mr. Eddy, and describes the tragedy as witnessed by the man who had more opportunity to study the char- acter of the outlaw than any other person he encountered in the course of his famous break for liberty, and who was an eye witness of all the events that transpired on his ranch.
The Eddy ranch is located in a rough and rocky scope of country, devoted almost entire- ly to stock grazing. Surrounding the house and barn of the Eddy boys on nearly all sides rise walls of rock, of similar formation of those of the Coulee walls, but of lesser proportions. The entire aspect is wild in the extreme. To this place on the afternoon of Sunday, August 3. 1902, at about 3:30 p. m., Harry Tracy, the outlaw, accompanied by George Goldfinch, came. Tracy had met young Goldfinch at a point about five miles west, and they had jour- neyed together to the Eddy ranch. He had re- vealed his identity to Goldfinch, and just before arriving at the ranch he said he guessed he might as well tell the Eddys who he was. Tracy was armed with his 30-30 Winchester rifle and his .45 Colt's revolver, and had with him two saddle horses.
Tracy and Goldfinch came direct to the barn, where they found Lou Eddy. To the latter the outlaw told who he was. He stated that he understood that he was a stock raiser and de- sired to procure two saddle horses to replace the ones he had, having ridden his all the way from Wenatchee making their backs sore. Mr. Eddy examined the horses and finding some shoes loose he put these in condition. The out- law said he would rest awhile and pull out that evening. George Goldfinch expressed his in- tention of leaving, but to this, at first, Tracy strenuously objected. His intentions were to remain here a few days to recuperate although he had not yet made this known, and he did not wish Goldfinch to leave for fear of his giving
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information of the bandit's whereabouts. He told Mr. Eddy that he had no money but would work for his board during his proposed stay with him. The Eddys were building a barn and inquired of Tracy if he could do carpenter work. He said he was not a carpenter but guessed he could make himself useful. Ac- cordingly the following morning the notor- ious outlaw set to work carrying boards and nailing them on the roof. He worked all day Monday and nearly all of Tuesday, and Mr. Eddy says he was a first-class workman. During these two days Mr. Eddy had an excellent op- portunity for studying the character of the man who had forced his presence upon him. Tracy spoke freely of his past life and, as Mr. Eddy expressed it, "he could talk an arm off a man." He was a sociable and agreeable talker. He stated that the newspaper reports of his killings were exaggerated ; that he had not killed nearly so many people as reported. He, evidently, had no use for bankers nor money loaners. He spoke intelligently of the issues of the day. At night he slept in the open air, as was the custom of the Eddy boys during the hot weather. His sleeping place was about six feet from where Gene Eddy slept.
Tracy was ever on the alert and continually kept a lookout for possible posses. While at work on the roof of the barn he would never allow either of the other workmen to get behind him. When it was necessary for one to pass behind him Tracy would always turn and face him, saying something commonplace, as though the turning was done simply to speak and not because of suspicion. The Eddy boys on ser- eral occasions talked over the advisability of attempting to capture or kill Tracy. They de- cided to take no chances and to undertake noth- ing of the kind unless success was assured. Goldfinch, believing that the outlaw had depart- ed Sunday night, as he had stated that such was his intention, came to the Eddy ranch again Monday to learn if anything had hap- pened. This was late in the evening. Sus-
picion that the boy would inform against him had been allayed in Tracy's mind, and again Goldfinch was allowed to take his departure. He returned to Adam Blenz's ranch, where he was working, and early the next morning went to Creston, and notified the Lincoln county aut- thorities. It was 5:25 o'clock Tuesday even- ing, that any one at the Eddy ranch first saw any of the members of the Creston posse. Lou Eddy was mowing hay about one-half a mile northwest of the house, when Messrs. Straub and Lillingren drove up and inquired where Tracy was. Mr. Eddy unhitched and came to the barn. Tracy was in the yard when Eddy came in about 6 o'clock. Suddenly Tracy, who kept a constant lookout, uttered an exclamation and demanded of Eddy:
"Who are those men with guns?"
He had espied the other three members of the posse who, armed with rifles, had appeared on a bluff only a short distance from the barn. Tracy sprang behind the horses and ordered Eddy to lead them to the barn. When within a few feet of it Tracy made a jump and was shielded from his pursuers by the building. He ran along the side of the barn and, entering, se- cured his rifle. Then in a stooping position he made a run for the large rock in the barley field, about 200 yards northeast of the barn. He was not seen by the posse until just before he reached the rock and only one shot was fired before he gained it. It was behind this rock that Tracy brought all his cunning into play. He would run from one corner of the rock to the other, putting up his cap as a mark, but never in range when his head was in it. Both sides opened fire. Mr. Eddy says the posse fired eight times, Tracy five and Sheriff Gardner once. After several shots had been exchanged Tracy was seen to either jump, or fall, from the rock into the barley field. It was then that Gardner put in an appearance and fired a shot into the field. Within one minute another shot was heard just before sundown-evidently Tracy killing him- self-and then all was still. The body of Tracy
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was found at daybreak the next morning. It was immediately taken to Davenport.
"A bitter fight is on between the Creston posse and Sheriff Gardner-a legacy of the bandit, Tracy, who was killed on the Eddy farm a week ago. The Creston posse stoutly maintain that no officer was near at hand when the fight with Tracy occurred, that Marshal O'Farrell, of Davenport, did not arrive on the ground until an hour later, and that Sheriff Gardner and his son, Charles, were two hours behind the fight. On the contrary the marshal and sheriff claim that they were in at the windup. The following morning Sheriff Gardner took charge of Tracy's remains and brought them to the undertaker's rooms at Davenport. The coroner, Dr. Moore, then took possession of the dead man, held an in- quest and appointed members of the Creston posse to escort the remains to Salem, Oregon, and secure the reward. Sheriff Gardner declared that the coroner had no authority to do anything of the kind, and announced that he, himself, would take the remains to Oregon the next morning. He was sup- ported in the position he took by Prose- cuting Attorney Caton. The Creston men were greatly incensed over the sheriff's action, and the most serious trouble was feared, as they, the Creston men, were armed, and stated that they would resist the sheriff's at- tempts to take the body at any cost. It was at this stage of the proceedings that Sheriff Gardner acceded to their, demands, and an- nounced that he would allow them to go to Oregon with the body.
"Arriving at Salem, the Creston men were refused the reward, the governor informing them that a message had been received from the sheriff of Lincoln county requesting him to pay no rewards until all claims were presented and considered. No settlement has yet been made. Sheriff Gardner claims that he is entitled to a share of the reward. It is understood that a conference will be held between the different
claimants this week, and that an effort will be made to reach some agreement. Meanwhile the Creston people are thoroughly wrought up over the affair and sentiment throughout the county appears to be strongly in their favor."
The last scene in the Tracy drama was en- acted in the courts of Lincoln county in June, 1903. It concerned the $2.500 reward offered by the state of Washington for the capture of Tracy. The contest was between the Creston party-Dr. Lanter, C. A. Straub, Maurice Smith, J. J. Morrison and Frank Lilliangreen -who attacked and captured Tracy. At first there were a number of other claimants in com- pany with young Goldfinch, including Sheriff Gardner, but later they all withdrew their claims. On motion of plaintiff's attorney the jury was instructed to bring in a verdict for the members of the Creston posse. Young Gold- finch, unfortunately allied himself against the men who participated in the capture, and in the legal contest was beaten. Sentiment, however. was strongly in the boy's favor, and the public would have been pleased to have seen him share in the reward. There is one point in this matter that, so far, has been overlooked by the "public." It is evident to the candid reader that Goldfinch was betrayed from the start. He telegraphed Sheriff Gardner concerning the whereabouts of Tracy. He did more, he re- quested the operator to keep his secret. It was the duty of the operator to do this. But a man named J. J. Morrison, who was in the office at the time, spread the news. He communicated it to the Creston people. The posse hastily or- ganized by Constable Straub, and, unknown to Goldfinch, marched on the doomed outlaw. Goldfinch had, also, made an appointment with Marshal O'Farrell, an appointment which he kept to the letter. All of Goldfinch's informa- tion so far had been turned into the proper official channels. No wonder he felt chagrined to find how sadly his plans had miscarried. Cer- tainly Goldfinch has a grievance.
The Washington Tracy reward, $2.500, was
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paid over to the Creston men in December, 1903, thus ending a long controversy. The Oregon reward, $1,500 had been previously raid.
Undoubtedly Tracy was insane. His ex- ploits throughout Lincoln county as well as in other parts of the state indicate a condition of violent dementia. His reckless dalliance at a ranch in a country alive with armed men look- ing for him, and permitting strange people to go and come was, certainly, taking such des- perate chances as no inan in his right mind would have taken under the circumstances. By this utter neglect of ordinary precaution his pursuers were frequently thrown off the scent. From the time of his escape from the Oregon penitentiary Tracy's actions were devoid of rationality. He failed to take advantage of the most favorable opportunities to get out of the country. He, at timse, exhibited cunning, and appeared resourceful, with wit enough to es- cape out of the state on a freight train. Or he might have continued among the mountains, gradually working his way to some place of comparative safety. But to undertake to ii le through an open country, accompanied by a pack horse of strikingly peculiar markings. pro- claiming his name at every house in a bombastic manner, was to court pursuit and certain cap- ture or death.
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