Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, August 14, 1902, Image 3

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    END OF BANDIT TRACY
The Washington Man Killer Dies By His Own Hand
V
Rather Than to Be Captured
HIS HIGH CAREER IS FINALLY ENDED
fc , Wounded by a Posse Which Demands His Life.
Makes Desperate Fight For Liberty
HOLDS ENTIRE FAMILY AS SUBJECTS
, - Reckless Daring of the Outlaw Finally Causes His Own Undoing Four
Citizens in the Final Chase.
Spokane , Wash. , Harry Tracy the
outlaw , his killed himself in a wheat
Held near Fellows.
i
He was surrounded by a sheriff's !
posse Wednesday night. Tracy was j I
wounded in the right leg between
the knee and the thigh , and twenty '
minutes later , knowing that his cap- .
ture was certain , he killed himself' ' (
with a revolver. The body of the out
law was found in the wheat 6eld this
morning.
The place where Tracy was sur
rounded is near the Eddy farm ,
eleven miles southeast of Cieston.
While long range rifle tiring be
tween Trncv and Sheriff Gardner's
posse was going on. Jack McGinnis ,
a liveryman and member of the
posse , started to Davenpoit for rein
forcements , lie arrived early this
morning and went on to Davenport.
Later a telephone message stated
that twenty-five armed men had left
here. But meanwhile Trary , by his
own hand , bad made their service
unnecessary.
The wheat field is near Fellows , a
station on the Washington Central
railroad , about fifty miles west of
Spokane. Word was sent back to
Davenport , the county seat , and a
large number of armed men hurried
to the scene. The posse under Sher
iff Gardner , opened lire on the out
law , and one bullet pierced his right
leg between the knee and thigh.
About twenty minutes after being
w Minded , he shot himself with one
of his own revolvers , and his body
was found this morning after day-
bvak.
The revolver with which he killed
himself was grasped tightly in his
rigtu Land.
Tracy was hunted down by a posse
of Creston citizens. Surrounded , he
engaged in a running battle with
his pursuers His leg was broken by
a bullet and an artery bled profuse
ly He crept into a wheat field and
ttied to tie up the artery Becoming
desperate he put his revolver to his
head and tired a bullet into his own
brain. At daylight this morning his
body was found , already cold.
Tracy was hunted down by four
citizens of the little farm wig town
of Creston , and alro deputy sher
iff. Sheriff Gardner and posse ar
rived in tin.e to guard the wheat
field through the night : but the work
bad already been done.
The posse that will share the re
ward was made up as follows ;
C. A Staub , deputy sheriff : Dr. E
C Lanter. Maurice Smith , attorney
.1 J'Mmrison railway section fore
man , a id Frank Lilengen These
men armed to the teeth , set out
from Cieston Wednesday afternoon
about 2 o'clock They were working
on the information of the Gold Much
youth who had been forcibly made
the companion of the Oiegon convict
for over twenty-four hours at the
ranch of L. R Eddy , on Lake creek ,
about three miles south from Fel
lows , a station on the Washington
Central railway. The party made
nil possible haste in getting to the
ranch When within a few hundred
yards of the farm they encountered
Farmer Eddy mowing in one of his
fields While engaging him in con
versation they saw a man issuing from
the barn door
"Is that Tracy ? ' * a iked one of the
party.
"It surely is. " replied Eddy
The party separated , Lanter and
Smith accompanying Edd > in he di
rection of the barn , while the other
two men swung around to the other
side Two of the man hunters
stepped behind the barn on a slight
NO HOPE FOR A MURDERER
Shringtield , 111. . Aug. 8. Louis G.
Tombs , of Chicago , convicted of
murdering a girl on a boat In Lake
Michigan , atfer assaulting her , and
sentenced to hang , and who has
twice been granted a reprieve by
Governor Yates in order that his at-
tornevs could take the case up to the
S'ipreme court , must hang August
II. as Acting Governor Northcott ,
who was asked to again etxend re
prieve , us declined to do so.
eminence , from which they could
watcn everything that went on , Ed
dy continued on up to tne door
Tracy cauie from the barn again and
began helping his host unhitch the
horses. He carried no rifle , although
he had his revolvers in place. The
fugitive finally saw the men carrying
rifles and turning sharply to Eddy ,
said :
"Who are those men1
"I don't see any men , " said Eddy.
Tracy pointed out the two men on
the hill. Eddy informed his compan-
on who the men were and the outlaw
made a lead for the barn door. The
pursuers stepping a bit closer , com
manded "Hold up your hands. " The
outlaw jumped behind Eddy and
placed first the farmer and then his
horse between himself and the men.
He commanded the farmer to lead
his horse to the barn , and remain
ing nnder cover , moved toward shel
ter. When near the stable , he broke
and clashed inside. He quickly re
appeared , rifle in hand , and started
on a dead run.
Tuining on the two men nearest
him the desperate min fired two
shots , but without his usual luck ,
neither bullet taking effect. With
out waiting for further fighting Tra
cy made a dash down the valley lead
ing south from the barn , and headed
for the brush.
In an instant the man hunters
were off in pursuit , firing as they rau.
Coming to a rock , Tracy dodged be
hind it , and rested his gun on the
rock , began a fussllade. Eight shots
in all were fired by the outlaw , not
one hitting its mark. Seeing he
was not succeeding , he bolted for a
wheat field close by. At the edge of
the field he stumbled , falling on
his face and crawled into the grain
on his hands and knees.
It was growing dark , and the pur
suers not dariug to move closer , de
cided to surround the place and
wait for daylight.
In tne meantime Sheriff Gardner
with Policemen Staffer and Gemmer.
O'Farrell of Dav-
of Spukane , Jack -
enpoit and other reinforcements had
arrived on the scene , and they wenl
into camp around the field during
the night.
Shorty after Tracy disappeared a
shot was heard from the direction
of the wheat fields. No investiga
tion was made , however , until this
morning , As soon as dawn came , an
entrance was made into the wheat
field. Tracy's body was * found lying
amid the grain with his face turned
toward the sky. His left hand thrown
over his head a revolver , which had
inflicted the death wound. The
thumb of his hand was on the trig-
gei of the pistol. His right hand ,
thrown across the lower part of his
tody , firmly graspped the barrel of
the famous rifle.
Death was inflicted by a revolver
held close to the forehead. The top
of his head was badly shattered.
Two bullet wounds on the left leg
showed the cause of the man's de
spondency. One shot had broken the
leg between the ankle and the knee.
The other cut the tibial artery which
of itself was sufficient to cause death.
It is believed that both of these
wounds wree received after the con
vict left the sheter of the rock and
made his break for the wheat field.
The murderer had taken a stra'p
and buckled it tightly around his leg
in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Despite the * tightly fastened strap
the bleeding continued until he prob-
b illy realized bis hopeless condition
and ended the struggle.
Tracy was dressed in blue overalls
KANSAS MAN APPOINTED
Washington , Aug. 8. The presi
dent has appointed John B. Richard
son of Kansas United States consul
at Utilia , Honduras. Mr. .Richard
son was recently appointed consul at
Port Li mono , Costa Rica , but de
clined that office on account of the
climatic conditions oft he place.
Hunter Charp of North Carolina
has 'ieen coramisioned by the presi
dent as interpreter of the United
States consul at Kobe , Japan.
a white , shirt , and wore no coat or
vest. He wore a bicycle cap and a
pair of rough shoes. He had one
lifle and two revolvers.
Sheriff Jardner of Lincoln county ,
and his assisants , arrived on the
scene in time to help in the final dis
covery of the remains and it is stated
that he maintained that he and bis
deputies were entitled to at least a
share of the booty. This was dis
puted by the Creston party , the
members of which maintained that
they did the work , and to them be
longs the reward. Finally Sheriff
Gardner was allowed to take the
body , with the understanding that
he recommend that the reward be
paid to the men from Crouton.
The body , effects and the horses
of the notorius man were taken in
charge by Sheriff Gardner and taken
direct to Davenport , where they will
be kept pending the decision of the
final disposition of Tracy's body.
Reports come from Davenport
that wild excitement prevails.
Stores are closed and people are
crowding around to get a sight of
the outlaw. It is stated that a
heavy guard is kept around the
morgue where the body is kept , as
well as around the corpse itself to
prevent relic-hunters from tearing
the clothingjio pieces and carrying
away souvenirs.
For two days and nights Tracy
held the family of Farmer L. B. Ed
dy under subject. Here again he
showed the qualities of nerve and
cool-headedness. But these very
qualities brought about his downfall.
Had he not allowed G. E. Goldfinch
the eighteen-year-old boy , to leave
the ranch when he did , the story to
day might be different , but the
outlaw had too much faith in esti
mating the terror his words of warn
ing would give to the lad.
The story or trie exploits of the fa
mous bandit at the Eddy ranch are
ghen by the boy , who was his ser
vant for over a-day. It was. Sunday
afternoon that Goldfinch was riding
a horse across the prairie not far
from the Eddy farm. He noticed a
strange man camped not far from
where he passed. To all appearances
the stranger was just having his
supper , but young Goldfinch paid lit
tle attention to him. Just as the
boy was going by the camper calle3
out , asking him to have some supper.
With the reply that tie had finished
his supper Goldfinch did not even
slacken the pace of his horse , and
passed the stranger. It was then an
imperative command from the strang
er brought Goldfinch to a sudden stop.
He was orderrd to come back. This
order was obeyed. With his usual
ceremony he soon made himself
known. He inquired the way to the
nearest farm and was directed to
the Eddy place. Tracy at this time
still had two horses. One he rode ,
the other , the boy says , was loaded
with groceries , meat , sugar , coffee
and bedding.
"You go ahead and tell him I am
coming , " commanded the outaw.
Goldfinch readily complied and
started ahead to announce the com
ing of the. guest. Tracy , however ,
kept close on the heels of the lad ,
evidently not intending to give him
a chance to give warning.
On the way to the house Tracy no
ticed a rope Hailing from his pack
animal "That's leaving a bad
mark , " said the outlaw , and he
stopped to gather in the trailing
coils. He then'went on his way to
the Eddy ranch. Arriving there.
Goldfinch performed the service al-
loted to him and soon told the fam
ily who the visitor was.
The night passed without any
special happenings so far as the lad
remembers. In the morning Tracy
made his toilet. A bath and a shave
were included in his morning make
up , the farmer and his men having
provided razor , soap , towels , etc.
When the men started for their work
Tracy discovered they were construct
ing an overhead rack in the barn for
the fall crop. The outlaw decided to
make himself useful , and divesting
himself of his Winchester and one of
his revolvers , labored with the other
men during mest of the morning.
He kept one revolver , however , in
the holster by his side ready Tor in
stant use. During the day the out
law wanted his other weapons , which
had been left with his bedding and
traveling outfit. He sent Goldfinch
after the weapons , and prtmdly passed
them around to the awe-stricken
workmen. They were allowed to
handle the weapons and inspect
them , but it is said they took care
not to bave the muzzles of the guns
pointing toward the outlaw. Tracy
all this time had a revover himself
and left no opening for the farmers
to get the drop on him. That the
outlaw stood in no fear of Eddy and
DEATH OF DARING CLIMBER.
Philadelphia , Aug. 8. Daniel Bar
ry , a daring cilmber known as "See-
pie Jack" fell ninety-eight feet while
working in the city hall tower and
was instantly killed.
Barry placed the electric lights
around the brim of the statue of
William Penn , which caps the city
hall tower , 540 feet above the pave-
'ment and occasionally would lower
himself over the edge of that and
bang in mid-air by his hands. He
fell from the dome.
his men attempting lo take advan
tage of the opening was vouched for
by himself , he having remarked to
the farmers :
"I am not afraid of you. " During
the day the outlaw remarked that
he needed a new holster , one of his
revolvers being unsuplied. Young
Goldfiach was instructed to find the
leather , after which the outlaw soon
made a holster.
Monday evening Tracy told Gold-
nfich he might go. He was , howev-
re cautioned , on pain of dentil , not
to tell what bad happened until
Wednesday. It was this very display
of nerve that had heretofore made
the outlaw apparently safe that this
time caused his ruin , Goldfinch , ; in
stead of being sufficiently terrorized
to keep peace , soon started the news
and aroused a posse.
CREDITORS CAUSE ARREST.
Callaway , Neb. , Aug. 6. Today as
the train pulled out Ernest Mortimer
stepped onto it , leaving behind , it is
alleged , a number of creditors. A
telephone message wsa sent to an at
torney at Kearney and as a result
when the train pulled into that city
Mortimer was apprehended. Morti
mer is an Englishman who came to
this country about a year ago and
commenced work on Bennett's dray
line. Early in the summer he bought
the restaurant and cream parlor of
James Oliver , promising to pay a bal
ance soon. Yesterday he sold the
restaurant and left. A message from
Kearney states that he paid the mon
ey over to balance the account and
was turned loose.
LOSES FORTUNE IN JEWELS.
Thifives Get O ms Worth $20,000 From
Mrs. Cliarlen Spreckeltt.
New York , Aug. 6. Mrs. Charles A.
Spreckels ofan Francisco , who missed
jewels valued at $20,000 while on the
way to Southampton to take jpassage
on the steamer Kaiser Wilhelm der
Grosse. arrived on that vessel today.
She had heard nothing concerning the
missiner jewelry , but trusted it would
be recovered. A reward of $5,000 has
been offered for its return.
Wanted A Gentlemen.
An extremely stout , good tempered
English woman once contrived to
wedge herself into a gallery seat at a
London theater. The seat would
have accomodated a person of ordina
ry size , but her avoirdupois caused
unconcealled annoyance to a smartly
dressed youth next to her. She be
gan to peel an orange , and the youth ,
with a gesture of complaint , removed
his hat fussily to a safer position.
'I suppose , ' ' said the good tempered
woman , "that you'd rather have
had a gentleman sitting by the side
of you. sir , wouldn't you ? ' The youth
replied , snappishly , in the affiirma-
ive. "Ah ! " said the woman ,
houghtfully , "so would I ! "
Onions aie a tonic for the nerves.
Celery is an acknowledged nerve
tonic.
Dandelions purify the blood and
tone up the system.
Watercress is a "good , all-around"
brace up for the system.
Three-fourths of the steeplechase
races in England are won by horses
bred in Ireland.
The organ of sight is more highly
developed in birds than in any ani
mal.
People who go barefooted , and
those who wear sandals instead of
shoes , rarely have colds in the head
or any form of influenza.
Automoble stage lines have been
established , or are to be established ,
in many states , according to infoi-
mation in the Motor Ag ? .
A parisian surgeon has invented a
surgical sewing machine which will
mend rents in human skin at a rapid
rate.
If the earth were equallly divided
among its inhabitants , each person's
share would be about twenty-three
and one-half acres.
In the rural districts of Sweden a
garden is attached to every school.
Here the children receive practical
instruction in the cultivation of
plants , berries , flowers , herbs , and
fruits , the management of hotbeds ,
greenhouses , and soforch.
A panel of jurors was summoned in
Justice Brigham's court London.
Sirty-two of them answered to the
name of Clark. A jury of twelve
was drawn , and eleven of them were
named Clark. The twelfth man was
G. F. Clarkson.
It seems probable that the mystery
of the murder of John Donaldson of
Wood River and E. M. Fritz of Po-
catelo , who were killed while pros
pecting on the Fort Hail reservation
last June , will be cleared ap , as
word has been received that W. A.
Durham has been arrested in Ban
ner county , Idaho , and the county
attorney has a chain of evidence
that will result in his conviction.
ATCHISON GLOBE SIGHTS.
Comments on Everyday Matters by
an Original Gciiina.
If you can't shoot , give up the gun.
When you go visiting , don't stay too
long.
Every day is a dull da/for a dull per
son.
son.If
If strawberries don't taste as well as
they used to , it's your age.
Tell your troubles as you wish to'
have them repeated , not as they really
are.
are.A
A short man has the best of a tall
man at the dinner table he is so much
nearer the soup.
A man demands the right of doing as
he pleases , but he does not give his
wife that privilege.
When n man is complimented , he
may not swallow It all , but he thinks
there is something in it.
When a man dies there is always sus
pense until it is discovered what his
out-of-town kin intend to do.
When a man dies , how soon matters
adjust themselves to get along without
him. It will be that way in your case.
We believe we can tell a sheriff as
far as we can see one , and we never
had one's hand down our collar , either.
When two men engage in a quarrel ,
and "talk" about each other , all the
people laugh at them. Might remember
this.
It often happens that the girl with
such serious handicaps as freckles and
straight hair gets her neck under the
wire iirst.
It is a good idea , if you think a wom
an gads too iiiuc-h. to urge her to put in
hardwood tloors. They will keep her
busy at home.
Every one occasionally thinks that
if others Knew How He Suffered , they
would be alarmed. But people care very
little about you.
You can compliment any girl with
dark eyes by calling her a gypsy ,
though it is well known that gypsies
are greasy and dishonest.
What has become of the old-fashioned
little girl who used to say to the boys
in her class , "You think you're mighty
smart , now don't 3011 ? "
Every one has this childish grievance
against his parents : that he once had a
calf , and when the calf was grown his
father sold it and kept the money.
If any friend of ours will refuse to
spend five dollars on flowers when we
die , and in a year later invest live cents
ih tlower seeds for our grave , we will
be very grateful.
Make a man comfortable , and you
will be surprised at his wit and wis
dom. One trouble with men is , they are
so often ill at ease ; their surroundings
do not tit him.
The women who complain there is
nothing new under the sun to cook will
be interested in knowing that Harper's
Bazaar gives a recipe for serving chick
en with the feathers on.
It takes three yards of material to
make a Gibson shirt waist : nice ma
terial may be bought for 10 cents T
yard , and a neighbor will lend the pat
tern. Figure this up. and when a man
sees a pretty summer girl , it is no won
der he decides he can support a wife.
People don't say as many mean
things about others as they formerly
did. People are becoming better. A bust
a neighbor , making charges that yon
do not half believe , and that you know
are probably untrue , and you will feel
mean for hours. You can't help it.
You should be a square man for your
own sake.
THE CONGRESSMAN'S WIFE.
Imagines Many Things , hut the Ife
nlity Disappoints.
The rural Congressman's wife , arnbi
tioiih to be in society , and who fondly
imagines that election to the House of
liepresciitatives carries with it the
golden key to unlock aH doors , learns
her first and bitter lesson when she
discovers that position means some
thing , but persons are 'everything , says
Harper's Magazine Such a woman
comes to Washington full of her own
importance , profoundly impressed with
the greatness of her husband , fondly
believing that the wife of the Presi
dent , the wives of the members of the
cabinet , the wives of Senators , will re
ceive her with open arms ; that she will
be invited to the dinners of which she
has.read in her local paper : that she
will get her name in the newspapers ,
and her dresses will be described as
was that of the Governor's wife , at
the last charity ball. Alas , for her
disillusionment ! She learns that while
a Congressman may be a very big man
in his district , he is a very small man
\Yashington until he has established
his tight to be regarded as above the
average. If he has money and tact ,
he may soon attract attention and cross
the golden boundary : or if he has no
money , but much ability , he will reach
his destination by another route ; if he
has neither one nor the other , if he
is simply an ordinary member of Con
gress , a very fair specimen of middle-
class , commonplace intelligence , the
social recognition for which his wife
sighs will never be hers. The wives
of Senators from ler State will return
her call , she may be invited to a tea ,
even to a dinner at the fag end of the
season , but that will be the limit of
her insight into society.
Automatic Gas
An arrangement has just been made
whereby the Berlin gas lamps in the
streets will be lighted automatically
tmd simultaneously by means of an
electric attachment. The current will
be switched on from the central sta
tion and a spark will ignite the gas ,
which will be turned on by a special
apparatus.
Go up to a crowd of old fellows , and
say , "Good-morning , boys , " and they
will feel good all day.
Few critics ever get what they are
entitled to in this busy world.
NEBRASKA NOTES. *
Columbus will have an independent
telcbone system.
There is a jrreat difference betweea
poker spots and poker dots.
A fehree-stoiy addition to the
moot , orphan's home will be built. I
- \
Twenty-six acres of land to be fit-f
ted up as a park , have been added tot
the town of Wymore.v '
Krasue's store , which is situated *
under the opera house at Belgrada
burned , .causing a loss of about $5,000y
Two men were arrested near Win-
side and there was found upon theic
persons nine watches. They are sup-
wosed to be the men who rcbberl a
jewelry store in Wayne.
The hearing of the A rgo base ball
nine , at Nebraska City charged witb
playing ball on Sunday , July 13 , re
sulted in binding over two of fcbe
players , Harry Seay and Ben Myresu
The Gage county fair and racing :
meet , announced for August 25-30 ,
his ; been cancelled , as the county
supervisors made no approppriatiore
for the meet.
P. C. Richards has been release *
from tlie penitentiary on382,000 bail
pending the heari-ng of his case in ,
the supreme court. Richards was
convicted of criminal intimacy witb ?
his young step-daughter.
A paper bag factory will soon be in
operation at Beatrice. Mr. Springer
is at the head of the pian and the
machinery is now being made. A.
large number of men and boys will
ne employed.
The young son of T J. Allen of ?
Reatrice , was caught in the belt of
a threshing machine while cutting
bands. FTis shoulder was dislocated !
rnd severe internal injuries werei
inflicted , which may prove fatal.
A contract for the construction of
a system of water works at Burweil
has been let. An election has been :
called to vote on the issuance of bunds *
for a new eight room school building.
In Saturday night's thundertorrr *
a barn belonging to A. M. Helfc , who
lives east of Fremont , was struck by }
lightning and burned to the ground. !
A horse which was in the barn losti
its life in the ilames.
Sheriff Daily ofPender has in cus
tody lludopn Mehling and Aug. Ben-
niug , herders on the reservation , ,
who are charged with having set fire *
to a house belonging to George F. .
LJhelps on the reservation on July 4. '
A young man named Frantz , froml
Hooper , tried to jump from an Elk-
horn train coming into Fremont from
rhe west and as a result was thrown
ro the ground so that his head struck
something hard and his scalp was
turn open.
After a long search the body of J.
W. Smith was found in a lish pond ,
near his home at Korth Bend. He
had apparently gone in for a plunge , .
On the previous evening he had com
plained of 511 health , but in the
morning seemed all right.
Albert Thomas , a painter , who has
beenworking in the B. & M. shops
it Plattsmouth , resigned his position
and has since mysteriously disap
peared. He left a wife and two chil
dren , who are at a loss to account
for his departure.
During a thunderstorm lightning
struck the high school building at
Fremont , throwing off the stone
ping and cracking one of the tall
himneys. ripping up some of the
-lating and jarring plaster from the
ceiling in two rooms , involving dam- '
ige to the amount of 8150 to 200.
What a Good Name Does.
Chicago. 111. , Aug. llth.-.Mr. Vahl-
berg. of 222 South Peoria St. . this city ,
iiitd for yours been an invalid with
liver complaint and kidney trouble
which was fast hastening him to the
giave. The doctors gave him up and
hi * . friend * and neighbors all declared
hcould not live.
His brother came from Minneapolis
to see him before he died and in
quired if he had tried Dodd's Kidney
Tills.
On being told that this remedy had
n-t been used he went out at once and
bought a box. feeling satisfied from
what he knew of Dodd's Kidney Pills
and the noble work they had been do
ing in Minnesota , that they would save
hi > brother's life.
The first two days Mr. Vahlberg
-eemed to grow worse , but after that
lie gradually improved under the treat
ment and was soon restored to com
plete pood health.
Work on the projected line from
Virginia to Beatrice , Neb. , thence
northwest to Grand Island , with a
branch from Baetrlce to Lincoln , by
the Kansas City , Bearice & Western
company , is soon to begin. This
company has filed for record at Beat
rice a mortgage given to the Union
Trust company of Philadelphia for
§ 500.000. The proceeds from the sale
of bonds are to be used in the con
struction of the mad.