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It had been four days sense Tracy had murdered his brother-in-law Merrill, he was feeling surprising cheery about the situation, but lonely now. Oddly, he found comfort in sleeping in a cemetery the days following the duel he had with Merrill. It wasn’t the sun that awoke Tracy on July 2nd, 1902, nor guilt, but hunger. Tracy had been avoiding towns and people until he put some distance between himself and Merrill’s lifeless body that slumped over a log in the brush.

Tracy had made it west of Olympia, he had made it to the Puget sound region finally, a place he felt he could disappear for good. For him this wasn’t the case, while he wasn’t as recognizable as he was in Oregon, the sheriff and his posse in King County had aggressively taken up the hunt, and began searching other areas of the state. The renewed effort was led by Sheriff Cudihee. Cudihee was an excellent lawman with a knack for capturing fugitives. He saw this as a personal challenge to detain Tracy. Other sheriffs led the hunt for Tracy and Merrill until their jurisdiction ended. He felt that Tracy would surely travel through Seattle in order to escape to Canada, and when the time came, they would be ready. Nobody could have predicted what would happen July 2nd 1902.

Tracy hopped the small stone wall that outlined the cemetery he just slept at,

‘thanks for the company.’ He said to rotting residence of the cemetery, leaving for good. He moseyed down to the water’s edge of South Bay Olympia and came across a small town of fisherman, loggers, and transient workers, some white, some Asian. The sun was just beginning to pierce through the dense, chilling, mist and fog that hung around before the daylight and heat would dissipate it all. One of the tents had bustling happening in it already, above it said ‘ Olympia Oyster Company’.

He could smell the stove starting and food being prepared, he hastily walked in the tent pointing his rifle, starting out in his usual fanfare, but this time speaking lightly. He saw there were three people in the tent, the manager Mr. Horatio and his workers, they all turned to greet him and saw his rifle pointed in their direction.
‘I’m Tracy the convict. Raise no fuss and I won’t harm you. I want something to eat right away.’ Mr. Horatio nodded and looked his crew. One continued cooking, Tracy directed the others to sit at the table and be silent.

The they all sat in silence for some time, Tracy peered out of the tent and saw a small fishing boat in the distance. He saw someone tending lines and prepping the boat for departure.

‘N. and S.’ Tracy read aloud. One of the men’s eyes met Tracy’s as he said the letters.

‘Do you know about that launch?’ Tracy asked.

The man nodded.

‘Well why don’t we invite them in! Go on, go get him for breakfast!’ Tracy said enthusiastically.

‘And, one thing. If you run or tell them anything other than join us for breakfast. I’ll kill every person in this tent and then I’ll come after you.’

The man nodded and left the tent, starting towards the boat.

Tracy turned his rifle to the men at the table, ‘everyone’s going to be calm, we’re just all having breakfast.’

‘Captain Clark!’ the prisoner cried, waving and grimacing.

‘Morning Mr. Ballard!’ Clark returned.

‘We made breakfast why don’t you come and join us!’ He said still smiling uncomfortably.

‘Oh, sure! One moment!’ Clark said back ducking into his boat.

Ballard looked back at the tent, a nervous wreck. He could see a thin slice of Tracy’s face, specifically a single fixed black eye fixated squarely on him. He could hear Captain Clark hollering from inside his boat as he was reemerging.

‘I was just getting ready to head out, but I figured we could do with some grub!’ He said reemerging with a young boy, his son.

Ballard’s blood drained from his face as the two approached, he was still grimacing, but turned around and headed for the tent.

The three entered the tent and froze. Seeing Tracy with his rifle.

‘Welcome! Glad you could join us for breakfast!’ Tracy said, with a smile. The captain looked around, feeling uncomfortable with the tension. The other hostages smiled and nodded and said there various greetings.

‘Please sit!’ Ballard suggested, situating himself between Tracy and the boy. They did as they were told.

Tensions began to ease and Tracy maintained his jovialness and inquired more about Captain Clark’s boat and the oyster industry. Everyone had eaten food and Tracy leaned back, gripping his rifle again.

‘Well Captain Clark, I’ve heard a lot about you, I’m Tracy the convict. And I want to pay a visit to Seattle, you’re going to pilot that boat, and get me in through Meadow Point. Our private yachting trip!’

‘And if I don’t.’ Clark stated.

Tracy stared at Clark allowing him to see his ruthlessness and soullessness that he was capable, all held in his eyes.

‘Let’s go, son.’ Clark finally relented, pulling his son out of the tent and heading to the boat. All members of the tent boarded the boated and they began their journey from Olympia to Seattle.

After they were away from land Tracy became veraciously social. He began regaling the crew of his exploits, happily chatting away. The crew became comfortable with him, and even engaged in his stories, sometimes poking fun at him. He was incredibly good humored and chummy with the crew. Suddenly, he rose from his seat in the small cabin to look out the window.

‘That’s McNeil’s Island?’ He asked excitedly.

‘Yessir, but you wouldn’t want to go there, it’s a military prison, surely they’ll be looking for you.’

‘That’s exactly what we’ll do. I want you to get close enough so I can kill one of those bastard guards!’

Clark was stunned. Tracy widened his eyes, ‘Do. it.’

They began to approach the island, Ballard, who had retrieved the captain spoke to Tracy.

‘If they see this boat, and you kill a guard, they will get you before we get to Meadow Point. Then you’ll be in that prison, or one just like it again, and they won’t let you out this time. Let us take you to Meadow Point like you promised.’ Tracy and Ballard starred at one another, neither blinking.

‘alright. fine.’ Tracy conceded. Even when wrong he maintained total control.

‘Where is Merrill?’ The boy asked.

Tracy hesitated for some time.

‘I killed him.’

‘Killed him!?’ The boy echoed.

‘That’s right, I killed him. The man was loosing his nerve! He was always shaking, scared, ready to bolt instead of fight! I heard from the Portland papers that it was from clues he left em’, was how they caught us!’ He exclaimed, the cabin was silent.

‘We were hollerin’ at each other, I called him a coward, he got huffy and wanted to duel. We agreed to ten paces, but I knew he’d spin around at eight. So I just fired over my shoulder and it hit him. I spun around and shot once more, and that was the end of David Merrill. good riddance!’

The boat ride continued for another 8 hours, Tracy would sleep most of this time. At one point, Ballard moved closer to Tracy to try to grab his rifle, but with every small noise or movement, he stirred. He awoke fully as dust was turning to night. Once they arrived, Tracy instructed Ballard to tie everyone up.

‘That man over there, tie his elbows in front, loosely, he’s got a bad wrist.’ he instructed. He left the boy untied and pointed the rifle at Ballard.

‘You’re coming with me.’ Tracy commanded, ushering Ballard off first.

The two walked in the night along a railroad track leading south into town. Tracy spoke loudly and enthusiastically about his exploits and his life of crime to Ballard.

‘They’ll be out soon.’ Tracy said, ‘You made sure they were loose, right?’ Ballard nodded. As they walked a bum approached them, stumbling around in the night.

Tracy gripped his rifle and began to raise it. Ballard looked alarmed.

‘Oh! I couldn’t possibly implement you in a robbery!’ He exclaimed, the vagrant heard this and darted. Tracy laughed and sat down on the train track, inviting Ballard to join him, which he did.

‘Aren’t you afraid people will know you’re here, boastin’ about your exploits?’ Ballard asked.

‘Everyone knows I’m here. Don’t you know, I’m a wanted man and Cudihee is on the hunt for me. I’d bet he’d be happy to know I’m here.’

Ballard sat in silence, confusion, and fear. He wondered how a man this friendly could be so terrifying, or how he can treat his manhunt so trivially.

‘All right, time for you to go.’ Tracy huffed.

Ballard looked at him.

‘It’s no trick, go on, back to the boat with you!’ Tracy gestured.

He sat and watched Ballard run away, then headed East, towards Bothell.

Notes: This is a rendition of the events surrounding true historical facts. Please keep in mind that sights, sounds, dialogue, etc may not be an exactly historically accurate. While the author(s) do their best to depict this story as historically accurate as possible, there are some additions for entertainment value and readability.

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