The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 12, 1902, Page 1

@Al VOLUME XCII-NO., 42, SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1902. PRICE FIVE CENTS. DESPERADO TRACY ESCAPES AFTER A BLOODLESS BATTLE, BUT IS FINALLY DRIVEN TO BAY IN A WASHINGTON SWAMP BODY OF THE RIO'S CAPTAIN PROBABLY Y HAS BEEN FOUND Corpse Is Washed Ashore Near Fort Baker and the Buttons on the Vest Show the Initials of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. . | TRSIDE VvIEw oF | WATCH SHOWING Numeser of CAsE. .. bt THARM oM END oF 2 TWATSH THATN LIFE IN THE DISASTER AT THE FOUND ON A CORPSE NEAR FORT BAKER. LATE MASTER OF THE STEAMER RIO DE JANEIRO WHO LOST HIS GOLDEN GATE AND ARTICLES [ TR e AN RAFAEL, July 1L.—On the beach near Fort Baker, a few miles west of Sausalito, the headless body of a man was tound to-day, and there is con- siderable evidence lending color to the theory that it is that of in Ward, who went down on the ill- d steamer Rio Janeiro. The body is very much decomposed, but niform the man wore at the time of his death is in good condition and the buttons on his vest prove that he was in the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. From the dryness of the clothing it is ent the body was washed ashore sev- days ago. It had bken carried by the waves to a secluded portion of the beach. Jam Gray, a soldier at Fort Baker, walked along the beach this morning about § o’clock and discovered the corpse. He at once returned to the fort. The commandant was notified and soon there- efter Coroner Eden of San Rafael was inforined. The county official went im- mediately to the scene, gathered all facts the remains this afternoon. The body was placed in the morgue and a thorough examination of the clothing and person was made. The man's head had been removed close to the shoulders. | One leg was badly decomposed, while the fnther still had a foot on it. This foot was | clothed in a high-cut number 6 shoe. A | low-cut rubber shoe was on the other one. | The other parts of the body furnished no ; evidence of the man’s identity. | | | obtainable and returned to this city with | | i Coroner Eden gave it as his opinion that the man had been dead a long time, and that it was due to the fine texture of the | clothing that the body was held together. The body was dressed In a suit of blue cloth. The buttons on the coat were gone, but some brass buttons on the vest were still Intact. On these was the in- scription, P. M. 8. 8. Co., the insignia of the Pacific Mall Steamship Company. The buttons on the trousers had the in- scription Ah Ping, Hongkong, on them. There was no other discernible mark of identity upon the clothing and no papers or other significant sign could be found in the pockets of the coat or trousers. In the vest, however, was a costly gold watch with a heavy chain of like metal ]nt\ached. The timepiece was open-face, Elgin movement. The case of the watch bore the name of Shreve & Co., and was | marked 18 k., No. 95043, while the works bore the number 7425272. Attached to the watch was a heavy gold double-link chain with an anchor and compass charm. The watch crystal was broken and the works were badly rusted, but had no water in 0 the fact that the body lay in the hot sun | on the beach for several days. On the man's body was a single truss bearing the inscription, “J. H. A. Folkers & Co., 815 Market street, San Francisco.” On the underdrawers was a mark, but it could not be distinguished. Coroner Eden will hold the inquest on Monday in_this _city. MISS OELRICHS OBJECTS TO THE TERM “FARMER" NEWPORT, R. 1., July 1ll.—Incidents connected with the arrangements for tha coming wedding of Miss Lily Oelrichs, the pretty daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Charles N. Oelrichs, and Peter D. Mar- tin of San Francisco are following one an- other quite rapidly now, and as the mar- riage is to be the first important func- tion of the season they are naturally mat- ters of deep interest to the very large cir- cle of friends of the young couple. Miss Oelrichs and Mr. Martin visited the City Hall to-day and obtained a marriage license. This is a formality that brides and grooms naturally shun, yet it is one that, according to law, must be met by the contracting parties in person. It was, therefore, not at all unusual that some of the questions asked were pondered over by the pair. Mr. Martin, who is a man of affairs, was inclined to give his occupa- tion as that of a farmer, as he is'an own- er ‘of ranch property, but Miss Oelrichs, with woman’s wit, thought the term “‘cap- italist” would look just a little. better than the somewhat homely word “farm- er,” and, upon her suggestion, it was im- mediately adopted by Mr. Martin, with them. This, however, is probably due to! an improvement, some evident degree of satisfaction, as 1 i ESPITE the best of ef- forts to capture or kill | him,Tracyisstillat large’ and more than ever a puzzle to the authorities in Wash- ington. He is, however, cor- nered in’ a swamp near Ra- vensdale. Although sur- rounded. Thursday morning, and in perilous proximity to rifles and hounds, he contrived after a bloodless exchange of shots to conceal himself once more in the timber near Cov- ington. Scores of Deputy | Sheriffs and a number of fero- cious dogs are in pursuit of him. News from the posses is meager because they have left the lines of telegraph and telephone communication. It is expected that he will soon be forced to a battle. 5 : & Shots Fired at Out- law Near Cov- ington. Girl Tells of a Con- versation With Fugitive. Special Dispatch to The Call. EATTLE, dJuly 11.—Driven across country by blood- hounds, constantly pursued ty armed guards, Harry Tracy, outlaw and murderer, has at last been driven into the shel- ter of a swamp between Ravensdale and Black Diamond. The pursuers expect a battle at any time. The hounds are scarching the swamp. Despite his troubles, Tracy had another opportunity to converse with one of the opposite sex. Alice Collins, a pretty 16- year-old Auburn girl, is, the person who last talked to the desperado. While Tracy was not as calm as usual at the home of Johnson, he appeared in good spirits when he met Miss Collins and her 12-year-old brother Bailey on the railroad track in the vicinity of the Green River bridge Thursday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, Th_gi he had reccived a good. night's rest | in *he woods since he left the Johnson house is believed by the officers who have interviewed the young lady and her brother. He asked several questions of them regarding the distance of the Pal- | n.er cutoff and Covington from Auburn. He did net announce he was Tracy, but the description furnished by Miss Collins tallies with that given by Johnson, with the exception that the outlaw has dis- carded his black coat and vest and wore durk gray garments. TALKS TO A GIRL. Miss Collins and her brother had been picking blackberries in the woods about a mile north of the bridge. They were retvrning home when accosted by the convict. In a very polite manner he passed the time of day and then followed with a query regarding the distance to Palmer. The interview which took place between the three is best told in Miss Col- lins’ own words. She said: “My brother and I were returning to our home in Auburn, when I noticed a strange-looking man suddenly emerge from the woods just ahead of us. He came in our direction and we were about to pass him when he said something abcut it being a nice day. He then asked the distance to several stations near Au- burn. “‘How far is it to Palmer, nineteen miles? he queried. “*That is not right. It is but seventeen miles,’ my brother. replied. “‘Am I not right,’ he then said. turn- ing and addressing me. “ “Next he asked the distance to Coving- ton and I believe I told him eight miles. ‘Well, I have traveled over twenty miles to-day,’ he said, ‘and if I make that place to-night I will do well’ He said good- by and started up the track. I noticed that he walked very fast and when about half a mile away started to run. CARRIES MANY GUNS. “I knew it was the man they call Tracy by the pictures I have seen of him and the clothes he had on. He carried two big revolvers, one in each back pocket. The rifle was concealed under his coat. He carried a large package wrapped in a paper. His pockets bulged out, but what they contained I could not say. He did not look back after he had left us. “Ag soon as I had reached home I re- lated to my father what had happened. The man had been very polite while talk- ing to me. He had a sort of careworn expression on his face and looked as if he needed rest. Once during our brief conversation he spoke about being worn out from traveling so much. His eyes were sunk in and he walked somewhat bent over.” Every kind of rumor was received from tke scene of the Sheriff's deputies’ search to-day. At one time the report was start- ed that a battle had-been fought, result- ing in the death of seven deputies and the wounding of the convict. Diligent search for the source of this rumor met with failure. It is believed to be absolutely groundless, yet it cannot be branded so until every part of the pursuing crowd has been heard from. SEARCH IN WOODS. The nature of the country through which the chase is being led would make it possible for a battle to be fought in one of the ravines and little be heard of | it in the neighboring towns hours. for many Continued on Page Two. MOHICAN IS LONG OVERDUE AND ANXIETY IS INCREASING Six Weeks Elapse Without News of the Training Ship Since the Departure of the Vessel From Yokohama for the Hawaijian Islands. o+ - - UNITED STATES TRAINING SHIP MOHICAN, WHICH 1S LONG OVERDUE AT HONOLULU. ONOLULU, July 3.—Forty- two days have now elapsed since the- United States training ship Mohican sailed from Yokohama for Honolulu. Since that time the vessel has not been heard from and her non-arrival has caused the gravest anxiety here. Rear Admiral Merry ad- MURDERER, vances the theory that the Mohican is coming along under sail and has encoun- tered adverse winds, which are responsible for the delay. Opposed to this optimistié¢ view is the fact that steamships arriving here from the Orient have seen no trace of the Mohican, while sailing ships that started after the Mohican left Yokohama have arrived here, having made good time e foongoonte] MA FOR REVENGE, in the run down. . There is the likelihood that the commander of the Mohican may have decided, after leaving the Japaness port, to alter his course and not come di~ rect to Honolulu, but this theory is not given much weight. The training ship Mohican sailed from San Francisco on April 30 in command of Captain Kelly. She carried between 200 and 300 naval apprentices. Admiral Glass, when seen last night at the Yerba Buena station, expressed confl- dence in the safety of the Mohican. “I do not believe,” said he, “that the Mohican’s long passege from Yokohama to Honolulu, at this time of the yeas, should cause any anxiety. She is making the voyage under sail and her tardiness is beyond doubt due to light winds.” CRUELLY ENDS THREE LIVES Bartender Kills His Wife, Her Mother and 1 Roomer, and Fatally Wounds Father-in-Law in a Portland Home. ORTLAND, Or., July 11.—In " a mad desire for revenge in return for real oOr sup- posed wrongs, A. L. Beld- ing, a bartender, to-night shot and instantly killed his wife, his mother-in-law and a male in- mate of the house and fatally wounded his father-in-law. The dead are: MRS. A. L. BELDING, his wife. MRS. L. McCROSKEY, his mother-in- law. FRANK WOODWARD, a roomer at the McCroskey house. L. McCroskey, the father-in-law, re- ceived a fatal wound. Relding married the daughter of the McCroskeys eight years ago, but has not lived with his wife for some time. He was jealous of Woodward, whom he sus- pected was on intimate terms with Mrs. | Belding. Going to the McCroskey home at the corner. of Fifth and Flanders streets. this evering, he demanded that his wife give him their little son, seven years of age. | Mrs. Belding informed her husband that the little boy was in bed, but Belding in- sisted upon seeing the child. He went with his wife to the room where the child lay, and after remaining there a short time he kissed the boy good-by and left the reom. In the hallway he met Woodward, and drawing a revolver in each hand, said to Woodward, “You first,” firing as ne spoke. Woodward fell to the floor mor- tally wounded. Mrs. Belding' rushed upon her husband and was shot down by the now infuriated man. . Then the parents of Mrs. Belding came into the hallway and were both shot by Belding, Mrs. McCloskey being almost instantly killed and McCroskey Teceiving a bullet through the body and another through his right arm. He cannot re- cover. After his bloody work was finished, Belding walked across the street to a saloon and coolly asked a bystander to drink with him. He then started out to find a policeman and surrendered himself. At the police station Belding preserved & calm demeanor, seeming to care nothing for the terrible consequences of his act. When asked for the cause of the crims, Belding simply said: “These people have been misusing me for years, and I am gorry that I did not kill them all. They are a bad lot.” BLUEFIELDS CAPTURED, ACCORDING TO RUMOR Arrivals From the Isthmus Tell of Movements of Nicaraguan Revolutionists. PANAMA, July il.—Passengers who have arrived here from Costa Rican ports bring further reports of the revolution- ary movement in Nicaragua. They are re- sponsible for a rumor that Bluefields, Nicaragua, has been captured by the rev- olutionists and that after this success the latter advanced in the direction ef the Chentalles district