03/17/06 Harry Tracy

Harry Tracy One Northwest outlaw had encounters with our family. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll tell you about them in one minute. Harry Tracy was probably the most notable Northwest outlaw until being wounded in a gun battle with law enforcement officers and finally shooting himself to death in 1902. Our ancestors moved to Central Washington in the late 1880's while the country was still fairly unsettled. Great-granddad established a home in the area where neighbors were few and far between and visitors were welcome. True to the code of the times, travelers were not turned away at mealtime. Communications were not what they are today, but when the hungry young stranger showed up at suppertime Great-granddad had a pretty good idea who he was. Harry Tracy knew he knew and agreed to the stipulation that he could eat with the family if he hung his guns outside. My great-aunt related it was a tense, but cordial meal. The next family member to encounter outlaw Tracy was Granddadhe was heading across the mountains to the town of Ellensburg when he met a rider coming from the other direction he recognized. They met and exchanged some talk then just as they were parting, Harry Tracy told Granddad he really liked the looks of Granddad's horse and that it was probably a good thing he had just acquired a fresh horse. Granddad agreed and rode on. There have been numerous accounts of Harry Tracy's outlaw life and several movies of his exploits, how much was fact I don't know, but these two incidents were true and makes Harry Tracy's name and persona part of our family's memories. I'm Jeff Keane.