Harry Tracy: The Battle of Bothell | Episode 6

With David Merrill gone, Harry Tracy emerged alone—and the manhunt entered an entirely new phase.On July 1st, 1902, Tracy appeared near Olympia and seized the launch N&S, forcing Captain A.J. Clark and his crew to carry him north toward Seattle. During the nearly twelve-hour journey, Tracy spoke openly about Merrill, gave his own version of what had happened between them, and continued moving toward a city that was already beginning to brace for his arrival.As reports of the escaped convict spread, the search widened. Posses moved through the countryside, Governor Henry McBride authorized militia support, and a $2,500 reward was offered for Tracy’s capture. Then, on July 3rd, a credible sighting near Bothell brought lawmen directly onto his trail.In driving rain, Tracy ambushed the pursuing posse near Wayne. Everett detective Charles Raymond was killed, Deputy John Williams and reporter Louie Sefrit were wounded, and the brief exchange of gunfire once again ended with Tracy escaping before authorities could surround him.Episode 6 follows Harry Tracy from the mystery surrounding Merrill’s disappearance into the growing Seattle-area manhunt, the seizure of the N&S, and the deadly Battle of Bothell—a confrontation that left lawmen dead and wounded while the most hunted man in the Pacific Northwest remained at large.By the end of July 3rd, Tracy had survived another encounter that should have ended his run. Instead, Seattle was shaken, the manhunt was growing larger, and the violence surrounding Harry Tracy was far from over.This is Episode 6 of our Deep Dive into the Life of Harry Tracy#HarryTracy #BattleOfBothell #SeattleManhunt #DavidMerrill #WildWest #OldWest #OutlawHistory #WesternHistory #AmericanWest #WashingtonHistory #SeattleHistory #PacificNorthwestHistory #Manhunt #TrueCrimeHistory #ForgottenHistory #WildWestDeepDives