The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-04
MOTHER AND CHILD DEAD
Secretary Tracy Loses Wife and
Daughter by the Burning of
His House,
Mrs, Tracy Drops from a Second
Story Window and Dies in
Few Minutes,
The Daughter Suffocated and Her
Maid Burned Beyond Re-
cognition.
The secretary and Ills Married Daughter
Escape. Hut Not without Injuries
cause of the Disaster.

MAsRiNoloS, Feb. 3.-The house OF Sec
retary Tracy caught fire al 6a5 this morn
ing and was completely demolished. The
house is three stories high with basement.
Ii is of brick, situated on street between
Connecticut avenue aud Seventeenth street,
and has recently undergone extensive im-
proyements. Persons passing the house AT
O'Clock this morning saw smoke issuing
from the front windows and at once raised
the alarm of fire. The fire and police de-
partments responded promptly. The
premises were almost concealed by dense
smoke. which WAS thickened by the dense
/ fog which WAS just lifting. liwns soon dis
covered that the house was all ablaze inside
and that the nam stairway WAS
burnt. thus cutting Oh communica-
tion with the sleeping apartments on
the second and third noors Several
streams of water were placed on the flames
and every effort was made To check the fire
and 10 rescue the inmates. A scene of the
widest confusion ensued when il was known
that all the members Of the family were in
the house. The iromen behaved like heroes
in the emergency, and went through fire md
smoke in searching for them in the different
apartments. Mrs. Wilmording. the sccre-
tary's daughter, and Miss Wilmerding
forced their way through the binding
smoke and jumped from the second story
front. Ladders were raised for them. but
in their excitement they failed 20 soe them.
Mrs. Wilmerding broke her left wrist and
was severely bruised. Her daughter WAS
badly injured about The lower limbs. but
broke no bones. They both suffered severe
IN from the shock. They were both taken
al once 10 the residence of DIR. Baxter. near
by. and rvsioratiycs applied.
While this sad scene wns being enacted
in front Of The honse, the firemon were en-
gagged IN the back removing other members
of tho flmilv from the rear.
| Mrs. Tracy endeav0red 10 escape the rnp-
ing element by dropping herself from hcr
/ 's droum window. ana IN the effort % de-
crease the distance to the ground grasped u
narrow stone windowsill and lowered her
self ns far as she was able. Those who saw
her in her pprllous position shouted to her
to hold on, but either she did not hear or
her strength failed her. Aflerthus hanging
a moment between life and death she fell
! forty feet into Au aIeaway before anything
could be- done towards rcscuing her or re-
lieying her fall She was immediately
taken 10 the house of neighbor. DR..
khecm. and placed upon lounge IN the
sitting room. She WAS perfectly con-
scious, and did u0t seem 10 suffer pain.
Occasionally she complained Of oppression
in the neighbofboud of her heart, and fuund
difficulty in breathing. She talked awhile.
coughed slightly, then became silent. The
physicians looked Ht each other significant
ly. Mrs. Tracy was dead. The inmC dlate
cause uf death WAS supposed 10 he from in
jurles TO her heat sustained IN the fall from
the window. which Hooded her lungs with
blood II is said had she delayed her move
menis couple of minutes ladders nnd
mattresses and other means of safe escape
would have been at land. Her body WIS
soon removed to the residence of Attorney
General Miller ON Massachusetts, avenue.
Almost at the same time two bodies were
taken from the burning bnildng-tha SEE
rctary's daughter. Miss Marie, young
lady, and the other that of her French
maid, Josephine. That Of the former wis
found hy Chief Parish lying on the floor in
the second floor hall, al the head of the
stairs. She had evidently died from suiiocn-
tion. The chief lifted the helpless body in
his arms. and although the staircnse was
ublaze, he brought II safely ont into the
street. II is said Miss Tracy could have
snyed herself II her strength had held nut a
few minutes longer. or the French maid
little IL known, slye that her dead body
WIS found IN her room on the top floor of
the house burned beyond recognition.
Both bodies, that of Miss Tracy and the
maid, were taken 10 an underiuker's estab-
lishment in the vicinity.
Secretary Tracy himself had n most won
dertul escape, and ~ now lying IN some
what precaliuus condition MT the residence
of Hon. J. G.. Bancroft DAVIS, ON "H''
street. Like all the others lac was overcome
in his sleep by the smoke which filled tue
house and rendered him con-
pletoly helpless. lie was discovered
IN this condition aud with
considerable difficulty WAS removed to- a
plnce near one of the windows. Cries for
ladder We're quickly answered aud many
willing hands were raised 10 assist him 10
the ground. He WAS at once removed TO a
neiphbOr's house and wall soOn surrounded
by physicians, including Drs. Vale and
liuih. lie was suffering fl0m asphy xia.
Tho doctors applied artificial means Ia in
ducu SEPARATION, md succeeded nftcr au
hour work IN restoring him 10 scmi-con-
soipusness: il WIS then thought mfe 10 re-
move him 10 Judge DAVIS house. lie i'm
proved slowly from that time ON and soon
regnlncd consciousness. recognizing friends
who called 10 inquire in regard 10 his CON
dition. Among the first ui ihose were the
president and wee president aud several
members Of he cabinet His first inquiries
upon recovering consciousness were IN re-
gard a. the safety of .Is fnmily, but the
full extent of his terrible allllctiou was
withheld from him for the present.
The house Was completely gutted by the
iiro. The walls art standing, hHt the in
terror presents a picture pf ruin and dcsoln-
tiVn.
Mrs W.lmcrdiug, the secretary's married
daughter, and her daughter, Miss Alice, oc-
cupied the second front room ON the same
hOOr with Secretnry and Mrs. Tracy.
Both she and her daughter jumped from
the window 10 the grlss terrace below.
and while the shock 10 both was severe.
neither received ~ far as II now apparent
any serious injury. Mrs. Wilmerding had
her right wrist bRdly spupned. She IL
living IN a hysterical and half dnzed cOudi-
tiOn, but is rRpldlg improving under med
icnl treatment. Miss Alice is suffering
from the shock.
With Mrs. Tracy nld Miss Tracy and
Mira. Coppingcr. secretary BlHinc's daugh-
Ter. an lying dead, Secretary Tracy serious
ly III and his health inpnired government
circles to-day are euAhruuded IN sadness
and gloom. President Harrison. AS soon MS
he henrd ol the calamity, sent assistance
from the executive mnnsion 10 the bereayed
family, and followed himself 10 inquire
what assistance lac could render. Members
( of the cabinet with whom the secretary
was very popular, wefe among the first 10
call. They we're all shocked beyond meas