The Portland daily press., 1890-02-05
FOR THE LAST TIME ON EARTH
The sereaved Secretary Looks Upon
the Face Of His wife.
An Affecting Scene In the East
Room of the White Mouse.
General Tracy Enduring His Keen
Grief with Great FortItude.

WASHINGTON, February 4.-Shortly before
three O'Clock the President ordered a car
riage sent to Judge Davis's house for the pur-
pose of bringing Secretary Tracy to the
White House as his guest. The Secretary
walked down stairs and across the sidewalk
into the carriage without assistance. His
step was firm and steady and he showed no
evidence Of physical weakness. His great
sorrow has left its impress on his features.
His head was bowed and his face inexpressi-
bly, sad His son Frank b. Tracy, and LIEUT.
Parker ", S. N, accompanied him 10 the
White House. He stepped lightly out Of the
carriage and walked across the vestibule
alone into the main corridor, where ne took
the elevator for the Presidents private
apartments. The President and Mrs. Har-
rfsOn awaited him there.
Later In the afternoon, In accordance with
his request, he was taken into the east room
and showed the easkets containing the re-
mains Of his wife and daughter. They were
covered with flowers, the tributes Of friends,
and branches Of sagO palm were laid across
the top and along the sides Of each easket.
Standing at the head between them was
large palm tree arranged so that the
delicate leaves draped gracefully ever the
dead. Mrs. Tracy's casket was marked by
large floral anchor, and her daughters by
large wreath OF white flowers. Camelias,
hyacinths, roses, lilies OF the valley and vi0-
lets were entwined in smilax and tastefully
arranged on both caskets. The Secretary
was very much affected by the sight and
sObbed as though his heart would break.
The casket containing Mrs. Tracy's body
was opened aud he was allowed 10 look upon
her face for the last time. The other body
was in no condition for Inspection and the
casket was not opened. 1t was q terrible
ordeal for the stricken man, but he bore IL
remarkably well, though there was no con-
- nd Of IA rfaf
The building inspector has made report
to the district commissioner as TO the origin
of the fire In Secretary Tracy's house. The
building was heated by a low pressure steam
system, with indirect radiation. In tracing
the supply pipes to the different localities OF
coils and coil chambers, no evidence was
found that the fire originated from the heat
ing apparatus or any chimney nue. lmme-
diately under the point wnere the IRE started
was situated in the basement pump run by
a Bunsen gasl burner. Possibly this may
have been out of order, allowing the gas 10
escape to the room above and causing the
fire by an explosion OF gas. The building
was erected in 1876. There Is evidence that
it was carefully and safely constructed. The
inspector could not positively decide as to
the origin OF the fire, but the escape and ex-
plosion Of gas seems the most probable
cause.
Funeral services will be held over the re-
mains of Mrs. Tracy and Miss Tracy In the
morning at II O'Clock. Rev. DIR. Douglass,
rector OF st. Johns Protestant Episcopal
church, will conduct the religious services.
The bodies will be temporarily deposited In
receiving vault at Rock Creek cemetery
until their final disposition Is determined
The pail bearers for Mrs. Tracy will be as
follows: Secretary Window, Secretary
Proctor, Attorney General Miller, Postmas-
ter General Wanamaker, Secretary N9ole.
Secretary Rusk. Admiral Porter and Rear
Admiral Rogers.
The following have been invited to act as
pallbearers for Miss Tracy; Past Assistant
Surgeons w. A. McClurg aud Robert Whit
new, Past Assistant Paymaster Al Michlers
M - Chas, NJ, Ray, Frank Lee, Frederick
<ncKeSSss ycEs BsaaIs and Charles John
son. -
Secretary Tracy has received agfeat many
kilograms Of coincidence from all parts OF the
country One from England Is as follows:
LONDON, February4
Secretary Tracy, Wdshtagton
London. The LORD MAYOR.
This evening Sir Julian Pauneefote re-
ceived message from Osborne saying,
THE Queen deeply deplores the ralamity to
Mr.. Tracy's family and enquiries after him
and the survivors," Secretary Tracy replied:
"Mr. Tracy begs the British minister to
convey to Her Majesty his sincere thanks
for her gracious message Of sympathy and In
reply to her kind inquiry to say that his
surviving daughter and grandehild are out
Of danger"
The funeral of Josephine. Morel, the
French maid who perished in the flame
the Tracy mansion. yesterday morning, took
place in st. Matthew's church this afternoon.
The girl had no friends or relatives in this
city. Mrs. Harrison took charge OF the
burial arrangements. The Postmaster
General and Attorney General interested
themselves in the matter and perfected the
arrangements. Pay Director LOCKER Of the
Navy, at the special request Of Secretary
Tracy, represented him at the funeral. The
interment was at Mt. Olivet cemetery.