The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-04
A HORROR IN HIGH LIFE.
SECRETARY TRACYS WIFE AND
DAUGHTER DIE BY FIRE.

DAUGHTER DIE BY FIRE.
Another Daughter and the Secretary's
Granddaughter Saved only by Leap
ing from a Second Story Window
The Secretary Dragged from the
Building in an Unconscious Condi-
ton.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-A terrible calam-
ity visited the household of Secretary Tracy
this morning, whereby three persons lost
their lives and three Others were badly
injured 1t is impossible at this writing to
state exact details The house, three
story and basement brick, is situated on 1
street, between Connecticut avenue and
Seventeenth street, and has recently under
gone extensive improvements. Persons
passing the house at O'Clock this morning
saw smoke issuing from the front windows,
and at once raised an alarm of fire. The
fire and police departments responded
promptly. The premises were almost con-
cealed by dense smoke, which was thickened
by heavy fog, which was just lifting.
ALL ABLAZE ON THE INSIDE.
1t was soon discovered that the house was
all ablaze inside, and that the main stair
way was burned. thus cutting off communi-
cation with the sleeping apartments on the
second and third floors Several streams of
water were played on the flames, and every
effort was made to check the fire and rescue
the inmates. A scene of widest confusion
ensued when it was known chat alf the
members of the family were in the houso.
The firemen behaved like heroes in the
emergency, and went through fire and
smoke in searching for them in the different
apartments.
LEAPS FOR LIFE.
Mrs. Wilderming, the secretary's daugh-
ter, and Miss Widening forced their wav
through the binding smoke and Jumped
from the second story window in the front.
Ladders were raised for them, but in their
excitement they failed to see them. MIS-.
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 severely from
the shock. They were taken at once to the
residence of Dr. Baxter, near by, and res
toratives applied. While this sad scene was
being enacted in front of the house, firemen
were engaged in the sad task of removing
the other members of the family from the
rear.
MRS TRACY'S ATTEMPT TO SAVE HERSELF
Mrs. Tracy endeavored to escape by drop
ping herself from her bedroom window,
and in her effort to decrease the distance to
the ground she grasped the narrow window
sill and lowered herself as far as she was
aole. Those who saw her in this perilous
position shouted to her to hold on, but either
she did not hear, or her strength failed her,
Tor, after thus hanging a moment between
life and death, she fell forty feet in an area
way. She was Immediately taken to the
house or her neighbor, DR.. Rheem, and
placed upon lounge in the sitting room.
she was perfectly conscious and did not
seem to suffer pain. Occasionally
she complained of oppression in
the neighborhood of her heart and found
difficulty in breathing. She talked awhile,
cOughed slightly, and then became silent.
The physicians looked at each other signifi-
cantly. Mrs. Tracy was dead. The imme-
date cause of her death was supposed TO
be from injuries to her heart, sustained in
her fall from the window, which flooded her
lungs with blood. She was soon removed
TO the residence of Attorney General Miller,
on Massachusetts, avenue.
FATE OF MISS MARIE AND THE MAID.
Almost at the same time two bodies were
taken from the burning building. One was
the Secretary's daughter, Miss Marie,
Young lady, and the other was that of a
French maid named Josephine. That of the
former was found by Chief Parish lying on
at the head of the stairs. The body
was not greatly disfgured. She had
evidently died of suffocation. The chief
lifted the lifeless body in his arms, and,
although tne staircase was ablaze, he
brought it safely into the street. OF the
French maid little is known, save that her
dead body was found in her room, on the
top floor of the house, burned beyond recog-
milton. Both the bodies of Miss Tracy and
her maid were taken to an undertaker's
establishment in the vicinity.
SECRETARY TRACY's NARROW ESCAPE.
Secretary Tracy himself had a most
miraculous escape. Like all the others, he
was overcome in his sleep by the smoke
which filed the house, and rendered COM
pletely helpless. He was discovered in
this condition, and, with considerable diff
Guilty, was removed to place near one of
the windows. Cries for a ladder were
quickly answered, and many willing hands
were raj ed to assist him to the ground He
was at once removed to DR.. Rheem's house,
aud was soon surrounded by physicians,
includi & Drs. Wales and Ruth. He was
suffering from asphyxia. The doctors
applied artificial means TO induce respira-
ton, and succeeded after an hours work in
restoring him to semi-consclousness. 1t
was then thought safe to remove him to the
residence of Judge J. G. Bancroft Davis, on
II, near Eighteenth street.
REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS.
He improved slowly from that time on,
and soon regained consciousness, recogniz-
ing friends who called to inquire in regard
% MS condition. Among these were the
RESIDE It, Vice President and several men,
oars of the cabinet The full extent of his
terrible affection was withheld from him.
MS hrst inquiry, upon recovering con-
sCIousness, was in regard to the safety of
the family.
~, 1he house was completely gutted by fire.
Inc walls are standing but the interior
PRESENTS picture Of ruin and desolaton.
l Inc residence of Judge w. S. Cox of the
ulSlTlct supreme court, which adjoins 1T on
'1e lett, was badly damaged by water.
THE CHIEF TELLS OF THE RESCUE
:; Chiet Paris of the fire department, when
uI'ervlewed this morning, said: 81 paid
W attention to the fire when | heard there
weTe people in the house. l felt my way
Trough the smoke to the second floor and
x?uhq man in bed in a room. / tried to
ficA MN up, but he was almost too heavy.
- I.IlahaRed to drag him into a back room,
mere there was more air, and then l broke
i window out and called to Low, who was
- - tue alley, to run I'D ladder. Then they
soo sooA the man out and it proved to be the
GIoIetary. / couldn't move him any fur
Ter was exhausted. and full up to
; 1le neck with smoke. Then I went back
LUZ LUZ Une smoke and fire again and found q