The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-06
3lrs. Tracy Rescued from the Flames, hut
She Dies from the Bursting of a
Blood Vessel.
MR.. TRACY NEARLY SUFFOOATED.
Mrs. Wilmerding and Her Daughter Leap
from Second Story WindOw-Scenes
Never to BE Forgotten.

WASHINGTON, February 3.-A terrible ca
lamity visited the household of Secretary
Tracy this morning, whereby three persons
lost their lives and three others are badly
injured. The house is three stories and a
basement, brick situated on l street, be-
tween Connecticut avenue and seventeenth
street. Persons passing the house this
morning saw smoke issuing from the front
windows, and at once raised the alarm OF
fire. The fire and police departments re-
sponded promptly. The premises were
almost concealed by dense smoke. 1t was
soon discovered that the house was all
ablaze inside and the main stairway was
burnt, thus cutting off communication
with the sleeping apartments on the second
and third floors.
Several streams of water were played on
the flames and every effort made to check
the fire and rescue the inmates. A scene
of the widest confusion ensued when it
was known that all the members of the
family were in the house. The firemen
behaved like heroes and went through fire
and smoke in searching for them. Mrs.
Wilmerding, the secretary's daughter, and
Miss Wilmerding forced their way through
the binding smoke and jumped from the
second story window front. Ladders were
raised for them, but in their excitement
they failed to see them. Mrs. Wilmerding
broke her left wrist and is 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 ID the residence
of DIR. Baxter near by and restoratives ap-
piled.
While this scene was being inacted in
front of the house tiremen were removing
other members of the family from the
rear. Chief Engineer Parish found Mrs
Tracy lying on her bed overcome by
smoke. He carried her to window anC
with the assistance of others carried he
almost lifeless body down the ladder anC
to the house of Mrs. Rhein, on Eighteenth
street. She was then entirely unconscious
and although every effort known to medi
cal science was used it was impossible Il
save her life. She died within few min
utes after her rescue. She was not burned
but died of sutfocation.
Almost at the same time two more bodle!
were taken from the burning building. Ont
was that of the secretary's daughter Mis-
Mary, a young lady of IA years, and thu
other was one of the servants. Both bodies
we're burned to a crisp and were unrecog
nizable by their features. The charred re-
mains were taken to an undertaken 5 estaD
lishment in the vicinity where they W,er'
Joined soon after by the remains or Mrs
Tracy. Secretary Tracy himself had
most wonderOus escape and is now lying II
a somewhat precariOuS condition at IN,
residence of Hon. J. c. Bancroft Davis on l.
street, near Eighteenth street. Like the 9th
.ars he was overcome In his sleep by smoke
which rendered him completely helpless
He was discovered IN this condition anC
with considerable difficulty was removed
to place near one of the windows. Cre:
for ladder were quickly answered anC
many willing hands were raised to assl5
MIN to the ground. He was at once re
moved to a neighbors house and was sool
surrounded by physicians, including Drs
Wales and Ruth. He was suffering iron
asphyxia. The doctors applied artlticla
means to induce respiration, and succeeded
after an hours work in restoring hin
to consciousness. 1t was then though
safe to remove him TO JuuS
Davis house. He improved and .sool
regained consciousness, recognizing friend
who called to inquire in regard to his con
Iition. Among the first of these were tn
rrpsident. vice president and several mem
hers of the cabinet The full extent OF III
terrible afliiction is withheld from him 10
the present. His first inquiry upon recov
ering consciousness was III regard 10 TN
Su1eIN III HIS
gaining in strength. His friends are yer. YER.
sanguine of his complete recovery. I'm
house was completely gutted The wall
are standing, but the interior presents
picture of ruin and desolation. The resi-
dence of w. ). Cox, of the district suprem
. court, which adjoins it on the left, wa
badly damaged by water.
Mrs. Tracy and Miss Tracy have been re
moved to the residence OF Attorney Gen
eral Miller. Mrs. and Miss WllmerdlnI
are at DR.. Baxter's, but will be taken TO tn
residence of Senator Hale. SecTetar
Tracy remains at Mr.. Bancroft DAVIS
home. Around all these residences erea
crowds congregated as soon as the sa
eys spread and have remained all morn
ing. Carriages are stopping at the door
With Mrs. Tracy, Miss Tracy and Mrs
Coppinger, Secretary Bla!ne's daughter a.
wing dead, Secretary Tracy, seriously !
and his health permanently impaired
Governmental circles today are en-
shrouded in sadness and gloom. Preslden
Harrison. IS soon rs he heard OF the ca
Iamity, sent assistance from the eXecutlV
mansion to aid the bereaved family an