The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-02-05


sycRErARY TRACY. with severe internal
injuries and a broken log. She was
taken to neighboring house and with
out recovering consciousness died within
an hour. The ladder which would have
saved Mrs. Tracy's life, had she waited
but brief moments before leaping 70
the sidewalk, was soon placed under the
window and strong hands lifted the
body, OF Secretary Tracy through II and
carried him TO the sidewalk. The Sec
retary was at first thought to be dead,
but IL was discovered that a small spark
OF lie vet remained. He was removed
10 the residence Of Mr.. Bancroft Davis,
near by.
Miss Tracy, the Secretary's daughter,
occupied the third-story front room and
met fate that was terrible to behold.
The young lady could be seen at the
window in the light that fickered In be-
tween the binding smoke and flames,
clad In a white robe, her hands In the
attitude OF prayer and her face uplifted
10 heaven. The flames slowly hemmed
her in and she finally sank TO the floor,
only to be recognized again by her
nharred remains. A French maid,
Josephine, met similar fate In an ad-
Joining room, where her charred and
blackened remains were found. Mrs.
Wilmording, Mr.. Tracy's married daugh-
ter. and her daughter, Miss Alice, occu-
MED the second-story front room on the
same floor with Secretary and Mrs.
Tracy. She and her daughter jumped
from the window TO the grass serrace be-
low, and while the shock TO both was Sc
we're, neither received any serious In
Jury. Mrs. Wilmerding had her right
wrist badly sprained.
President Harrison, as soon as ne
heard Of the calamity, sent assistance
from the Executive Mansion to aid the
bereayed family and followed himself 70
inquire what assistance he could render.
The mombers OF the Cabinet, with whom
Secretary Tracy was very popular, were
among the first to call. They were all
shocked beyond measure at the calamity
and placed their respective houses OF
the disposal OF the afflicted family.
When Mr., Tracy recovered conscious
ness he asked President Harrison where
Mrs. Tracy was. The President could
not answer the question, Mr.. Tracy,
evidently feeling Saat her escape wa'
almost impossible, asked: sIsshe deadr
still tho President could not answer th'
onestioIi OF his friend, and Mr.. Tracy
apparently realizing the truth from the
Presidents hesitancy, at once swoonsec
and remained unconscious for half al
hour. Recovering he asked for hi
daughters. The President told him thai
his daughter Mary was dead and asair
Mr.. Tracy tainted. Secretary Tracy
physicians say that he is out Of danger
There are several stories as TO TN
cause Of the fire, but the most plausibl
one appears to be that II was the resul
Of a defective fue. The insurance o.
the house amounts to $4,000. The In
surauco on the furniture Is estimated q
$1,000. The FIRE burned nearly nv
hours, it being nearly noon when u
Last engine was dismissed. The hous
is completely gutted. o .9ef :,
An eyewitness says that II Mrs
Tracy's strength had held out 10
minutes longer she would probably hay
been saved, as, ~ frernen succeeded
getting d ladder over the back wall
few minutes after she loosened her hol
and lSll 10 the ground. Miss Mar
Tracy. who was burned 70 death, II
said could also have saved herself II h'
ssr,, ot6 baa held out q FEW minute
longer. She fell in the LsilMay9 OF n
aeoondsstory, 0 few yards from ,the bel
room, room which, II shes had reached, A
closod the door, would have insured q,
against the ire and smoke until assis
snce coald have reached her.