Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-02-08
TERRIBLY SAD.
Burning Of Secretary Traoy's Resi-
dence at Washington.
Death % Hls wife and Daughtor-Als0 the
French -0overnmsnt Circles
Hhrown Into Gloom-Narrow
Escape OF the Secretary.

Benjamin +. Tracy, Secretary Of the
Navy, in President Harrison's Cabinet,
caught fire at6:45 q. m. yesterday and was
completely demolished. The house was
o three-story and basement brick, sit
uated on street. between Connecticut
avenue and Seventeenth street and had
recently been extensively improved.
Persons passing the house at seven
O'Clock in the morning saw smoke issuing
from the front windows and gave the
alarm. The premises were almost con-
cealed by dense smoke which was
thickened by heavy fog. Firemen
soon discovered that the house was all
,ablaze. inside and that the main stair
way was burnt, thus cutting of oommu-
nicotiOn with the sleeping apartments
on the second and third floors. A scene
of the widest confusion ensued when 1t
was known that all the members Of the
family were in the house.
Mrs. Wilmerding, the Secretary's
daughter, and Alice Wilmerding, thirteen
years old, his granddaughter, 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 was severely
bruised. Her daughter was badly in
jured about the legs, but broke no bones.
Chief Engineer Parish found his way
into Mrs. Tracy's bedroom. She was ly-
ing on her bed overcome by smoke. He
carried her to the window and with the
assistance OF others carried her almost
lifeless body down ladder and over to
the house of Mrs. Rheim on Eighteenth
street. She was then entirely uncon-
Scious and died within few minutes
She was not burned, but died from suf-
location.
Almost at the same time two more
bodies were taken from the burning
building. One was that Of the Secre-
tary's youngest daughter, Mary, the
other that of her French maid.
Secretary Tracy himself had won
derful escape and is now lying in q
somewhat precarious condition at the
house of j. c. Bancroft DAWSON II street,
near Eighteenth. He was overcome in
his sleep by the smoke which filled the
house, and was discovered in this condi-
ton. With considerable difficulty he
was removed to place near one Of the
windows. Cries for a ladder were quick
ly answered and many willing hands
were raised to assist him to descend.
He was at once removed to neighbours
house and was soon surrounded by ply
sicians, including DR.. Wales and Ruth.
He was suffering from asphyxia.
The remains Of Mrs. and Miss Tracy
lie in caskets in the center OF
the east room of the White House, be-
meath the crystal chandeliers whose
lights less than week ago shone upon
them as they gaily greeted their numer-
Gus friends at the last Presidential re-
-ception.
With Mrs. Tracy and Miss Tracy and
Mrs. Coppinger, Secretary Blaine's
daughter, all lying dead, Secretary
Tracy seriously i'll and his health per-
manently impaired, Government circles
are shrouded in sadness and gloom.
Shortly after noon President Harrison
returned from the bedside of Secretary
Tracy, and reported him resting rs COM
fortably as can be expected under the
circumstances. About eleven o'clock
Mr.. Tracy recovered consciousness, and
asked President Harrison where Mrs.
Tracy was. The President did not an
swer the question. Mr.. Tracy, evident
1y feeling that her escape was almost
impossible, asked: SIS she dead?" Still
the President could not answer the ques-
ton Of his friend, and Mr.. Tracy, appar-
emily realizing the truth from the Presi-
dents hesitancy, at once swooned and re-
manned unconscious for half an hour.
Recovering he asked for his daughters.
The President told the Secretary that
his daughter Mary was dead, and again
Mr.. Tracy swooned.
DR.. Wales, who is one Of the physicians
in attendance on Secretary Tracy, said
yesterday that the Secretary was getting
along very wen, and that the only
danger now to be feared was that the
smoke in his lungs would cause bron-
ehitis. The Secretary, he said, was
bearing up brsvely in his great affection.
His great anxiety was in regard
to his wife and the first words
uttered by him on regaining con-
seriousness were to urge them to
save her life. ''Save heri Save her!"
he cried piteOusly and then relapsed
into state Of insensibility. 1t lasted
abort time only, however, and he again
called out to the doctors to leave him
and save her. He subsequently inquired
for his daughter and told the doctors
that she too must be saved. When he
learned the sad news that his wife and
daughter were dead, he stood 1t with
fortitude and soon after fell into rest
Hes sleep DR.. Wales said that the SEQ
retary's body was still saturated with