The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-02-05
DEATH IN THE FLAMES.
Secretary Tracy's Wife, Daughter
and French Maid Meet a.
Terrible Death.

u 90 q AOSaAe VI - / 4
Secretary Tracy's house this morning,
now lie dead.
About Z o'clock this morning smoke y
was seen issuing from the windows and 8
roof of Secretary Tracy's handsome y
residence, No. 1884 l street, porth' q
west. The neighborhood had not yet :
awakened and all around was still.
Within the residence not q sound was
heard except the sound of the flames;
as great tongs of fire they came out I
of the windows of the top floor. Soon
the front door of the mansion was
opened and two male servants were
seen to emerge and run for their lives.
Figures robed in white then appeared
at the windows.
The fire gained headway rapidly,
and although the FIRE department re-
sponded promptly, the residence was
onveloped in flames when they arrived.
Mr.. aud Mrs. Tracy occupied room
on the second story. Mrs. Tracy it is
thought was first awakened by the
suf1ocating smoke. Secretary Tracy was
at the time unconcious.
MRS. TRACY
with heroic devotion attempted to
draw the inanimate body Of the Secre'
tary to the window. In this she par
tally succeeded. Half dazed and
half blinded by the smoke she opened
the window, and just as the fremen
we're putting up a ladder to rescue
her she leaped to the sidewalk. Her
body was picked up with severe inter-
nal injuries and broken leg. She
was taken to a neighboring house and
without recovering conciousness died
within an hour. The ladder which
would have saved Mrs. Tracy's life,
had she waited brief moment before
leaping to the sidewalk, was soon
placed under the window and strong
hands lifted the body of Secretary
Tracy through it and carried him to
the sidewalk. The Secretary was Of
first thought to be dead, but it was
discovered that spark of life yet re-
mained. At IL o'clock he was re-
ported improving, though at that time
he had not gained conciOusuess and
was of course unaware Of the death o
his wife and daughter.
MISS MARIE TRACY,
the Secretary's unmarried daughter
occupied the third story front room
and met terrible fate. The youul
lady could be seen at the window il
the light that fickered in between tn
binding smoke and fame, clad in
white robe, her hands in the attitud
of prayer and her face uplifted t
heaven. The flames gradually hem
med her in and she finally sank to tn
floor.
- ~ A FRENCH MAID,
Josephine, met similar fate in rooI
adjoining, where her charred an
blackened remains were found. Mr.
Wilmerding, Secretary Tracy's ma
ried daughter, and her daughte
Alice, occupied the second story frol
room, on the same floor with Secretal
and Mrs. Tracy. Both she and h
daughter jumped from the window
the grass below, and while the shoe
to both were severe, neither receive
as for as is now apparent, anys serio
injury.
THE CHIEFS STORY.
Chief Harris, of the fire departmeI
told his story, as follows: 81 paid
attention to the fire when l heard the
were people in the house. l felt
way through the smoke to the secO
floor aud found a man in a room.
tried to pick him up, but he was
most too heavy. l managed to dl
him into q back room where there '
more air, and then | broke out
window. Then l called to those
the alley to run up ladder. WI
they took the man out it proved to
the Secretary. l couldn't take
any further, for was full up to
neck with smoke. Then | went b
into the smoke and fire again
found young lady, Miss Marie Tr'
they tell me it was, and as l oau
hold of her wrist to lift her up
flesh came off her burning hands.
had been burned, | got her out,
she was dead"
DR.. Ruth, at the solicitation
friends, visited the undertakeT's es
lishment and identified Miss Tr