Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-07
The Secretary Himself Had a Mar
row Escape aud is Now iii
Critical Condition.
The Flames Enyeloped His Fine Resi-
-. dence Before the Firemen
%.'. Arrived.
A Daughter and Grand Daughter
Jumped From IL Second Story
Window and were Injured.
A Terrible Blow TO Secretary Tracy,


WASHINGTON. Feb. 3-Mrs Tracy, wife
OF Secretary Tracy, Miss Tracy. his young
est daughter, aud Josephine, the French
maid, as the result of a fire in Secre tary
Tracy's house this morning, now lie dead.
Secretary Tracy IS in a stupor, suffering
from the effects OF inhaling smoke. Mrs.
Wilderming, the eldest daughter of Secre-
tary Tracy,is in a semi-cOnScious condition,
suffering from sprained wrist and sore
ness. Miss Alice Wilderming, thirteen
years of age, Secretary Tracy's grand
daughter, is suffering from nervous pros
tration. About l O'Clock this morning
flames were seen issuing from the windows
and roof of Secretary Tracy's handsome
residence, No. 1884 l street northwest.
The flames gained headway rapidly and
although the fire department responded
promptly the residence was enveloped in
flames when they arrived. Several streams
were placed on the flames and every effort
was made to check the fire and rescue the
inmates. A scene of the widest confusion
ensued when it was know that all the
members of the family were in the
house. The firemen behaved like
heroes in the emergency and
-. WENT THROUGH RIRE AND SMOKE
searching for them III their different apart
ments. Mrs. Wimerding, the secretary's
daughter, and Miss Wilmerding forced
their way through the binding smoke and
Jumped from the second story window in
front and were badly injured by the fall
Ladders were raised for them, but in their
excitement they failed to see them. While
this scene was being enacted in front of
the house, iiremen were engaged in the
task of rescuing The other members of the
family from the rear. Chief Engineer
Parish found his way to Mrs. Tracy's
bed room and found her lying in her bed
overcome by suffocation. He carried her
to the window, and with the assistance of
others, carried her almost lifeless down
the ladder and up an alley to the house OF
Mrs. Rheim on Eighteenth street. She
was then entirely unconscious, and al,
though every effort known TO medical
science was used, it was impossible to
save her life. She died within few min
uteS after her rescue. She was not burned,
but died from sutfocation. Almost at the
same time two more bodies were taken
from the burning building. One was that
Of the secretary's daughter, Miss Marie,
and the other was that of an old servant.
The bodies were burned to crisp and
were unrecognizable by their features.
Miss Tracy's body was distinguished from
the other only by the superior texture OF
what renamed of er stockings.
,Gz3 r.@ THE CHARRED REMAINS
were taken to an undertaker's estab
lishment in the vicinity, where they
were joined soon after by the
remains of Mrs. Tracy. Secre-
tary Tracy had most wondrous
escape and is now lying in somewhat
precarious condition at the residence of
Hon. Bancroft Davis, on H street. near
Eighteenth street. He was suffering from
asphyxiation. The doctors applied arti-
ficial means to induce respiration, and sue
ceeded after hours of work in restoring
him to semi-consciousness. 1t was theu
thought safe to remove him to Judge Davis
house. He improved slowly from that
time on and soon gained consciousness,
I recognizing friends who called. Among
h the first Of these were the president, vice
president and several members OF the cabi-
net. The full extent of his terrible afflic-
@tions were Withel1 from him for time.
1Alo 63lioV AuNul4y upOl lCCONC1luk COI-
sci0nsness was in regard 10 the safety of
his family. Miss Tracy died from sutfoca-
ftiotl. Mrs. Tracy was found TO nave died
from the rupture of blood vessel. Their
bodies Were taken to Attorney General
Miller's house this afternoon. His greatest
anxiety was in regard to his wife. = p +. T.
,.Sss3$S SAVE HER, SAVE HER," l...
Ghecried, and then relapsed into a state of
insensibility. It lasted but short time
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 she too must be saved.
Finally it was concluded that the best
course would be to tell him the truth as the
terrible suspense he was suffering might
retard his own recovery. The president
was with him at the time and it was from
1 his lips that he learned the sad news that
his wife and daughter were dead. The