Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-02-04
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
THE FIRE F|EMD At WORK.
Another ConfIagration At
tended With Fatal Results.
WAVES MOUNTAINS HIGH.
An Atlantic Steamer Has
A Rough Passage.
THEELETI0N CASE SETTLED.
An Important Decision By
The Supreme Court.
THE ELETIoN CASE SETTLED.
THE WASHING TON HOLOCAUST.

THE WASHING TON HOLOCAUST.
The Wife aud Daughter OF Secretary
Tracy Burned to Death-Govsrn.
mental Circles Enshr0uded In Sad.
ness and Gl0Om-The Bi0grap hles OF
tho Dead.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a terrible calamity
visited the household of Secretary Tracy this
morning whereby three persons. Mrs. Tracy,
her daughter, Mary, and servant lost their
lives, and three other persons, including the
secretary, were badly injured.
The house Is q three-story and basement
one of brick, situated on street, between
Connecticut avenue and Seventeenth street,
and has recently undergone extensive i'm
provements. Persons passing by at 2 O'Clock
this morning saw smoke issuing from the
of FIRE. The fire and police departments
responded promptly. The premises were al
most concealed by dense smoke. which was
thickened by heavy fog which was just
lifting.
1t was soon discovered that the house was
all ablaze inside and that the main stairway
was burned, 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
was made to check the fire and to rescue the
inmates.
scene of the widest confusion ensued
when it was known that all the members of
the family were in the house. The fremen
behaved like heroes and went through fire
and smoke In searching for them in the diff
ferent apartments.
LEAPED TO THE SIDEWALK.
Secretary and Mrs. Tracy occupied the
back room on the second floor. Mrs. Tracy,
1t is thought, was Grst awakened by the suf-
locating smoke. Secretary Tracy was at
the time unconscious, and Mrs.. Tracy, with
heroic devotion, attempted to drag the in
animate body of the secretary to the window.
In this she partly succeeded. Half dazed
and blinded by the smoke she opened the
window, and Just as the fremen were put
| ting up ladder to rescue her she leaped to
internal injuries and broken leg and taken to
q neighboring house, and without recovering
| consciousness, died within an hour.
| The ladder which would have saved heI
life, had she waited but brief moment be
fore leaping, was soon placed under the
window and strong hands lifted the body of
Secretary Tracy through it and carried him
thought to be dead, but it was discovered
that small spark Of life yet remained. He
was removed to the residence of Judge Ban
croft Davis, near by, and at II O'Clock was
reported as improving, though at that time
he had not regained consciousness and was
| of course, unaware of the death of his wife
and daughter. --..-
CLAD IN A WHITE ROBE.
Miss Tracy, the secretary's unmarried
daughter, occupied the third-story front
room and met terrible fate. The younf
lady conld be seen at the window in thu
light that fickered In between the blindinf
smoke and flames, clad in white robe, hel
hands in the attitude of prayer and her fac
uplifted. The Hames gradually hemmed hel
in and she finally sank TO the floor, only :,
Be recognized again by her charred remains
A French maid, named Josephine. met q
similar fate in an adjoining room, whore he
charred and blackened remains were found
Mrs. Wilmerding, the secretary's daughter
and Miss Wilmerding forced their wa,
through the binding smoke and jumped
from the aecond.story window front. Lad
ders were raised for them, but in their ex
element they failed to see them. Mrs. VIII
merding broke her left wrist and was severe
ly bruised. Her daughter was badly injured
about the lower limbs. but broke no bones
They both suffered severely from the shook
They were taken 1t onee to the residence 0
DR.. Baxter near by and restorstives applied
The house was completely Quilted by ths fire
The walls are standing, but the interior pre-
sents picture of desolation. The residenc
of Judge W. 8. Cox of the District Suprem
court, which adjoins it on the left, was badl
damaged by water.