davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
Sketch of Mrs. Tracy.

Mrs. Tracy was sister of General
Isaac g. Catlin, a prominent lawyer of
Brooklyn, and her carly days were spent
in Tioga County, N. Y, where she was
always very popular. 1twds Ia this To-
cality that she was wooed and won by
Secretary Tracy, who, with ex-senator
Platt and General Catin. were we'll
known social leaders in that section.
During her married life Mrs. Tracy
has been an invalid Il greater portion
of the time, and the social duties
enailed upon her as Cabinet Minis
ter's wife have been entrusted mainly
TO her daughter, Mrs. Wilmcrding,
widow with one daughter. 1t was only
recently that Mrs, Tracy left her com
Portable home in Brooklyn and came to
the Capital but she had not been able
10 participate in social gaicties until
last Thursday evening, when she
attended reception with her
husband. Arrangements had been
made for Mrs. Tracy, her daughters
and granddaughter to accompany the
Secretary to New York this afternoon.
and this will account for the presence
Of Mrs. Wilmerding and Miss Nellie
at the Tracy Mansion last evening. A
telegram was sent to Mr. Frank b.
Tracy at Marchland, the stock farm of
Secretary Tracy, and information of the
sad affair was Immediately conveyed to
General Catlin at Brooklyn.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
FOURTH EDITION,
500 p. M.
oHIo's GREAT FORGERY

General Grosvenor Reads statement
of the Results Accomplished.
The select committee Of the House
TO investigate what is known as the
Ohio ballot-box forgery resumed its
hearing this morning, after u recess
Of two weeks General Gros-
venor made statement, in which
he said that very great deal
of unnecessary and unjust criticism
had been published concerning the
committee and himself The CoHmer-
cidi. GdiCite. whose owner was one of
the principal persons in the investiga-
tion, had published severe criticisms on
the committee, and had charged that
General Grosvenor was dereliCt in his
duty in not cross examining certain
witnesses.
"I hope you don't think had any
thing to do with it. General asked
Governor Foraker
Nothing at all. was the reply.
you're a lawyer, Governor
General Grosvenor said he desired to
bring forward n number Of witnesses ia
order TO bring out the facts in some
thing like logical order
En- Governor Foraker stated ne had
made every cndcavor to get at the
truth.
General Grosvenor said he was not
prosecuting attorney. He was simply
defending his clients. His clients were
being constantly confronted by the as
sertion that they were concerned in
some other ballot-boN contract lie
knew nothing of such contract.
Representative Butterworth appeared
before the committee and stated that,
speaking for all the gentlemen whose
names appeared on the forged document,
he denied the statements being con
stantly printed, that these gentlemen
were not desirous of having full and
complete investigation.
Representative Justin X. Whiting of
Michigan, whose name appeared on
the forged ballot box contract, was
had not been placed on the pa
that Mr.. Walters. who had been
employed by him, and who secured the
autographs of members of Congress for
| Wood, had no wrong connection with
the latter'S doings. The witness had
no knowledge. of any ballot-box con
tract
Powell Crossle of Cincinnati. a for
mcr partner of Representative Butter
worth, was the next witness. He said
| that be had never had in his possession
! any paper connected with n ballot box
He had 10 knowledge of any ballot box
| contract.
The next witness was Governor
! Campbell lie was shown the forged
ballot box contract and stated he had
never seen il before He had never
signed his name like the sig
nature on the paper He denies
any knowledge of any ballot box con
tract. He had introduced the Ballot
box bill as favor to Thomas c. Camp
bell of Cincinnati The witness told
all he knew OF the ballot. box matter.
Some three years ago he had seen q
patent ballot-b box in the Office of I. G.
Campbell The balloi-boX was manip
ulated by X. G.. Wood. some tim,
after r. c. Campbell had brought ont
of these patent boxes to Washington tC
exhibit TO the Congressional Commit
tee on Elections 1t was at this
time that the witness agreed tc
introduce the bill. His attention wa
first brought to his connection with the
ballot box matter by the publication il
the Cincinnati Commerci0k G0fcfte. 4
recess was here taken.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
How the Fire Was Discovered.

Early this morning colorcd waiter
employed at the Hotel Arno was pass
ing along / street on his way to work.
1t was not very light, although nearly
10 clock, for there was a heavy mist
hanging over the city and the
street lamps were still blinking, red
eyed as if from being up all night.
The colored man drew his coat about
him and hurried on, shiving in the raw,
cold air. As he passed along the south
side of Farragut Square he perceived
the pungent odor of burning wood and
cloth.
He Glanced up, and just across the
street saw the smoke issuing from the
doors and windows of large three
story brick house, with mansard roof.
1t was one of the imposing
structures which forms group of
three palatial residences on / street,
east of the corner of Seventeenth street.
He ran across the street and could hear
the crackle of flames inside the house.
There was light as of gas.jet in the
basement Probably some of the ser
wants were awake, He vigorously
pu lied the door.bell 1t was answered
by female domestic.
"The house is on firel" he exclaimed.
The woman seemed paralyzed with
fright, "Wake up the people and
will run for the enginesp said the col
ored man as he darted uD the basement
steps. He paused moment, looking
wildly around.
He could not remember where fire.
alarm box was located, There was an
engine house not far away, on X street
between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets
Like flash he was Off to give tho
alarm.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
Foreign.

Mrs. Langtry is IN London i'll.
The United States Squadron has arrived
at Toulon.
John Reid & Co., one of the oldest ship
building firms on the Clyde, have failed
with heavy liabilities.
IL is stated that the London Times will
pay Mr.. Campbell e200 damages, besides
meeting all the costs of his action.
circus In Lisbon was wrecked by the
audience because pantomime referring to
the Portuguese In Africa was considered OBJ
jectionable.
The editor of the Paris Nation and the
Marquis de Mores fought Il duel on the
Belgian frontier, and the former was shot
in the right arm.
Emperor William will visit the Danish
court at Fredensborg aud remain there sew
eral days in June. The Empress and her
sister Marguerite will accompany him.
Archbishop Corrigan of New York has
arrived in Rome. lie is to have an audi
ence with the Pope, and Will then start im-
mediately for Palestine.
The Portuguese Government will dispatch
an appeal to all the European powers re-
questing the formation of a conference to
determine the disputed rights between Por-
tugal and England.
The German foreign office regards the
agreement between the German and Czechs
in Bohemia as triumph for the diplomacy
of Prince Bismarck and the personal inhu-
ence OF Emperor William.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
Judge Cox's House Damaged,

Justice Cox of the District Supreme
Court, occupies the house next TO that
of the Secretary and the damage to it
will probably amount TO $4,000. The
flames did not reach the house and the
damage was done entirely by
water. Justice Cox was awakened by
the noise made by the engines. and be-
tore he had time TO dress himself n
stream of water came splashIng through
his bedroom window. He ran through
the house and awakened his family and
servants and hurried them out into the
street. Then he followed, after dress.
ing himself
Judge Cox or one of his associates on
the bench will probably have knotty
legal point to settle if he demands the
insurance which was on his house and
furniture; for while his property was
damaged indirectly by fire, nothing was
burned by il.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
The Special Trip to New York.

A vestibule train of palace cars over
the Pennsylvania Railroad left here
for New York at 3 o'clock this
afternoon with distinguished
party of iurists to attend the
Judiciary Centenary celebration in
that city tomorrow The following
named members of the Supreme Court
of the United States, accompanied by
the ladies of their families, were on the
train;
Chief Justice Fuller, Associate Jus
tices Miller Field, Bradley, Harlan,
Batchford and Lamar, Judges Rich
mdson and Weldon of the Court of
Claims. Marshal Wright of the SUI
preme Court accompanied the party.
The train was in charge of Mr.. Geo.
w. Boyd, tourist agent Of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, and Mr.. William W
Lord, assistant general passenger agent
of the Pennsylvania system. The train
is due at Jersey City at $50 p, III.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

The story of DIR. L. S. Rheem, who
lives just around the corner on Seven
teenth street, gives an eyewitness ac-
count of one of the thrilling incidents
of the fire. Ills house runs back along
the alley, the kitchen being opposite
the second. story room of the Sccrctary's
house.
DIR. Rheem said. IL was awakened by
the most fearful screams proceeding
from Secretary Tracy's house. ran
to my third story window aud witnessed
fearful sight. Clinging to the edge of
the window sill of tine second story was
Mrs. Tracy. She was in her night
clothes. The smoke was pouring out
of the window behind her.
Suddenly she let go her hold and
dropped clear to the area.way of the
basement, which is some distance below
the level of the yard. My attention was
then attracted by the screams which
proceeded from the roof. looked up
and through the black, dense smoke.
saw woman come out of the window
in the mansard roof and walk along the
edge.
"She waved blanket around her.
self, trying to clear away the smoke,
which poured out after her, all the
while uttering piercing screams. Every
moment l expected to sec her jump.
In few minutes there was shout,
a clatter of feet and squad of firemen
bearing ladder rushed down the al
ley. They hoisted it, but found it too
short. Then another was raised aud
the woman brought down and into this
house. She was the German cook
In.the meantime some men had picked
up Mrs. Tracy and bore her into DR..
Rheem's house. At the same
time three firemen appeared at the
second story window, bearing the form
of Secretary Tracy. The men had
groped bravely around through the
burning room and found him in
bed. AS they bore him down the
ladder he was limp and unconscious.
He was taken into Dr. Rheem' s
kitchen. Doctors were on the scene,
and were minlstering to the sufferers.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

after the House had convened, he feel
ingly referred to the sorrows Of the
Secretary of The Navy. and invoked for
them and The assembled House comfort
in their sorrow and immunity from
pain.
THE CHNPLAtNs' PRAYERS.
The prayers Of the chaplains of the
two houses were OF unusual interest
this morning. The Rev. W. II. Mil
burn of the House made direct ref
ercncc to the awful calamity which be
fell Secretary Tracy this morning. and
TO the less Secretary Blame met with
last Saturday. The Rev. Mr.. Mil
burns prayer was as follows
oh, Thou who hast taught us that Thou
dost not unwillingly anlict or grieve the
children Of men, we draw nigh TO Thee in
the shadow of the awful calamity which
has overwhelmed the household Of the Sec
rctary Of the Navy, aud IN the new
sorrow that has come to the family
Of the Secretary of State. In such time
as this vain are the help and sympathIes
of men, Only Thou, oh Father of our
souls, canst comfort, succor, uphold. Let
these sufferers find the ministry of
consolation to he obtained alone
In the stcadfastness of Thy truth,
in the presence Of Thy spirit, in the
assurance Of Immortality and eternal life.
Oh Christ, who Dearest the sob Of the
breaking heart aud feelest the misery aud
the distress OF all that are IN pain,
| come Thou to them who suffer
and grant them Thy pity and Thy consola-
tion. Bring home to the sense of all. that
| there Is but n step between us and death,
and that in such an hour us we think not,
the Son Of Man may come to us. Help
us to order our steps and our ways, rever-
ent in the thought of the judgment and the
eternal life, aud bring us and all for whom
we pray into lifes discipline of pain aud
sorrow to the home and rest of Thy people
In Heaven, we pray, through our only
Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen,
In the Senate the Rev. j. G. Butler,
| ID. D., prayed at unusual length. That
part of his petition bearing the more
| directly on the terrible event of the
day, was as follows:
To whom can VIC come, oh, God of conso-
lation, but unto Thee in the time OF trou-
| BILE? How uusearchable are Thy iudg-
ments and Thy ways past finding out!
| Clouds and darkness are round about Thee.
| Justice aud Judgment are the habttations Of
Thy throne mercy and truth go before Thy
| face.
Thou dost make all things to work to-
gether for good to those that love Thee,
and we come with the confidence and trust
of children as we gather under the shadow
of this great sorrow.
II it please Thee, sustain and spare the
useful life. Comfort and smctify those
who sit In darkness and give unto them
Thy peace.
Oh, God. we open not our mouths be-
cause Thou ddst it. Thou orderest the
falling of the sparrow, and the hairs of our
head are all numbered. Thou art
infinitely WISE infinitely kind. We
cannot understand Thee.
We pray for an abiding faith in God, that
day by day we may go forward obeliently,
and courageously, and trustingly, even
looking unto Thee for guidance, for help,
for strength, for comfort in every tlme OF
| need
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

II called to the men on Truck No.
TO keep back the flames at any cost and
they did so. When turned around
from giving this order ladder was
being pushed up TO the window
and two men skinned up the rounds
like couple of monkeys. / handed
over the form of the Secretary to their
keeping. He regained eonciousness a
moment and murmered my daugh-
ter. -
II pushed my way back through the
smoke, and, the first door reached |
pushed my way in. 1t was like fur
mace, and, for an instant. was com.
pletely blinded. Then / saw through
the fog ga bed and lying PROSTATE on it
was the form of woman. caught
her in my arms, but saw that life must
be extinct, for the skin peeled off under
my touch. wrapped the body of the
young girl, for it was Miss Tracy, in the
bed clothing carried her down the
stairway and laid her down tenderly on
the sidewalk. ! haven't seen her since.
A CLOSE CALL
"All this time / had paid no atten.
ton to the fire. When lives were in
danger we could not stop to look after
anything else. Yes, decidedly, it was
the closest call I ever had, and | hope
| may never have another like it,.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
Cabinet Trip Abandoned.

Owing TO the calamity which befell
the family of the Secretary of the
Navy this morning, the President and
members of the Cabinet have abaud
oned their intended visit 10 New York
to take part in the exercises which have
been arranged incident to the judicial
centennial, which is to be celebrated
in that city tomorrow. 1t is
understood that movement is
on foot by Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States to have the
ceremonies, banquet, ETC. postponed
for ut least one day.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

After the fire was out the pretty bou-
doir of Miss Mary Tracy, furnished in
blue and gold, presented pathetic pic
turc. Her room was next to that of
her fathers, with whom she was
favoriic, and door led into it. Over
the tasteful art square was scattered
brio. a brac broken in pieces. Her
favorile books were burned and GOV
cred with dirt, and scattered all about
by the swift stream of water that came
too late 10 save her young life But
the most pathetic thing of all was
THE DEAD PETS.
She was very fond of pets. They
will not miss her, however, for they,
toe, passed away when she did. At
the foot of the bed was the poodle dog
which she had often petted. Around
its neck was blue ribbon. tied there
10y her hands. Two canarics that used
to awake her from her dreams in the
morning lay dead in the bottom of their
cage, and as a policeman, man used
to sights like this, passed the door and
stopped to look in, he drew the sleeve
of his coat over his eyes and hurried
down stairs.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
At Bancroft Davis, House.


After being borne down The ladder
in an unconscious condition Secretary
Tracy was removed by the firemen to
the residence of j. G. Bancroft Davis,
on III street, between Sixteenth and
Seventeenth streets, and he was al once
attended by Surgeon.Gencral Brown of
the Navy.
Lieutenant Mason, L. S. N, con
vcyed the sad intelligence to the White
House, and the President accompanied
him TO the bedside of the Secretary
and remained until the latter was re.
stored 10 consciousness.
Efforts of the physicians We're re-
warded with success, but the Secretary
was delirious rs soon as he awoke. and
began pleading case before jury. 1t
was deemed inadvisable to acquaint
him with his terrible atliiction, even if
he was sufficiently recovered to bear it,
and after he had turned over on his
side opiates were administered and he
was soon asleep again.
A stalwart marine, in full uniform,
was stationed at the door of the Davis
mansion to receive callers and answer
questions, and relay Of clerks from
the Navy Department were in the par
lor, ready for service, One of the last
acts of the Secretary before leaving the
Navy Department Saturday afternoon
was to direct his private secretary to in
form gentleman that he would be at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York
this evening at 8 o'clock,
THE SECRETARY BETTER.
Secretary Tracy is much better and
will not die" said DIR. Ruth to the re-
porter at 10 o'clock. He is now rest
ing easily under the influence of seda-
tives. He has not yet been told of the
death of his wife.
SECRETARY TRACY LEARNS THE NEWS.
President Harrison returned to the
White House at 1:20 o'clock from the
bedside of Secretary Tracy, who
he reported was resting as comfort
ably as could be expected under the cir
CuiuolunCSS' ADOul II " SlOCh, MI
Tracy who had recovered consciousness,
asked President Harrison where Miss
Tracy was. The President could not
answer the question. Mr.. Tracy. eyi-
IDENTIFY feeling that her escape was al
most impossible, asked: SIS she dead?'
Still the President could not answer
the question of his friend, and Mr.,
Tracy, apparently realizing the truth
from the Presidents hesiancy, al
once swooned and remained unconscious
for half hour Recovering he asked fol
his daughters. The President told the
Secretary that his daughter Mary was
dead, and again Mr.. Tracy swooned
Secretary Tracy's physicians say tha
he is out of danger,
Dr. Ruth stated shortly after o'clocl
this afternoon that the Secretary wa
sleeping quietly and that unless som'
complications arose he will be in nj
danger. He continued to rest easily
this afternoon.
The President has directed that q
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

Building Inspector Entwisle inspected
the Tracy mansion this afternoon and
found that the fire broke out in the hard
wood sheathing next to the fireplace.
Itwas also found that the back stairs
were not injured and that Mrs. Tracy
and her daughter could have escaped in
that way.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
TRACY TRAGEDY
Complete Details Of the
Terrible Calamity
SAFETY OF THE SECRE TARY.
An Eyewitness Thrilling
Account.
Mrs. Tracy Dies From a Fearful Fall
From a Window.
MISS TRACY SUFF0CATED.
Horrible Death of the French Waiting
Maid, Josephine Morel.

Mrs. WilmerdinG Lets Go Her Hold and
Drops to the Areaway of the Base
ment--Narrow Escape of Mrs. will
merding and Her Little Daughter
Chief Paris Graphic Story-"One
of the Bravest Young Fellows That
Ever Crawled Into Smoke
FILLED House"-The Chief Helps
the Secretary to Escape - ssMy
Daughterr Were Mr.. Traoy's First
Words When He Regained Con-
sciousness--NIiss Tracy's BoudOir
Presents u Pathetic Picture--She is
Found Lying on Her Face ia the
Passage way-Her Pets Die with
Her-The Canary's Song is stilled
and VIII no More Call Its Mis-
tress at Early Dawn--A Sad, Sad
stOr.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

were standing chatering on the corner
Fircmcn had already burst in the door
and up the steps leapod, followed by
Howard Wright here, one Of the bray
est young fellows that ever crowded
into smoke filed house. We ran
through the long hall into the Sccre-
taiys private bath and from there into
his bedroom. The place was thick
with smoke and through IL ! saw the
form of the Secretary cropping
his way toward the door. Just as I
pushed my way through he fell and |
caught him in my arms. lie is very
heavy man, and staggered from the
terrible weight But managed TO carry
him TO the window, and, throwing ii
up, | put his head out and called to the
men TO push up the ladder All this
ok time, and as we stood there wait
ing | looked back over my shoulder and
saw the flames steadily advancing upon
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
WORLDS FAIR WORK.
Ike House Committee Fails to Secure
Quorum

The House Worlds Fair Committee
failed TO hold regular meeting this
morning. The members of the com
mittee were In and out, but
quorum was not present at any
one time. Mr.. Belden arrived
late and Mr.. Flower was not
present at all. Informally they dis
cusscd the advisability of reporting the
bill to the House before the adoption of
a code of rules. 1t was the gen
eral opinion that it would be
unwisc to do so No date is set tor
another meeting, but Chairman Can
der will get it together as soon as he
can.
The Senate Quadro Centennial Com
mitcc had 10 meeting, and no day has
been fixed yet for holding it. Senator
Hiscock said there ives nothing new in
the matter of the fair.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

CAS- boy and man ] have been a fire
man for thirty three years in this town"
said Chief Paris, as he stood among
the ruins of the Tracy mansion and
flicked the perspiTation from his brow
with his sooty hand, "and 1t was the
closest call ever had. Come up stairs
and I'll show you how 1t happened
He led the way up the cinder-Payed
stairway, which tottered under his
weight.
when l arrived here this morning
flames were issuiag from the front win
dow and group Of frightened servants
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03

A fire at the residence of Secretary
of the Navy Tracy this morning resulted
in the death of Mrs. Tracy, her daugh-
ter, Mary Warrington Tracy, and a
French maid, Josephine Morel.
Mrs Wilmclding, the widowed
daughter of the Secretary, and her
daughter, Miss Alice, escaped by leap.
ing from the second story front window.
They alightcd on the soft grass of the
terrace.
The,wrist of Alice was spraincd. Sec
retary Tracy was rescued by Chief Par
ris of the Fire Department, who found
him unconscious in his room. He was
taken to the residence of Judge Ban
croft Davis and Dr. Ruth, his physician,
reports him out of danger.
The funeral of Mrs. Tracy and her
daughter will take place from the White
House tomorrow. The intermcnt will
be in the family plot in Brooklyn.
The cause of the fire has not yet been
definitely learned, but will be invcsti-
gated to morrow.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
IDAHO TEsT-oATa CASE.
Decision Rendered in the u. =. Su-
preme Court.

The Supreme Court of the United
States to day rendered an opinion,
through Justice Field, affirming the
judgment of the Third Judi
cial District Court, in the ia
nous Idaho test-oath case regard
ing the constitutionality of the test
oath section of the Edmunds- Tucker
polygamy law.
The court decides that polygsmy and
bigamy are offenses against mankind,
and are not properly part of any religious
belief and that member of the Mormon
Church, or any sect that encourages
polygamy, cannot take the test.oath on
applying for registration to vote with
out violating the law.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
johnson Misunderstood Her.

Mistress of the House (widow)-Well,
johnson, of course I'm very sorry to lose
you; at the same time must congratulate
money left YOU, (PleasantlyD l suppose
you'll be looking out for wife now?
Johnson--Well, mum, beggln' your par
don, and I'm sure feel greatly honored at
what you propose, but--er-l'm engaged to
young woman already,-Grip.