The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07
Secretary Tracey's Daughter
and Her Maid Perish in
the Flames.
Mrs. Tracey Killed in Jump
ing or Falling From a Win
dow to Escape.
The Secretary Rescued by
Firemen in an UncOn-
SCiOuS Condition.

lCy VISITED the nOuSeuOlO VI OeCTeCary
Tracy this morning, whereby three per-
sons lost their lives and three others were
badly injured. The house is three-story
and basement brick, situated on street,
between Connecticut avenue and Seven
teenth street, and has recently undergone
extensive Improvements. Persons pass
ing the house at 7 o'clock
this morning saw smoke issuing from the
front windows and at once raised an alarm
of fire. The fire and police departments re-
sponded 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
burnt, 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. A scene of the widest confusion
ensued when it was known that the members
of the family were in the house. The fire.
men behaved like heroes in the emergency,
and went
THROUGH FIRE AND SMOKE
in searching for them in their different
apartments. Mrs. Wilmerding, the secre-
tary's daughter and Miss Wilmerding 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. Wllmcrding broke her left wrist
and was severely bruised. Her
daughter was badly injured about
the lower limbs, but broke no bones. They
both suffered severely from the shock.
They were taken at once to the residence of
DR.. Baxter, near by, and restoratives ap-
piled. While this sad scene was being en-
acted in front of the house tiremen were en-
gagged in the task of rescuing other members
Of the family from the rear. Mrs Tracy en-
deavored to escape the raging element by
dropping herself from her bed room win
dow. and in her effort to decrease the dis
lance to the ground she grasped the narrow
stone sill and lowered herself as far as she
was able. Those who saw her in her peril
Gus position shouted to her to hold on. but
either she did not hear or her strength
failed her. for after thus hanging moment
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
she fell forty feet into an areaway before
onything could be done towards rescuing
her or relieving her fall. She was immedi-
ately taken to the house of a neighbor, DR..
Rheem, and placed upon lounge in the
sitting room. She was perfectly conscious
and did not seem to suffer pain. Occasionally
she complained of all oppression in the
neighborhood of her heart, and found a
difficulty in breathing. She talked while,
coughed slightly, and then became silent.
The physicians looked at each other sig
niicantly. Mrs. Tracy was dead. The I'M
mediate caase of her death was supposed to
be from injuries to her heart sustained in
her fall from the window, which flooded
her lungs with blood. 1t is said
that had she delayed her movements
couple of minutes ladders and
mattresses and other means of safe escape
would have been at hand. Her body was
soon removed to the residence of Attorney
General Miller on Massachusetts, avenue.
Almost at the same time two bodies were
taken from the burning building. One was
the secretary's daughter, Miss Mary, a
young lady, and the other was that
of the French maid, Josephine. That of
the former was
FOUND BY CHIEF PARISH
living on the floor in the second floor hall at
the head of the stairs. The body was not
greatly disfigured by the fire. She had evil
IDENTIFY died from suffocatiOn. The chief
lifted the ifeless body in his arms, and, al
though the staircase was ablaze, lie brought
it safely out into the street. 1t is said that
Miss Tracy could have saved her
self if her strength had held out few
minutes longer. She fell in the
hallway of the second story, few yards
from the bath room, which, if she had
reached and closed the door, would have
insured her against the fire and smoke until
assistance could have reached her. OF the
French maid little is known, save that her
dead body was found in her room on the
top floor Of the house. burned beyond
recognition. Both the bodies of Miss Tracy
and her maid were taken to an undertaker's
establishment in the vicinity. Secretary
Tracy himself had q most wondrous es-
cape, and is now lying in somewhat pre-
carious condition at the residence of Hon.
J. c. Bancaott Davis ON II street, near
Eighteenth street. Like all the others, he
was overcome in his sleep by the smoke
which filled the house and rendered him
COMPLETELY HELPLESS.
He was discovered in this condition, and
with considerable difficulty was removed
to place near one of the windows. Cries
for a ladder were Quickly answered, and
many willing hands were raised to assist
him to the ground. He was at once re-
moved to neighbours house and
was soon surrounded by physicians,
includ;np doctors Wales and Rnth He WAC
suffering from asphyxia. The doctors ap-
piled artificial means to induce respiration,
and succeeded after an hours work in re-
storing him to semi-consciousness. 1t was
then thought safe to remove him to Judge
Davis house. He improved slowly from
that time on, and soon regained conscious
ness, recognizing the friends who
called to inquire in regard to his
condition. Among the first of
these were the president the vice president
and several members of the cabinent. His
first inquiry upon recovering consciousness
was in regard to the safety of his family.