Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-02-04
BURNT TODEATH.
MRS. SECRETARY TRACY AND
DAUGHTER.
FIRE DESTROYED THEIR HOME.
Caused by 0vcrheated Furnace Pipes
The Secretary Escapes-The Mansion
In Ashes The Bodies at the White
Special to tine TIMES.

Special TO tine TIMES.
WASHINGTON, February 3.-The
pail of death hangs over the White
House tonight, the result of the terri
BILE disaster caused by the burning of
Secretary Tracy's residence, at 1884 l
street, northeast, this morning at I
o'clock.
Wrappedin a white sheet, the charred
remains of Mrs. Tracy and Miss Tracy
lie in the east parlor, while feelings Of
the deepest sadness peryade not only
the presidential mansion but the
entire administration and city.
Last night Secretary Tracy and
family retired quietly to rest in their
beautiful home on 1 street, overlook
ing Farragut square. This morning
the handsome mansion is a mass OF
ashes, while three OF it's former in
mates are dead and two are seriously
injured.l
The fire was discovered about I
o'clock this morning. The family
and servants were still sleeping.
Smoke was seen issuing from the
second-story windows. The fire
alarm was turned in at once. The
nearest engine house was only few
blocks distant on Is street,
and the city's magnificent fire
department responded without a
moments delay. The fire had attain
ed such Roadway in the meantime,
however, that the stairway leading
to the second story had been burned
away, and the lower hall was filled
so densely with smoke that ingress
was impossible.
Strong arms bore ladders to the
upper windows and several firemen
assembled to the upper stories.
Secretary Tracy and Mrs. Tracy
were found in their room on the second
floor. Both were in an exhausted
condition ard were near the window
where the secretary had succeeded in
dragging his wife, when his strength
gave away.
Mrs Tracy has been an invalid and
the Secretary was unable to move her
further.
Secretary Tracy, unconsci GUS, was
dragged to the front window from
which ladder depended, and con-
veyed to the ground. Mrs. Tracy,
who was still possessed OF her senses,
in the meantime had managed to get
to the front window. People below
cried to her to remain until
ladder could be lifted there. Oblivious
to the cries, however, she jumped to
the ground, falling a distance OF forty
feet, managing her body considerably.
The excitement had caused her to
break blood vessel before leaping,
and she died an hour later.
One of the saddest features OF the
terrible calamity was the death OF
Miss Mary Tracy, daughter OF the
secretary She was just II, and was
one of the most beautiful debutantes
of the capital. She had just returned
from Paris, where she had resided
three years, completing her education.
Her room was on the third floor.
Awakened by the smoke she succeeded
in making her way to the second
floor where her parents slept. ohe
got as far rs the room occupied by
her father and mother, intending to
arouse them, and then, overcome by
the heat and, smoke, fell at their door,
where she was afterwards discovered
by fireman, who stumbled over her
BODY. The smoke in the building
then was exceedingly dense and the
flame and heat most oppressive.
When the man took hold of her hand
to help her the charred flesh fell from
her arm. Gathering up the dead
body, he succeeded, however, IN
making his escape.
Mrs. Wilmerling, the se"retary',s
married daughter, with her little girl,
Miss Alice Wilmerling, occupied the
second story front room, and jumped
from the window to the lawn. each
being badly but not fatally bruised.
Josephine Morrell, the French
maid, was burned to death. but the
other servants escaped without any
serious injuries.
The secretary was taken to the
home of Hon. Bancroft Davis, where
he recovered consciousness. He
remained ignorant of the results of
the CONFEDERATION until noon, zen the
president broke to him the sd news
of his loss. The remains of Mrs. and
Miss Tracy were taken to the home
of Attorney General Miller, but by
invitation of the president and MIS-.
Harrison, they were removed 10 the
White House later. The funera SER
vices will be held in the east parlor.
Secretary Tracy has also consented q,
by urgent invitation of the president,
to be removed to the White House
when better. The scene OF the catas-
trophe of the morning has been
visited by thousands of per-
sons during the day. 1t is now
generally believed that the fire
originated from over-heated furnace
pipes. 4,u,o
story red brick structure, and was
formerly occupied by POSTMASTER
General Don Dickinson. 1t is situated
in the ultra fashionable part Of the
city. and is within a stones throw
of Postmaster General Wanamaker's
house, where Secretary Whitney enter,
tanned SO royalty during the Cleveland
administration. Opposite, across the
square, is Millionaire.Senator stan
ford's palatial mansion, and to the
right is the old aristocratic Uncover
ed house where Miss Caldwell, who
gave SO literally to endow the
Catholic university, formerly resided.
The White House and st. johns
fashionable church are also in short
distance.
The Secretary Tracy Disaster.