The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-02-14

Judge Davis house. Mrs. Harrison also
called to inquire after the secretary's condi-
tion, but she did not enter the house.
james g. Blaine Jr., also called at the
house several times during the day. He
bore messages of coincidence from Sccre-
tary Blaine. The latter Is bearing up
we'll in his own great affiiction, and went
for walk during the afternoon with his
son Emmons. The president remained
with Secretary Tracy until 2o'clock, when
he went to the White House. The bodies
of Miss Tracey and servant were this after
noon removed temporarily to the residence
of Attorney General Miller, on Massachu.
sets avenue, where the body of Mrs. Tracey
was taken this morning.
REscUINa THE SECRETARY.
Chief Paris Of the fire department., tola
his story as follows: Ipaid no attention to
the fire when heard theic were people In
the house; felt my way, through the
In bed In . ROOM. l tried to pick him up,
but he was almost too heavy. managei
to drag him into back room, where
there was more air and then 1 broke the
window out and called to Lowe who was
IN the alley, to run up q ladder. Then they
took the man out and it proved to be the
secretary. could not move him any fur
ther, for was full up to the neck with smoke.
Then vent back into the smoke and fire
again and found young lady-Miss Mary
Tracey they tell Moit was--ahd as caught
hold ofher yrhsf % ftt eher up the flesh
burned. got her out. but she was dead.
DIR. Ruth, at the solicitation of friends,
visited the undcrtakcr's establishment and
identified Miss Tracey. He made hurried
examination and found she had died from
suffocation. Mrs. Tracey was found to have
died from rupture OF blood vessels. A gen.
ueman who saw the fire said never in his
life did lie see or hear of such sight.
ut seemed" lie said, las though hell had
broken loose and sent its fiery tongue to
earth. The whole building seemed one
scething mass of flames, bursting from every
point. Scream followed scream, each ono
more horrible and blood-curdling tlian the
other, from the interior of the building.
Only few people were passing at the time,
soon arrived. You know the rest"
X. Z. Turner is footman at the Tracey
residence. lie was All eye witness of part
ofthe fire. lie was up and dressed before
o'clock, and was prepared to go up stairs
to clean the silver. lie slept in the base.
Ment.
"Just as was starting up stairs" said he,
"a colored man rang the bell. and told tho
butler, who answered it, that the house was
on fire."
"The butler ran upstairs and immediate
rushed back, shouting;
my God, the house Is OH fire.
"The entire first floor was in flames. We
ran out the front door. Mrs. Wilmcrding
and her daughter were at the front second.
story window screaming for help"
THE BUTLER's ACCOUNT,
James Welch, the sccrctary's butler. told
his story of the fire. He said:
sleep in the basement, and this morning
l got up about G:sD. There was no smell
of fire and no appearance. of anything
wrong. At about Z o'clock ! started to
clean my dining room. when there was
ring at the bell, and when / answered it o
colorcd man said, "Your house is on fire."
At once ! rushed up stairs to arouse tho
thick, succeeded in knocking at every
door. and from each one in the rooms
secured o response. Then started to 90
down stairs. and nearly choked with the
smoke, fell three times but finally got to
tho front door. l went around to the rcar
to reacl, the secretary and Mrs. Tracy's bed
ROOM. Mrs. Tracy was then at the window,
and while the few OF us who were there ap.
lcaled to her to keep still for
one minute more, slle climbed out
on the sill and lowered herself until
she hung by her hands on the narrow stone
protection. Everybody who saw her yelled
looked around for something in which to
catch her ~ as to break the full, which had
to come. Mrs. Tracy may have heard our
cries, but 1t is not certain that she did.
The cook, who was on the
Isutty okt&
How long did Mrs. Tracy hang there? Not
moro than few seconds. She told me
afterwsrd that she slipped She fell into
the areaway, almost touching me in her
swift descent Il was on the ground lcvcl),
and struck on her LEFT side. No sound, save
q little incoherent murmur: came from her
lips. picked her up and carried her into
Mr.. Rheem's house. II was the most awful
occurrence in my life.
THE FAMILY.
Mrs. Benjamin Tracy, the wife Of the Sec
retary Of the Navy Tracy, was in llcsixticth
year of her age. Gen. Tracy, who was born
and brought up in Owcgo. N. V, married
Miss Catlin in 1854. They resided in that
place until 1865, when they moved to
Brooklyn, where tlei- home has since been.
Three children have blessed their union.
Two ard daughters and the other son.
Mrs. Emma l.. Wilmertling, the eldest
daughter, is widow with one child. Mrs.
Wilmerding has resided with her ianily
since her husbands death, and went With
them to Washington Frank Is. Tracy,
the only son, tayors his father in ai,-
pearance and in his business ubility. He
Is thirty years old and unmarried. lie now
lives ut home. and only spends in Wash
ington what time he can spare from his
fathers business. Miss Mary Tracy, tho
unmarried daughter, one of the victims OF
the disaster, was like her mother in appear
ance She was very anliablc and had hosts
offriends who will be mortified to learn OF
her dreadful fate.