Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-06
BURNED IN THEIR BEDS
The Wife, Daughter and Servant of
Secretary Tracy theVictims.
The Secretary Himself Has a Very
Narrow Escape.

WASHINGTON, Feb. ga terrible calam-
ity visited the household of Sec'y Tracy this
morning, whereby three persons lost their
lives and three others were badly injured.
1t Is impossible now to state the exact de-
tails. The house is a three-story and base
ment brick, situated on | street, between
Connecticut avenue and 18th street, and has
recently undergone extensive improve
ments. Persons passing by the house att
O clock this morning, saw smoke issuing
from the front windows, and at once raised
an alarm of fire. The fire and police de-
partments responded promptly. The prem
Uses were almost completely concealed by
| the dense smoke, which was thickened by
heavy fog, which was just lifting. It was
soon discovered that the house was all
ablaze inside, and that the main stairway
was burned, thus cutting off communiea-
ton with the sleeping apartments on the
second and third floors. Several streams
of water were thrown on the flames, and
every effort was made to check the fire.
! A scene of the widest confusion ensued
when it was known that all the members
of the family were in the house. The
fremen behaved ike heroes in the emer-
gency. and went through fire and smoke
searching for those in the different
apartments. Mrs. Wilmerding, the sec
retary's daughter, and Miss Wilmerding,
forced their way through the binding
smoke and jumped from a second story
raised for them, but in their
excitement they failed to see them.
Mrs. Wilmerding broke her wrist and was
severely injHred. Her daughter was bad
ly injured about the lower limbs, but
broke no bones. Both suffered severely
from the shock. They were at once taken
to the residence of DIR. Baxter, near by,
and restoratives applied.
| While this scene was being enacted In
front of the house. firemen were engaged
In removing the other members of the
family from the rear. Chief Engineer
Parish found his way into Mrs. Tracy S bed
room where he found her lying on the bed
overcome by smoke With the assistance
of others he carried her almost lifeless
body down ladder and to the house of
Mrs. Rhiem. She was then entirely I'M
conscious, and although every effort known
was used, it was impossible to save her
life She died in few minutes after her
rescue. Her body was not burned, death
resulting from suffocation.
Almost at the same time two more
bodies were taken from the burning build
ing. One was that of the secretary S
daughter, Miss Marie, aged about IA, and
the other was one of the servants. Both
bodies were burned to a crisp, and were
unrecognizable Miss Tracy's body was
distinguished from the other only by the
superior texture of what remained of her
stockings. The charred remains were
taken to an undertaking establishment in
the vicinity, where they were joined soon
after by the remains of Mrs. Tracy.
Secretary Tracy himself had most won
derful escape, and is now lying in a some
what precarious condition at the residence
of Judge Davis. Like the others he was
overcome in his sleep by the smoke which
/ filled the house, AMI rendered him un
conscious. He was discovered in this con-
dition, and with considerable difficulty was
removed to 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 removed to a
neighbor's house, and was soon surrounded
by physicians. The doctors applied
artificial means to induce respira-
ton and succeeded after an
an hours work in restoring him to semi
to remove him to Judge Davis house. He
improved slowly from this time on, and
soon regained consciousness, recognizing
friends who called to inquire in regard to
his condition Among the first of these
were the president, vice-president and
several members of the cabinet. The full
extent of his terrible affection is withheld
from him for the present. His first inquiry
upon recovering consciousness was in
regard to the safety of his family.
He is gradually gaining his strength, and
his friends are sanguine of his complete
recovery. The walls of the house are
standing but the interior presents a picture
of ruin and desolation The residence of
Judge Cox, of the district supreme court,
on the left, was badly damaged by water.