Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-04
THE DEAD AND THE LIVING.
Secretary Tracy's Great Sor-
row.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL.
A Solemn Scene in the East Room
of the White House.
The Secretary Much Better Today-His
Reunion With His Son-Scenes About
Guest-The Investigation Of Yester-
days Disaster.


Side by side in the semi darkened east room
of the White House lie the bodies of Mrs.
Tracy and her daughter, the victims of the
fearful fire which yesterday morning made
| SO desolate the home Of Secretary Of
the Navy Tracy. In the center
| of the great apartment are two sable caskets
that contain all the remains of poor mortal
| ity which but few hours ago made bright one
! of the happiest homes in this city.
MRS. TRAoYs cAsKEr.
To the west side of the room and identified
| outwardly only by its greater length is the
| casket in which lies the body of Mrs. Tracy.
There is nothing ornate in the exterior, the
simplicity of the black cloth being broken only
| by the long extension handle-bars, which are of
| silver On the lid are four graceful sage palm
leaves and around them are camelIas and hya-
cinths. In the center is huge cluster OF white
| and blue violets placed there yesterday even
ing by Mrs. Harrison, and at the head is q
bunch of roses-the contribution OF Mrs. Nor
ton. Smllax is twisted around the great palm
| branches on the sides of the casket.
HIDDEN FROM ALL EYES.
To the east, and not more than four feet
distant, is the casket in which have been
| fastened the corpse of Miss Mary Tracy, SO
sadly dsfgured by fire. The face of the
mother will be seen by those who may desire
to look on it once more, but the daughters
bruised and distorted features will never
again be beheld by mortal eye. The
interior caskets are both of copper
| and both are Theoretically sealed, but the lid
has been fastened over the glass in the younger
lady's coffin and it will not be dis
the features presentable failed COM
pletely; the murderous fame destroyed
| the attractiveness of the body when it released
the soul. Above the breathess and discolored
| lips lie fragrant bunch of blue violets, the
| grief Offering of Mrs. Harrison and Mrs Nc
kee, and near the simple flowers are roses,
| placed there by Mrs. Morton. Around and on
| top of the casket are scattered hyacinths,
camelias and lilies OF the valley with festoons
of INTERVIEWING smilax.
THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The collins will not be moved until tomorrow.
This afternoon the funeral arrangements were
| decided upon and it was announced by Private
Secretary Halford that religious services will
| be held in the east room tomorrow morning at
| II o'clock.
The officiating clergyman will be the Rev.
George w. Douglass, rector OF st. John
church. The only persons who will be adj
mitted to the executive mansion previous to the
| funeral will be the relatives of the deceased,
| members of the cabinet. Senators and Rep
| invited. The limited space will prevent
| the funeral being, in broad sense, a
public one. At the conclusion Of the services
| the remains will be taken to Rock Creek ceme-
| terry and there placed in the receiving vault
until Secretary Tracy shall decide as to their
permanent disposition.
THE PAIL BEARERS.
The pail bearers for Mrs. Tracy will be Sec
| retaries Window, Proctor, Noble and Rusk,
Wanamaker, Admiral Porter and Admiral
Rodgers.
The pail bearers for Miss Tracy, it was an
nounced this afternoon, will be eight naval
officers. The Schubert quartet will be present
| and assist at the services.
THE STRICKEN SECRETARY.
Very intense is the popular interest in the
condition of Secretary Tracy. That gentleman
| is still the guest Of Mr.. ]. Bancroft Davis.
and H street between 161z and 18th. on both
sides Of the highway, is pretty thoroughly
| occupied by crowd Of curious and sympa-
| thetic people. There is almost invariably a
| carriage before Mr.. Davis door, and it is not
| uncommon to see half dozen vehicles
| from the stylish private brougham down to the
] loose-jointed cab-strung out along the
| edge of the northern sidewalk. Two or three
marines keep watch and ward at the door and
occasionally policeman moves the multitude
| a few feet one way or the other
then he relapses into silence and in
activity. A great many of the callers are content
| with asking the sergeant of marines as to the
Secretary's condition, and many of the more
prominent add to their solici:ude the bestowal,
in trust, Of card. Tho card receiver
inside is full OF scraps of paste.
board, upon some OF which are many
names distinguished in American history.
Only a small proportion of the visitors enter
the house and with but two or three exceptions
they did not see the man in whom, just now,
| they are most interested.
| HE IS MUCH BETTER.
'The Secretary is very much better this
morning." said ex-Surgeon General Wales to a
STAR reporter. "He is getting along splendidly,
but he will not be moved to the White House
| before tomorrow morning."
| Others who saw the Secretary today are
satisfied that he will come out all right. He
arose this morning at about II o'clock. and
although there was plenty of proffered
| assistance he did most of his dressing
himself. He moved slowly, however, for
he is still qnite weak, but he got down stairs
| to the library by II 80 and at noon partook of
breakfast. His appetite is returning at a salts
factory rate Of speed and the physicians are
! themselves assured that all is well or soon
will be.
THE sEcRErARY's SON.
| The first visitor to the Secretary's bedside
the first member of his family he has seen
since he laid down to rest on Sunday night
| was his son, Frank Tracy. The meeting be-
| tween father and son was a most affecting one,
| and together they mingled their tears and
mourned over the calamity.
Mr.. Frank Tracy arrived in the city this
morning about 1:30 on Pennsylvania special
train, and was met at the depot by Lieut.
Cowles and Dr.. Ruth. He was driven at once
to the White House, where the President wal
waiting for him. The rest of the
presidential household. with the exception
| of couple OF servants, had
retired the President having declared that il
was not necessary to keep the entire establish
ment awake. The sad story, with al
its heartbreaking details, was ther
verbally told the young man for the
first time, although he had been
provided with The STAR four hours before be
reached this city and was therefore in posses
A meal was waiting for Mr.. Tracy, and in
company with the President he partool
| thereof.
| GEN. CATLIN HERE.
Gen. Isaac 8. Catlin, Mrs. Tracy's brother
arrived here last night and Is stopping at the
Arlington hotel. He is accompanied by his
Stranahan and his wife were also of tho party
They were received at the depot by Private
Secretary Halford, and. escorted by him, were
driven uptown. Gen. Catlin and Mr.. Strana-
han went at once to the White House. where
they had q brief conversation with the Presi.
dent
| CALL FROM THE PRECEDENT.
The President did not 60 to the cemetery "a
witness the conclusion Of the funeral ceremo.
MES over the remains Of Mrs. Coppinger, but
1 nj nh anti y<~sn 40,