Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-04

reported out of danger.
The President and Secretary Eslford ar
rived shortly after the alarm was struck
and rendered all the assistance possible.
The President desired TO have the Secre-
tary taken at once to the White House, but
tie physicians forbid it.
The fire was caused by defective fues.
It is the intention to take the bodies Of
Mrs. and Miss Tracy to the White House,
where they will lay in state in the East
room until time for the funeral.
This catastrophe, added to Mrs. Coppln-
gers death yesterday, causes universal SOY
SOW here. The President will probably
postpone his intended trip TO New ork
this afternoon, where he expected to at
tend the Judiciary Centennial, in company
with the Cabinet and the Supreme Court.
HOW MRS TRACY DIED.
WAsBIYGroY. February 3d.-Secretary
and Mrs. Tracy occupied the back room on
lie second story. Mrs. Tracy, it is be-
lieved. was first awakened by the sufoeat-
ing smoke. Secretary Tracy was at the
time unconscious, and Mrs. Tracy, with
heroic devotion, attempted to drag the in
animate body of the Seore airy to the win
dow. In this she partially succeeded, but
half dazed and blinded by smoke, she
opened the window. and just as the tiremen
were putting up the ladder to rescue her
she leeped to the sidewalk. Her body was
picked up with severe internal injuries and
broken leg. She was taken to neigh
boring house, and without recovering con-
seriousness died within an hour.
IN AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER.
WASHINGTON, February 3d.-Miss Tracy,
the Secretery's unmarried daughter, occu-
pied the third story front room, and met
terrible fate. The young lady could be
seen at the window in the light that flick
cred in between the binding smoke
and the flames She was clad in white
robes. Her hands were in an attitude OF
prayer and her face was upllfted to heaven.
The flames gradually hemmed her in, and
she finally sank TO the floor only to be
recognized again by her charred remains.
The French maid, Josephine, met sim
liar fate in an adjoining room, where her
chsrred and blackened remains were found.
WHAT THE BUTLER SAYS.
! James WEIGH, the Secretary's builer
said II sleep in the basement and this
morning l got up about $50. There was
no smell of fire and no appearance of any
thing wrong About o'clock l started to
clean my dining-room, when there was
ring at the door-bell, and when l answered
| il colored man said, Your house is on
| fire. At once l rushed up stairs to arouse
the family; and although the smoke was
very thick, l succeeded in knocking at ev-
cry door, and from each one in the rooms
I secured q response.
Then l started to go down stairs and
was nearly choked with smoke. l fell
three times, but finally got to the front
door. l went around to the rear and tried
\ to get ladder so as to reach the Secretary
and Mrs. Tracy's bedroom. Mrs. Tracy
was at the window, while the few of US
who were there appealed to her to keep
still for a minute more. She climbed out on
| the sill and lowered herself until she hung
| by her hands on the narrow stone projec-
ton. Everybody who saw her yelled to
her to hold on for a moment, and we
| looked around for something on which to
catch her SO as to break the fall which had
| to come.
"How long did Mrs. Tracy hang there :?
| Not more than few seconds. She told me
afterwards she slipped. She fell into q
rearway, almost touching me in her swift
| descent, Il was on the ground level), and
struck on her left side. No sound save
| little murmur came from her lips. picked
her up and carried her into Rhiem's
| house"
To those who were admitted to view the
destruction of the property, the bedroom
which had been occupied by the Secretary
and MIS-. Tracy was the principal point of
interest. II is the rear room on the second
floor and must have been beautiful apart.
ment. Everything is black and soaked
! with water. The room is huge cinder.
On the third floor on the central front
was the room occupied last night by Miss
Tracy. This was ruin of the most thor
ough description. 1t was charred in every
corner. The ceiling Is gone, the doors
burned out, and cinders ankle deep COW
cred the floor and what the flames had
spared was destroyed by water.
The fire originated in the parlor near the
open fireplace. Whether it originated
from the CRATE or the heatiDg-pipe is not
| known. The furnace is in the basement,
directly beneath where the fire started, and
the pipes lead to the upper stories in the
rear of the wood work.
The fremen, generally, think that the
wood work caught fire from the heated
pipes.
BREAKING THE NEWS.
Shortly after noon the President broke
the news to the Secretary of the death OF
his wife and daughter. Although great
caution was observed. the effect of the blow
was terrible and the Secretary almost sue
cumbed. He rallied, however, and soon
composed himself.
At 4 O'clock Secretary Tracy was reported
as continuing to improve, and had assented
to his removal to the White House.
The Star tonight has the following &C.
count of the scene when the President
broke the news of his wife and daughters
death to the Secretary: Upon the Presi.
dent was placed the painful duty of break
ing to his friend the saddest of news, and
very nicely, with depth of sympathy al.
most unsupported heretofore, did the Chiei
Executive tell the Secretary that his wife
was no more.
Only a slight moan came from the Secre-
larry when the calamity was made known
10 him. Very eager was be to near all the
particulars of the fire and to a limited ex-
lent his curiosity was grati6ed. No witness
ever underwent a more rigid oross-examin-
alton than did the President, and il was
with difficulty that many of the questions
were answered.
Frequently the Presidents emotion was
too much for him. At last the additional
and dreadful news of Miss Mary's death
was also given to Mr.. Tracy. He exhibited
wonderful fertitude, although his anguish
is evident. 1t was . o'clock when the
President LETT the Secretary's bedside, end
ii is no exaggeration to state that the CHIEF
Magistrate had aged ten years in appear.
ance.
His tender solicitude in not only this
matter but also in connection with recent
bereavements in Secretary Blsine's family
left its visible impression on him.
Ex-Surgeon-G General Wales, who has
been with Secretary Tracy all the morning
said this afternoon that the Secretary was
doing better than any one expected him &c
do. His pulse was strong and regular and
his general condition clear. II is possible
after trouble may come with an attack Of
bronchitis, caused by hequantity OF smoke
the Secretary inhaled.
GLOOM AND SADNESS.
Governmental circles are enshrouded in
! sadness and gloom.
The members of the Cabinet, with whom
Secretary Tracy was very popular were
among the first to call They were all
shocked beyond measure at the calamity
and placed their respective houses at the
disposal of the afflicted family.
/ The bodies of Mrs. and Miss Tracy are al
; the residence of Attorney. General Miller.
Mrs and Miss Wilmerding are at DR.
Baxter's, but will, during the day, be taken
| 10 raci1anoa Of Ca1at0r uata