The western sentinel., 1890-02-06
A TERRIBLE FIRE.
It Causes the Death Of Secretary Tracy's
Wife and Daughter in Washington.

It Causes the Death Of Secretary Tracy's
Wife and Daughter in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. Mrs.
Tracy, wife of Secretary Tracy, Miss
Tracy, his youngest daughter, and
Josephine, a French maid, as re-
suit OF fire in Secretary Tracy's
house, this morning, now lie dead.
Secretary Tracy, when rescued,
was in a stupor, suffering from suf-
location. Mrs. Wilmerding, the
eldest daughter of Secretary TREY,
was in a semi-unconscious condition
suffering from a sprained wrist aud
soreness. Miss Alice Wilmerding,
13 years of age, Secretary Tracy's
granddaughter, is suffering from
nervous prostration and the shock.
IT WAS ABOUT 7 O'clock
this morning, when flames were seen
issuing from the windows and roof
of Secretary Tracy's handsome resi-
dence, No. 1854 I street, north
west.
MRS. TRACY's HEROIsM.
Secretrry and Mrs. Tracy occu-
pied the back room in the second
story. Mrs. Tracy, it is thought,
was first awakened by the suffoca-
ting smoke. Secretary Tracy was
at the time unconscious, and Mrs.
Tracy with heroic devotion attempt
ed to drag the inanimate body of
the Secretary to the window. In
this she partially succeeded. Half
dazed and blinded by the smoke, she
opened the window, and just as the
firemen were putting up a ladder to
rescue her, she leaped to the ground.
Her body was picked up with Sc
we're internal injuries and broken
leg. She was taken to a neighboring
house, and, without recovering con-
sciousness, died within an hour.
THE SECRETARY RESCUED.
The ladder which would have
saved Mrs. Tracy's life had she
waited but a brief moment before
leaping to the ground, was soon
placed under the window and strong
hands lifted the body Of Secretary
Tracy through it, and carried him
to the sidewalk. The Secretary was
at first thought to be dead, but it
was discovered that small spark of
life yet remained. He was removed
to the residence of Mr.. Bancroft
Davis, nearby, and at eleven o'clock
was reported as improving, though
at that time he had not gained con-
sciousness, and was of course una
ware of the death of his wife and
daughter.
MISS TRACY's SAD DEATH.
Miss Tracy, the Secretary's un-
married daughter, occupied the third
story front room and met fate that
was terrible to behold. The young
lady could be seen at the window in
the light that fickered in between
the binding smoke and the flames,
clad in white robe, her hands in
the attitude of prayer, and her face
uplifted to heaven. The flames
gradually hemmed her in, and she
finally sank to the floor, only to be
recognized again by her charred re-
mains.
A French maid, Josephine, met a
similar fate in an adjoining room,
where her charred and blackened re-
lnalns were found.
TWO WOMEN JUMP.
Mrs. Wilmerding, the Secretary's
married daughter, and her daugh-
ter, Miss Alice, occupied the second
story front, on the same floor with
Secretary and Mrs. Tracy. Both she
aud her daughter jumped from the
windows to the grass terrace below,
and while the shock to both was Sc
we're, neither received, so far as is
now apparent, any serious injury.
Mrs. Wilmerding had her right
wrist badly sprained. She is lying
hysierical and in half dazed condi-
ton, but is rapidly improving under
treatment. Miss Alice is suffering
from the shock.
THE DEAD AND INJURED.
The bodies of Mrs. Tracy and
Miss Tracy .have been removed to
the residence of Attorney General
Miller, Mrs. and Miss Wilmerding
are at DR.. Baxter's, but will during
the day be taken to the residence Of
Senator Hale. Secretary Tracy re-
mains at Mr.. Bancroft Davis home.
Around all these residences great
crowds congregated as soon as the
news had spread, and have remain
c.i all during the day. Carriages
and messengers were stopping at the
door. momentarily.
With Mrs. Tracy and Miss Ira
cy and Mrs. Col. Copplnger, Secre-
tary Blaine's daughter, all lying
dead, Secretary Tracy seriously i'll,
and his health permanently impair
ed, governmental circles are today
elshrouded in sadness and gloom.