The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-04

urc at the calamity. and placed their re
spcctiyc h0nses az the disposal OF the Af
tlicted family.
Chief Parish, of the ire department, saws:
Il paid no attention TO the fre until heard
there were people IN the house. felt my
way through the smoke TO the second door
and found "A man in bed. ! dragged him
into a rnom whero there was not SO much
smoke and broke out window and called
tu Lowe. who was In the alley. TO run up a
ladder. Then they took the man out. and
u proved 20 be the secretary. ! could not
move him any further, for WAS exhausted
lheu went back into the smoke and iire
again and found the young lady, Marie
TmcN IS 1 caught hold of her wrists 20
lift her mp the hcsh came OIL her burning
hands. She WIS dead
James Wolch, the secretary butler, sqys:
Il sleep in the basement mud this morning
] got mp about Gao, There WAS no smell of
fire, aud NO appearance OF anything wrong.
Ahont O'Clock ! started 10 clean my dining
ruOm when there wis ring nt the hvll and
Mhcn ! answered IL q culured inun said,
You house "A on FIRE. A. once |
rushed up stairs tO arouse the
family, and although the smoke was very
thick, ] succeeded IN knocking at every
door and from each one uf the rooms
secured a response. Then started to g.
down stairs, and VIVA nearly choked with
smoke. tell three times, hut finally got tc
the front door and went around tu the real
I and tried to get ladder sn as 10 reach Ia,
Secretary and Mrs, Tracy's bedroom. Mrs
Tracy was a, the window. and while a few
of us " ho We're there appealed to her Ia keel
still for minute more. she climbed uut on
the sill and lowered herself until she hung
/ hY her hands on narrow stone projection.
Everybody who saw her yelled Ia her 10
hold on for moment, and we looked
around for something on which 10 catch
her 80 as to break the fall which was bound
to come. How long did Mrs. Tracy hang
thereY Not more thnn few seconds. She
told me afterwards she slipped. She fell
into the areaway. almost touching me IN
her swift descent. No sound save little
incoherout murmur came from her lips,
picked her mp and carried her into khcem's $
house."
To those who were admitted 90 view the
destruction. the bedroom which had
been occupied hy Secretary and Mrs. Trac,
was the principal point of interest. II is a
rear room ON the second floor and must
have been beautiful apartment. Every
/ thing IL black and soaked with water. lhs
ruum ls a huge cinder. TN the third floor
/ in the central front WIS the room occupied
last night by Miss Tracy. This was ruin
of the most thorough description, charred
/ in every corner, the ceiling gone and door.
/ burned out. Cndcrs. ankle deep, covered
the iloOr and what tho iinmes had spared
WIS destroyed by wnter.
The fire originated in the parlor near th,
open fireplace. Whether II originated from
the crate or heating pipe is not known
| The furnace is IN the basement, directly he
ueRth where the fire started. and the pipes
leading 10 the upper stories pass IN th'
] a
orally think the woodwork caught fire from
the heated pipes.
\ The reninins of Mrs. Tracy and Mis-
l Tracy lie tonight in caskot in the cente
OF the east room of the white house beneatl
| the crystal chandeliers, whose light les
/ than week ago shone upon them ns the,
payly greeted numerous friends at the las
/ presidential reception. The bodies wer
brought TO the white house by orde
ot the president. who has takei
charge of whatever arrangements for th
/ funeral II WIS necessary 10 mako NJ present
Final arrangements will not he mndu un
Gil the arrival Of Secretary Iiacy's son AM
Gen. Cniln his lrdher-iI iIi.inw who Hr
expected tonight. The injured are improy
ing. The president visited Secretary lrac
again this evening and found him regain
/ ing his strength. though still hardly able Il
renli2e the great loss he has sustained.
Secretary Tracy and several of tue officer
of his department had intended making M
official visit 10 the Mare leland navy yard
and 10 other points on the Pacific ooast
| The purity intended 10 leave here within
few weeks, and were also going ia visit thu
proposed new site Of the navy ward II
| Washington nenr Seattle, aud such othel
points as might have been of interest iol
shipbulldiug purposes. Mrs. Tracy had ia
tended accompanying the secretary.
The trip OF the president aud cabinet Il
New York 10 attend the centenary of th'
organization Of the supreme court of ih
United States Is abandoned on account %
the Affections in the families of Sccretnric
/ Blaine and Tracy.