Huntsville gazette., 1890-02-08
A TRAGEDY OF FIRE.
Secretary Tracy's Washington Res
idence Burned.
Mrs. Tracy, Miss Mary Tracy and Do
mestic Dead in Consequence-The
Secretary and Others Max
Narrow Escapes.


this morning flames were seen issuing
from the windows and roof of Secretary
Tracy's handsome residence, No. 1884 |
street, Northwest. The neighborhood
had not yet ssrssskened, and all around
was still.N Within the residence not
sound was heard, except the cracking
of the flames, as with great tongues of
fire they came out of the windows on
the top floor. Soon the front door of
the mansion was opened and
two male servants were seen
to emerge and run for their
lives. Figures robed in white then ap-
peared at the windows. The fire gained
headway rapidly, and although the fire
department responded promptly, the
residence was enveloped in flames when
they arrived. Secretary and Mrs. Tracy
occupied the back room on the second
floor. Mrs. Tracy, it is thought, was
first awakened by the suffocating smoke.
Secretary Tracy was at the time un-
conscious, and Mrs. Tracy. with
heroic devotion, attempted 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
ladder to rescue her she leaped to the
sidewalk. Her body was picked up with
severe internal injuries and broken
leg. She was taken to a neighboring
house and, without recovering conscious
ness, died within an hour. The lad
der which would have saved Mrs.
Tracy's life, had she waited but a
brief moment before leaping to the side
walk, was soon placed under the win
dow, 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, near
by and, at eleven o'clock, was reported
as improving, though at that time he
had not gained consciousness, and was,
of course, unaware of the death of his
wife and daughter.
Miss Tracy, the secretary's unmarried
daughter, occupied the third story front
room and met a fate that was terrible
to behold. The young lady could be
seen at the window in the light that
flickered in between the binding smoke
and 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 remains.
A French maid, Josephine, met SIM
liar fate in an adjoining room where her
charred and blackened remains were
found.
Mrs. Wilmerding, Secretary Tracy's
married daughter, and her daughter,
Miss Alice, occupied the second-story
front room on the same floor with Sec
retary and Mrs. Tracy. Both she and
her daughter jumped from the window
to the grass terrace below, and while
the shock to both was severe, neither
received, so far as is now
apparent, any serious injury.
Mrs. Wilmerding had her right
wrist badly sprained. She is lying
hysterical and in a half-dazed condi-
tion, but is rapidly improving under
treatment. Miss Alice is suffering from
shock.
The bodies Of Mrs Tracy and Miss
Tracy have been removed to the resi-
dence of Attorney-General Miller Mrs.
and Miss Wilmerding are at DR.. Bax-
ter's, but will, during the day, be taken
to the residence of Senator Hale. Sec
inc nj Mp
Davis home.
Around all these residences great
crowds congregated as soon as the sad
news spread, and have remained all dur
ing the morning. Carriages and mes
sengers were stopping at the door mo-
mentarily. With Mrs. Tracy and Miss
Tracy and Mrs. Coppinger, Secretary
Blaine's daughter, all lying dead, Secre-
tary Tracy seriously i'll and his health
permanently impaired, Governmental
circles to-day are eIshrouded in sadness
and gloom.
President Harrison, as soon as he
heard of the calamity, sent assistants
from the Executive Mansion to aid the
bereaved family, and followed himself
TO llQ ulIc WHdt dSSlSbduCS lO OOuIo AOA
der, and at this hour 11:45 a. n.y. is still
with Mr.. Tracy. The members OF the
Cabinet, with whom the secretary 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.
r. G. Turner, servant at the Tracy
| mansion, says he was up and dressed at
seven o'clock, and was prepared to go
upstairs to clean the silver. He slept
| in the basement. "Just as | was start
| ing upstairs" said he, "a colored man
rang the bell and told the butler, who
| answered it, that the house
was on fire." The butler ran up
stairs and Immediately rushed back
shouting: My God, the house is on
fre.' The entire first floor was in
| flames. We ran out the front door Mrs.
| Wilmerding and her daughter were at
! the front second-story window scream
| ing for help. The fire department
| seemed demoralized, and both ladies