River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-06

once raised an alarm. the Ilre md POI
lice department responded promptly
As the flames ragged within the man.
sion the front door was opened and two
male servants were seen to emerge and
run for their lives. Figures robed in
white then appeared at the win
dows. Secretary and Mrs. Tracy
occupied the back room in the
second story. Mrs. Tracy, it is
thought, was first awakened by the
suffocating smoke. Secretary Tracy
was at the time unconscious, and Mrs.
Tracy, with heroic devotion, attempted
to drag the inanimate body of the Sec
rotary to the window. In this she
partially succeeded. Half dazed and
blinded by the smoke she opened
the window.
Mrs. Tracy endeavored to escape by
dropping herself from window, and in
her effort to decrease the distance to the
ground she grasped the narrow stone
windowsill and lowered herself as far as
she was able Those who saw her in her
perilous position shouted to her to
hold on, but either she did not hear or
her strength failed her, for, after thus
hanging a moment between life and
death, she fell forty feet into an area
way. She was Immediately taken to
the house of a neighbor, DIR. Rheem,
where she died shortly afterward.
The ladder, which would have saved
Mrs. Tracy's life had she waited brief
moment before leaping to the sidewalk,
was soon placed under the window, and
strong hands lifted Secretary Tracy and
carried him to the sidewalk. He was
at first thought to be dead, but it was
soon discovered that life still remained.
He was removed to the residence of Mr..
Bancroft Davis near by.
Almost at the same time two bodies
were taken from the burning building.
One was the Secretary's daughter, Miss
Mary, and the other was that of the
French maid, Josephine. That of the
former was found by Chief Parish lying
on the floor in the second-fioor hall at
the head of the stairs. The body was not
greatly disfgured by the fire. She
had evidently died from suffocation.
OF the French maid little is known save
that her dead body was found in her room
on the top floor of the house, burned
beyond recognition. At o'clock Mon
day night the bodies of Mrs. Tracy and
her daughter were taken to the White
House.
Mrs. Wilmerding, the Secretary's
daughter, and Miss Wilmerding forced
their way through the binding smoke
and jumped from the second-story win
dow. Ladders were raised, but in their
excitement they failed to see them.
Mrs. Wilmerding broke her left wrist
and was severely bruised. Her daugh-
ter was badly hurt about the lower
limbs, but no bones were broken. They
were taken to the residence of DIR. Bax-
ter and restoratives applied.
After Secretary Tracy had been taken
to Mr.. Davis residence he was soon
surrounded by physicians. He was suf-
fering from asphyxia. The doctors APP
piled artificial means to induce res
piration, and succeeded, after an
hours hard work, in restoring him
to semi-consciousness.
As soon as the Secretary recovered
consciousness his first thought was for
his family, and by the advice of the
physicians the terrible news was broken
to him by the President. The blow was
a terrible one, but the opiates which
had been given to the Secretary
soon began to work, and he fell into a
restless sleep. The Secretary will be
taken to the White House as soon as he
can be moved safely.
With Mrs. and Miss Tracy and Mrs.
Coppinger, Secretary Blaine's daughter,
all lying dead, and Secretary Tracy
hurt, governmental circles are en-
shrouded in sadness and gloom.
President Harrison, as soon as he
heard of the calamity, sent assistance
from the Executive mansion, and soon
followed in person to inquire what as
sistance he could render. The MEM
bers of the Cabinet were among the first
to call. They were all shocked beyond
m asure at the calamity and placed
their respective houses at the disposal
of the afflicted family.