Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-07

way through Secretary Tracys room
into the middle chamber he stumbled
over something, and leaning down
found it was the body OF Miss Tracy.
She was lying near the open door
which leads out to the staircase.
When the chief attempted to lift
her up by her wrists, the flesh, burned
IN crisp. came off in his hands.
Then Chief Paris did a brave act.
He lifted the dead body in his arms
and shielding the face with his coat
he plunged through the seething mass
of flames on the stairway and reached
the front door almost exhausted. HIS
evelashes and hair were singed and
his hands were badly burned.
The body of Miss Tracy was almost
unrecognizable by reason of its dis
fipurement. Her hair was completely
burned off and in places where the
flames had done their deadly work
the flesh had dropped off in Jumps.
Her skin was torn and blackened and
if was still smoking when she was
laid on the sidewalk. A blanket was
hastily thrown over the body and
few moments later it was removed to
the establishment of Undertaken
Gawler. at Seventeenth street and
PENNSYLVANIA avenue. Just as the
wagon rounded the corner OF Seven
teenth street the unconscious body OF
her father was being carried into
Judge Davis house.
THE MOTHERS TRAGIC DEATH.
Mrs. Tracy's death was equally as
sad When she awakened and touho
the room full of smoke she rushed 10
the rear window, which she raised.
Almost crazed with her nervous fears,
she did not heed the warning cries
from below. She deliberately climbed
out on the sill, which hangs forty
feet above the area way, lowering
herself gradually, she at last hung oy
her weak and delicate fingers from
the narrow stone protection.
Those who saw her shouted en-
couragingly for her TO hold on until a
mattress could be placed under her
and for a time it seemed as though
she would do so. Suddenly her
strength gave way, she loosened her
grasp on the window sill and her
body shot down like a plummet into
the basement area way. She struck
on her side.
A number of people hurried to her
assistance, but Mrs. Tracy was picKed
No unconscious and beyond few IN
coherent mutterings gave no signs OF
life. The unfortunate woman was
hurried over to Mr.. Rheem's house
and laid gently on a sofa in the din
inc room. She never spoke again,
although she lived for nearly an hour
after her fall.
Once or twice she expectorated
some blood and at o'clock, softly
and i'm evident freedom from PAIN,
she breathed her last. Her body,
together with that Of Miss Tracy
which had been prepared for BURIAL
was taken to the home of Attorney
General Miller, at 1903 Massachusetts
avenue.
While these tragic events were hap
pening several streams had been
turned on the burning dwelling and
the fire was got under control to such
an extent that the firemen were able
to make tour of investigation OF the
upper stories.
While examining the third-story
back room they came across the body
of the French maid Josephine. There
was not particle of clothing on the
body by which it could be identified
except a slipper, which had been par
TALLY burned off. The body was hor-
ribly burned, leaving no traces OF face
or form by which she could be recog-
nized
She and the French cook had slept
together, but the cook at the first
cries of warning had rushed upstairs
to the Mansard roof, where she fan
ned the smoke away with blanket
until rescued by the firemen. The
other servants who slept down In the
basement were unframed,
INEnpMEn OLE HIS LOSS.