The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-08
THEIR DIRE FATE.
SECRETARY TRACY'S RESIDENCE AT
WASHINGTON DESTROYED By FIRE
AND FOUR PEOPLE PERISH.
Mrs. Tracy Drags Her Husband 10 safety
and Then Throws Herself Into the
strcet-Hcr Daughter and Two
Servant. killed.

Tracy was DESTROYED by tire Monday morn
ing, and during the excitement that followed
the breaking out OF the blaze Mrs. Tracy.
her daughter Mary and two servants LOST
their lives, the secretary himself was almost
overcome by smoke, and several others had
narrow escapes from death.
The residence OF the secretary was fne
three-story structure OF brick and stone and
stood on street, near Seventeenth. A let
ter-carrier on his customary rounds passed
the house a few minutes before o'clock.
lie left package, and observing nothing
unusual continued up the street. Happen-
ing 10 glance back ten minutes later he mo-
tired that the house was developed IN flames.
Within hye minutes the firemen Were there.
Before ladders could be raised to the front
two ladies appeared In the second-story VIM
dows aud IN spite OF the warnings not 10
Jump they leaped TO the grass. The ladies
proved 10 be Mrs. Wilmerding. the married
daughter OF the secretary, and her daughter,
Miss wilmerding. Mrs. Wilmerdng broke
one OF her wrists and was bruised. Her
daughter was burned quite severely, bntnot
otherwise injured.
At the rear OF the house woman, pre-
sumably one OF the servants, had climed
out upon the Mansard roof from third
story window. She was waving blanket
her, and behaved with great GOODNESS. She
was brought down a ladder.
In the meantime Fire Chief Paris ar
rived, and, learning that there were people
sill In the house, he left the iire-cxtinguish-
Ing apparatus 10 his subordinates and dash
ed into the burning house followed closely
by Howard Wright who drives the chiefs
wagon. The chief says:
al paid no attention 20 the Dire when
heard there were people in the house.
felt my way through the smoke 10 the second
floor and found man IN bed In room.
tried to pick him up, but he was almost too
heavy. | managed 20 drag him into 4 back
room where there was more air, aud then
broke the window out aud called 10 iire-
man In the alley TO run up ladder.
''Ihen we took the man out and IL proved
10 be the secretary. | couldn't move him
any further, for was exhausted and full
up 10 the neck with smoke. Then | went
back into the smoke again and found young
lady Miss Mary Tracy they tell me II was
and rs caught hold OF her wrist TO lift
/ her up the flesh came of her burned hands.
| got her out. but She was dead. That ex-
hausted Iae. ! could do no more
! r. :. Rheem, whose house on seventeenth
street runs back 10 the rear OF the secreiary's
honse, gives graphic account OF the terri
bic death OF Mrs. Tracy.
heard terrible screams" said Mr.
Rheem. 'about 7:la o'clock this morning.
aud jumped from bed and ran TO the win.
dow. Mrs. Tray was hanging by her hands
from the sill OF window on the second
floor. She was screaming, and almost immc-
diately dropped TO the ground
Mrs Tracy. still alive, was brought In by
two bremen and was placed on sofa In
neighbours house. Here sue fingered for
about nm hour, fully conscious, and appar-
emily suffering but little IL was n little
after o'clock when she spit up a little
blood, hardly enough TO be termed hem
orrhage, closed her eyes, and, without
moan, ceased 10 breathe.
X. G.. Turner is "a footman at the Tracy
residence. lie was an eyewitness OF part Of
the disaster. lie was up and dressed before
o'clock, and was prepared TO go upstairs
and clean the silver. lie slept in the base
ment "Just ~ was starting 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 upstairs and Immediately
rushed back shouting: My God, the house
IL on frev The entire first floor was In
flames.
"Mrs. wilmerdIng and her daughter were
at the front second-story window screaming
for help. The fire department seemed de-
moralized, and both the ladies shortly
jumped. Neither struck on their feet, but
fell on their Sides"
The house OF r. 8. Rhcem, itself almost
captured by the fire, was thrown open for
the reception OF the dead and dying. Mrs.
Tracy died in Mr.. Rbcem' shouse, while in
an adjoining room lay the scorched body OF
Miss Mary Tracy. Dr. Ruth. after hurried
examination, said that Mr.. Tracy had died
Of a rupturcd blood vessel. The body OF a
woman servant who had died Of asphy xia-
ton was found In n room OF the third floor.
A man servant IL missing and his body Will
nodoubt bc found in the ruins OF the house
The unconscious secretary while these sad
scenes were occurring. was borne 10 the res
idence OF Judge Bancroft DAVIS, In IN adj
iacent block. Ex-Surgcon- General Wales
and Drs karr and May attended him. Tn
der their Instructions lac regalned conscious
ness, and in feeble voice said: ''liow IL
my wife, II don't know" replied DR..
Ksrr. ~ haven't seen her"
"Then. for Gods sake, don't think OF me-
lie murmured, and reapscd into uncon-
seriousness.
The doctors think that he Is not fatally
injured. Mrs. Wilmcrding. who leaped
from the second story window, sustained
slight injuries; one OF her wrists was
broken, while her young daughter escaped
with slight confusion OF the knee.
Hundreds OF anxious people were soon at
the scene OF the disaster. The president and
Secretary Halford were among the first.
The president az once directed that the Sec
rotary be taken 20 the White House hut II