Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-02-14


! fsI.si.y. He had met with an accident
and when convalescing contracted the
all-prevalent grip" Almost before
his attendants realized the danger no
was dead.
When his death was announced tho
entire country was shocked. He had
been the most prominent member OF the
Blaine household next TO his father.
He was law officer and examiner OF
claims for the department OF state, ana
on the high road to q proud career IN
the field so long graced by his father.
From her sons funeral she went al
most direct to the bedside Of her
daughter, Mrs. Coppinger. When she
left her post, it was only TO prepare for
another burial. Tender nursing, unre-
hitting attention and the best medical
service were all unavailing. The grim
destroyer came at $50 o'clock in the
morning of Feb. >.
DEATH FOLLOWS DEATH.
While the people of the national
capital were discussing this gecond afflic-
tion for the secretary OF state, the aw-
full calamity that awoke the sympathy
Of the civilized world-the burning OF
Secretary Tracy's house-Occurred.
On the morning Of Feb. 3, shortly
after o'clock, Secretary Tracy's resi-
dence on tarragut Square took ire.
The fire. caused by defective liue, had
apparently heen smoldering all night.
and when the front door was broken
in by those who discovered the place to
be burning. the flames burst out in all
directions.
Mrs. Tracy, who was an invalid, lost
her life in endeavoring TO save her hus-
band. She had awakened to find her
husband unconscious. Imbued with
unusual strength by reason OF her peril.
she dragged the Secretary to the win
dow and cried for help. Fireman came
and carried out the unconscious states
man. When they returned Mrs. Tracy
was missing. 1t afterward transpired
that, dazed by the smoke and the efforts
to rescue her husband, she climbed out
OF rear window and hung there from
the sill. Not strong enough TO hold
herself up for any length OF time, she
fell to the area below. Bystanders car
ried her form to the house OF neigh
Dor. where she died few hours after
ward.
Miss Mary Tracy was found sufocated
in the hallway in front OF her parents
bedroom. and French maid was burned
almost to q crisp in her apartment up
stairs.
1t was the most shocking incident
that had appeared in Washington Tor
many years, and cast gloom over the en-:
tire country. Political friends and
political enemies combined in their eff
forts to extend sympathy to the afflicted
Chief of the Naval Department and
messages OF coincidence were sent from
nearly every civilized country in the
world.
THE FATAL PORTFOLIO.
Now comes the sudden death of Mr..
Window. A feature that is pointed
out as remarkable is that the two gem
tlemen who held the Treasury portfolio
under the two preceding administra-
tions also died after very short illness.
Secretary Folger OF President Arth-
urs Cabinet and Secretary Manning OF
President Cleveland's Cabinet broke
down under the severe strain OF the
work of the Treasury Department, and
now that Mr.. Window is dead, too,
color is lent to the theory
that the burdens OF the Office, as it is
today, are too heavy for any man. to
carry. .,
Another circumstance connected with
Mr.. WINDOWS taking of that has
caused comment is the fact that there
were thirteen guests at the banqueting
table where he sat. The table, which
was on a raised dais, was arranged rs
follows: The Hon. NJ. w. Cooper, the
Hon. Joel B. Erhardt, the Hon. Jacob
A. Cautor, the Hon. Murat Halstead,
the Hon. J. w. Longley, the Hon. B.
F. Tracy. the Hon. William Window,
Ambrose Snow, the Hon. 7. F. Bayard,
the Hon. w. II. 81. Miller, the Hon.
Wilfrid Laurier, the Rev. DR.. D. Park
er Morgan, the Hon. Andrew Fl. Green.
This peculiar coincidence will prob.
ahlv give a fresh impetus to the old