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Fire's Awful Work

Fire's Awful Work image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
February
Year
1890
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

thrf.h LITES taken. Washisgtoh, Feb. 4. - Secretary Tracy's home was burned yesterday morning. The Secretary's youngest daughter and Mrs. Tracy's Frcnch maid, Josephine, wero burned to death, and Mrs. Tracy received injuries frora which she died shortly alter being removed to a place of safety. The Mecretary was rescued in a partially asphyxiated condition, while his oldest daughter, Mrs. Wilmerding-, and her daughter Alice, aged 13 years, saved themsclves by jumping froiu tlie second-story window. As the dames raged within the mansion the front door was opened and two male servants were seen to emerge and run for their Uves. Figures robed in white then appeared at the windows. Secietary and Mrs. Tracy occupied tho back room in the second story. Mrs. Tracy, it is thought, was first awakened by the quifocating smoke. Secretary Tracy w&s at the time unconscious, and Mrs. Tracy, with heroic devotion, attempted to drag the inanimate body of the retary to the window. In this she partially succeeded. Half dazed and blinded by tho smoke she opened the window. Mrs. Tracy endeavored to escape by dropping herself from a 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 ablo. Those who saw her in her perilous position shouted to her to hold on, but either she did not hoar or her strength failed her, for, after thus hanging a moment between Ufe and death, she fel', forty feet into an area way. She was immediately taken to the house of a neighbor, Dr. Rheem. She was perfectly conscious and did not seem to suffer pain. Occasionally she complained of an oppression in the neighborhood of her heart and íound a difflculty in breathing. She talked awhile, coughod slightly and then became silent. The physicians looked at each other signiiicantly. Mrs. ' Traoy was dead. The immediato cause of her death was supposed to bo from injuries to her heart, sustained in her fall from the window, which flooded her lungs with blood. It is said that tad she delayed hermovements aoouple bfthinutes ladders and mattresses and other means of safe escape would have Jjáen at hand. Her body was removed tö the residence of Attorney-General Miller on Massachusetts avenue. j The ladder, which would have saved Mrs. Tracy's life had she waited a brief inoment before leaping to the sidewalk, was soon placed under the window, and Btrong hands lifted Secretary Tracy and carried him to the sidewalk. He was at flrst thought to be dead, but it was soon discovered that life still remained. He was removed to the residence of Mr. Bancrof t Davis near bv. Almost at the same time U-o bodies were taken from the burning building. One was the Secretary's daughter, Miss Mary, and the other was that of the Frenen maid, Josephine. That of the tonner was found by Chief Parish lying on the floor in the second-floor hail at the head of the stairs. The body was not freatly disfigured by the fire. She bad evidently died from suffocation. Of the Frenen maid little is known save that herdead body was found in her room Dn the top floor of the house, burned beyond recognition. At 6 o'clock MonSay night the bodics of Mrs. Traoy and her daughter were taken to the White House. Mrs. Wilmerding, the Secretary's daughter, and Miss Wilmerding forced their way through the blinding smoke and jumped frorn the seoond-story window. Ladders were raised, but in their excitement they failed to see them. Mrs. Wilmerding broke her left wrist and was severely bruised. Her daughter was badly hurt about the lower limbs, bnt no bones were broken. They were taken to the residence of Dr. Baxter and restoratives applied. After Secretary Tracy had been taken to Mr. Davis' residen he was soon surrounded by physicians. He was suffering from asphyxia. The doctors appliod artiricial means to induce res piration, and sueceeded, after an hour's hard work, in restoring him to semi-oonscioiisnosa. It was then thought safe to remove him to Judge Davis' house. He improved slowly from that time on and soon reerained consciousness, recognizing the friends who called to inquire in regard to bis condition. Among the firstof these vvere the President, the Vice-Preeident and several members of the Cabinet. As soon as the Secretary recovered consciousness his first thougbt 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 ho feil into a restless sleep. The Secretary wíll be taken to tho White House as soon as he can be moved safely. Secretary Tracy's house, which was newly and maffniflcently furnished, waa totally destroyed. Tho loss is estimated at S85.000. The funeral of Josephine Morrell, tho French maid, will take place to-day. Mrs. Harrison ascortained that she had no relatives in this country and dirocted Lieutenant Mason to make arranjjements for her funeral. The interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register