The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-10
BURNED IN A MEADOW FIRE
JENNIE RORRELI, ONCE FiMOUS.MOR
TdLLY INJURED.

Wandered into tho Grasses on the Conc,
Island Meadows md Lay Down to sleep
Fire surrounded Her In n Few Minute,
ana She Was Rescued With Difficulty.
A big meadow fire occurred at Gomez Island
yesterday afternoon at three O'Clock. When 1t
was cNtinguisncd by the Fire Department. the
burned district covered an area OF nearly a
square mile II supposed that the Are started
either from some mischeivous boys at play or
from some one throwing a lighted cigar stump
In the tall dry grasses which at this time OF year
stand 1--WE feet tall in the meadows. woman
was found living neart the edge ofthe burned dis
trict at tho foot OF Eighteenth street. and she
was 30 badly burned that she will die. She was
Identified as Jennie Worrell. one OF the famou.
Worrell sisters. actresses.
Shortly before the fire started, Andrew
Delany and George Brown. two employees OF
the knickerbockcr Ice Company, saw an
elderly woman. who was evidently under the
influence OF liquor. stagger into the grasses
and lie down as IL for a sleep. They thought
no more about the matter until ten minutes
later when they saw that the meadow had be-
como ablaze near where the woman was lying.
The fire spread with great rapdity and they
ran into II In an effort to save the woman,
call was also sent to the Fire Department
When they reached the woman. her clothing
was on fire and she was already fearfullv
burned. They tore the burning clothing from
her and carried her to the street Ambulance
surgeon Cochrane was summoned and he or
dered that the unconscious woman be taken to
the kingsCounty hospital. When she was exam
ined at the hospital. It was said that she could
not possibly recover. Her back was burned to
crisp and the flesh on her arms
and shoulders had also been burned
away. Her face WAS burned. but not 40
badly that she could not be recognized
sergeant Irwin. OF the Coney Island police.
looked at the woman in the hospital and said
that she was Jennie Worrell. He said he had
known her for years. but did not know whore
she lived. A number OF people said that they
believed that she was homeless as they had
seen her at Coney Island for the past week
wandering about at all hours OF the day and
night. and nearly all Of the time under the In
fuence OF liquor
Jennie Worrell was one OF the tbree famou.
Worrell sisters. The two others were named
Sophie and Irene. Sophie afterwards married
the late George 3. Knight. the German come
dian. and starred with him in over the Garden
WALL Jennie was born In Cincinnati In 1850 In
1905. she and her sisters made a great hit in
San Francisco in burlesque. They afterwards
came to New York and in 1885 made their first
appearance in this city at Woods Theatre. ap-
pearing in the burlesque. Elves" Jennie also
played the leading role in the farce. Nan the
Good for Nothing" at the same theatre. They
leased the New York Theatre. which they man
aged for two years. Then they went on star
ring tour through the country
or late years. Jennie Worre has not an
peared on the stage. She became a confirmed
inebriate. and three years ago was arrested and
arraigned in Jefferson Market court for intoxi-
cation. She escaped with fine. After anum-
Der OF similar experiences. she was committed
by a magistrate to an institution as confirmed
drunkard