The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-17
WOMAN JUMPS.
Mrs. O'Donnell Crazed by
Fight With Flames Leaps
From Window.
SMALL CHANCES OF RECOVERY
Burns and Internal Injuries
the Result of. Kerosene Oil
Stove Explosion.

Fire occurred this morning in tene-
ment house in the rear of No. 169 Seventh
street shortly after ten o'clock. A woman
jumped from a second story window. AS
a result she is now lying in critical con-
dition in the City Hospital suffering from
burns and internal injuries. She jumped
from the second story window to the pave
ment in the rear yard in order to escape
the flames that were spreading all about
her. She is Mrs. Anne O'Donnell nifty
years old.
The fire was caused by the explosion OF
an OIL stove in the apartments of john
Russell on the second floor. Mrs. O'Don-
nell was cooking at the stove when the
explosion occurred The oil seemed to
come from the stove in flood of flame.
1t quickly spread about and several pieces
of furniture were ignited. Much smoke
poured from the windows and from all
sides came the cry of fire. A man Who
was passing at the time rushed to box
No. 2l9 and sent in an alarm. Immediately
the department turned out
In the meantime Mrs. O'DonneM was
struggling with the flames in the room.
She took a table cloth and tried to smother
the flames, but they were not to be
smothered. The efforts of the frantic
woman, who called for help several times,
seemed to make matters worse. To her
cries there was no response. All in danger
sought safety for themselves and had no
thoughts for others.
Mrs. O'Donnell, in her efforts, became
confused and careless of herself. The
bottom of her skirt was licked by the
flames, and in a few minutes she was
fighting the fire on herself. Both arms
and her face were severely burned.
Then the unfortunate woman must
have lost her senses. She was handy to
a door and could have gained the street
by way of the stairs. Instead of doing
this she turned to the window, as though
it were her only means of salvation, and
jumped
A number of nelghbors who were look
ing at the window breathlessly expecting
a sheet of flame to burst forth at any
moment, were sickened to see the wom-
ans form appear at the window. She
halted for a second as if calculating the
results and then jumped. Men and
women turned away so that they might
not see what they were sure would be
death.
There was duh thud ana groan
and the PROSTATE woman lapsed into un-
consciousness. Several neighbors went to
her assistance, but they could not do
anything. patrol wagon. which carried
the police reserves to the scene, was
quickly put in commission and Mrs.
O'Donneu was taken to the City Hospital.
The physicians found that the woman
was internally injured, Because of her
age and the great shock in addition to
her injuries it is feared that Mrs. O'Don-
nells chances for recovery are very
Slight.
When the fire first broke out the great
est excitement prevailed throughout the
neighborhood. When Mrs. O'Donnell
jumped from the window children and
women were not slow TO report that she
was dead among their neighbors and this
rumor added to the general excitement
Meanwhile the firenlen were struggling
heroically with the flames, endeavoring
to subdue them or at least confine them
to the building, as it is in the midst of
many frame ramshackle tenements.
They succeeded in preventing the flames
from spreading to adjoining buildings, but
the burning structure was gutted from
basement 10 roof.
1t was occupied by FIVE families who
lost every bit of their furniture and
clothing except the clothing they had on.
Besides the RilSemens, the Russells and
the O'Dennells the house was tenanted bv
the families Of Harvey Gales and Mrs.
Irene Allen.