1915 — Feb 03, fire, Macedonian workers boarding house, Mayburg, PA         —     10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-8-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  Corry Evening Journal, PA. “Another Dies From His Burns. Ten Victims…” 2-5-1915, p6.

–10  NFPA. “Loss of Life Fires in Rooming and Lodging Houses.” Quarterly, 34/3, Jan 1942, 257.

Narrative Information

National Fire Protection Association. “Loss of Life Fires in Rooming and Lodging Houses.”

“Macedonian Boarding House, Mayburg, Pa., February 3, 1915. Sixteen men were asleep in the two-story frame house when a hose connection to a gas stove on first floor was burned off, allowing gas to escape. A terrific explosion occurred when gas reached two burning oil lamps on second floor and the house was instantly enveloped in flames. Ten men were burned to death and the remaining six leaped from windows with their clothing ablaze.”

Newspapers

Feb 3, AP: “Special to the Herald. Tionesta, Feb. 3. – The village of Mayburg, situated on Tionesta creek, east of here, was the scene this morning at 12:30 of a horrible fatality. A boarding house in which sixteen Macedonians were sleeping caught fire and nine men were burned to death, three more were fatally burned, three received severe but not fatal injuries and only one escaped unscathed.

“The men were all employes of the Tionesta Valley Chemical company. They had been at work for the company for some time and had rented a two-story building in the middle of the village of Mayburg from the Watson Lands Lumber company. The men cooked for themselves and slept in iron beds on the ground floor of the building.

“Last night the men were seen about the streets and at the usual time they retired. Just what occurred to start the fire has not been determined, but at 12:20 o’clock the building was seen to be in flames, the fire being discovered by people living nearby. The alarm was given and several men rushed to the building. It was useless to try to save the structure and all the efforts of the men were to rescue the men who were known to be inside.

“There was a window in the rear of the building and through this the heroic rescuers entered and groped about in the smoke. One man was found who had been overcome with smoke or gas, and he was taken out in safety. A little later six other men were hauled from the building, their clothing on fire and suffering from terrible burns.

“The rapid progress of the fire put an end to the work of rescue and the towns people were forced to stand by and watch the fire engulf the building and its inmates.

“When the ruins cooled this morning the charred corpses of the nine men were found. They were lying in the wrecks of the iron beds on which they slept and it is almost certain that they were overcome with smoke or gas while asleep and were thus burned to death.

“The origin of the fire is unknown. The building was piped for gas which was used in a cooking stove in the room where the men were sleeping. It is believed that there might have been a gas leak, or that the pressure of the gas went down during the night and then came on once more. The escaping fumes are believed to have filled the house and came in contact with a gas jet, although no explosion was heard by those living near the burned building.

“The men who were rescued were absolutely unable to tell anything about the fire. They are all Macedonians and cannot speak the English language. Even had they been able to speak English, they were in such a condition from their burns and the shock that they were unable to talk coherently.

“As soon as the men were taken from the burning building the Tionesta Valley Railroad company was notified and an engine and a car were sent to Mayburg. The injured men were taken to the Summit hospital at Kane. This afternoon a telephone message from Kane stated that all were still alive but that three were in a critical condition.

….

“The most of the men are known to have had families in Macedonia. They had sent home money since they were at work for the Chemical company….

“The building, though it stood in the middle of the village, was not very near other structures and the fire did not spread. Mayburg has no fire fighting facilities and after the fire was discovered nothing to save the building was possible.

“About a year ago Mayburg was visited by a fatal fire when a boarding house occupied by foreigners took fire. In the building when the fire broke out were two men, a woman and a babe. One man made his escape, but, after being told that his companions were still in the building, rushed back to rescue them. All four perished.

Those Burned To Death In The Mayburg Fire

“Last6 night’s Warren Times printed the following list of the dead and injured, which were received from Kane:

The Dead.

Tony Lezier, aged 18.

Pete Christo, aged 3 [30?]

John Williams, aged 28.

Chris Steer, aged 27.

Sam Steer, aged 27.

Chris Toney, aged 28.

John Toney, aged 26.

Chris Bosch, aged 30.

Chris Sisko, aged 22.

            The Injured.

Mack Tannis, No. 1.

Chris Younan.

Mike Paso.

Mack Tannis, No. 2. [Died the next day at the Kane Hospital.][1]

James Angelico.

Basil Bosch.”

(Associated Press. “Nine Men Burn To Death In Lodging House At Mayburg.” The Titusville Herald, PA. 2-4-1915, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Nine Men Burn To Death In Lodging House At Mayburg.” The Titusville Herald, PA. 2-4-1915, p. 1. Accessed 3-8-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-feb-04-1915-p-1/

Corry Evening Journal, PA. “Another Dies From His Burns. Ten Victims of Mayburg Fire Are Buried in One Grave at Sheffield.” 2-5-1915, p. 6. Accessed 3-8-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/corry-evening-journal-feb-05-1915-p-6/

National Fire Protection Association. “Loss of Life Fires in Rooming and Lodging Houses.” Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 3, Jan 1942, pp. 257-273.

[1] Corry Evening Journal, PA. “Another Dies From His Burns. Ten Victims of Mayburg Fire Are Buried in One Grave at Sheffield.” 2-5-1915, p. 6.