1936 — Feb 4, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Fusco family, Rankin, PA — 6

–6  Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Overnight Briefs.” 2-12-1936, p. 5.

–5  Associated Press. “Monoxide Gas Fatal to Five.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 2-5-1936, 2.

 

Narrative Information[1]

 

Feb 5: “Pittsburgh, Feb. 5.–(AP)–The friends who planned a surprise party for 18-year-old Marie Fusco stood ready instead today to give their blood to save her from the death which took the other five members of her family. Carbon monoxide, filling the Fusco home in suburban Rankin, yesterday killed Marie’s parents, her two brothers and sister. The dead were Dominick Fusco, 55, a tailor; Mrs. Mary Fusco, 42; Elvira, 14; Salvadore, 19, and Lawrence, 17. Only Marie was alive when neighbors broke into the tightly closed home. She was taken to a hospital in a critical condition and doctors said a blood transfusion probably would be necessary….

 

The kneeling body of Mrs. Fusco was found by a bed, indicating she made an unsuccessful attempt to revive her daughters before death came. Deputy Coroner Frank Spitzer said death was caused by carbon monoxide escape from a hot water heater two floors below, the over of the kitchen range, or both. Harry Porterfield, district supervisor of the People’s Gas Company, expressed the opinion the heater was responsible because the stove had a flue….” (Associated Press. “Monoxide Gas Fatal to Five.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 2-5-1936, p. 2.)

 

Feb 12: “Pittsburgh–Nineteen year old Marie Fusco died of carbon monoxide poisoning almost eight days after the five other members of her family were killed by the deadly gas at their suburban Rankin home.” (Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Overnight Briefs.” 2-12-1936, p. 5.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Monoxide Gas Fatal to Five.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 2-5-1936, p. 2.

Accessed 1-31-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-feb-05-1936-p-2/

 

Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Overnight Briefs.” 2-12-1936, p. 5. Accessed 1-31-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-feb-12-1936-p-5/

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard, 1-31-2019 for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com