Winnipeg's 'Fiery Holocaust'

On September 1, 1929 the Medway Court Apartments, a three storey walk-up at 307-309 Edmonton near Ellice, were destroyed by fire. It was one of Winnipeg's worst fires in terms of loss of life, killing nine and hospitalizing nine others.

West side Edmonton St. looking toward Central Park ca.1927 (source)

Medway Court routinely advertised space for students and single businessmen but it also had some spacious five-room suites. The proximity to Central Park, made it an ideal building for families.

Just after 2:30 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, September 1, 1929 a passing motorist noticed a fire on the main floor and called it in. By 2:45 am it was a two alarm fire and a few minutes later every on-duty fireman in the city was at the scene.

Manitoba Free Press September 2, 1929 p. 1

The fire was centred on the main floor near the entrance, blocking people from escaping. Flames climbed the building through the back wall making the fire escape useless. The only way out was to jump from windows and balconies.

A Free Press reporter described the scene as a "fiery holocaust" and a scene of "shrieking, struggling humanity" but there were stories of heroism as well.

Manitoba Free Press September 2, 1929, p. 1

Passers-by such as cabbie Fred Prout of Sherbrook Street risked their lives to bring people through the flames. Others crawled up next to the burning walls to drag away those who had jumped.

Rear of Free Press building

Part of the block ran behind the Winnipeg Free Press building on Carlton Street. Free Press night staff engaged their building's internal fire suppression system and either dragged the hoses across the back lane or aimed them from upper story windows to rain down on the building's fire escape. Though their efforts were futile, the staff: George Stringer, night engineer; W. Graham, night fireman; and night watchmen Arthur Young, C. Kash and Mike Kegan later received bonuses from their employer for putting their lives at risk.

Manitoba Free Press September 3, 1929

Later that morning the fire chief proclaimed this to be the worst fire in the Winnipeg region's history. Worse than the St. Boniface Cathedral fire that killed eight in 1922 and the previous year's Casa Loma Apartment fire that killed five. (I have only been able to find one fire since - the Haselmere Apartment fire of 1974 - that equalled the number of dead.)

Manitoba Free Press September 4, 1929

By the end of the following day nine bodies were found and another nine were in hospital. The dead were:

- Sarah Gaunt (68) & Ralph Weighton (adult);
- Madge Edwards (34) & children Marjorie (9), Gordon (14);
- Alfred Applebee & daughter Irene (11);
- Mabel Butler (adult);
- William Edwards (adult) died the following day in hospital.

The seriously injured included Nellie McIntosh (age 23) and Mrs. A. Applebee (adult).

Former site of Medway Court, Ellice Avenue

On September 3, 1929 a coroner's inquest began. The first witness called was the coroner who himself had to identify the body of a close personal friend. Through the testimony of witnesses and officials a number of facts came out:

- The fire likely began under the main staircase on the main floor;

- Earlier that weekend painters had varnished the entryway. The only items left behind, they claimed, were their ladders. The paint and varnish were stored away from the building;

- The Medway's last fire inspection was in 1920;

- Overgrown trees and cars parked up next to the building hampered efforts to get ladders to some windows and to properly assist some who jumped;

- Not one survivor said that they used the fire escape staircase as a means of escape.

The inquest wrapped up on September 11, 1929 with the jury unable to pinpoint an exact cause of the blaze. Subsequent fire investigations came to the same conclusion.

The Casa Loma, Portage at Sherbrook

This was the second disastrous apartment fire in a year, the previous being the Casa Loma fire on Sherbrook at Portage which killed five. The city was determined to make better fire rules for apartments, hotels and lodging houses to prevent future tragedies.

A two-year process involving engineers, architects and building inspectors resulted in a new fire code and safety by-laws that would apply to existing buildings and new construction.

The by-laws were fought by the industry who warned that new apartment construction would cease in the city. In the end, the new code passed but continued industry pressure and the downturn in the economy due to the stock market crash forced council to repeal it in 1931. It was not until 1943 that many of the recommendations were re-implemented.

More about some of the victims:

Manitoba Free Press September 4, 1929

Nine year-old Marjorie Edwards appeared at her second storey window screaming for help. Firemen called back instructing her to jump into the net below. As she was about to jump her nightdress caught fire and she fell backwards into the suite. Her body could only be identified at the coroner's inquest by the jewellery she was wearing.

Winnipeg Tribune, September 4, 1943

Edna Applebee lost her husband and a daughter in the fire and was left paralyzed from her jump that night. She died at the age of 48 on September 3, 1943, almost 14 years to the day of the fire. She left behind another daughter.

Manitoba Free Press Oct 15, 1928

Then there was poor Mrs. Gaunt.

Less than a year before her death, Gaunt appeared in a testimonial ad for a product called KEENO, a sleep remedy for those with "fragile nerves." She is quoted in the ad saying: "I could not sleep soundly and restfully" but "using KEENO for a short time I found my nervous system stronger and I could sleep more soundly and restfully. Continuing the use of this efficient medicine I am improving right along."

At the coroner's inquest, which knew nothing of the ad of course, it was noted that Mrs. Gaunt was found dead lying in her bed. She likely slept through the commotion and died in her sleep.

UPDATE: 2009

Despite being tied for the worst fire in Winnipeg's history, there is no marker or memorial to note this tragedy. This is a notice I posted at the site on Sept. 1, 2009, the 80th anniversary of the tragedy: