The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-04-28
FATHER RYAN'S DEATH
The Celebrated Post-Prisst of the South Re-
spends to the Fatal Summons.
A Brief sketch of His Work With the Pen
and on the Lecture PlatfOrm-StOries
About His Struggles and His Tri-
umphs-His Great Love for
the Lost Cause.
lCourier,Journal. April .. j

the care of Father Ubaldas Webersinke and
his assistants. About a month since Father
Ryan came there on a lecturing tour the
proceeds of which were to 90 towards the re-
lief of the Convent of Carmelite Nuns. at
New Orleans. He was accompanied by
Father Medallion, OF Reading, o., where
Father Ryan last lectured 1t was his in
tention to complete his Life of Christ
after returning home.
Father Ryan had been in Louisville about a
week, when he was taken down with fever
DIR. BinGewa!d was called in and admins.
tered such remedies it thought his in
disposition required. He grew rapidly
worse. however. and developed some of the
symptoms of brain fever. Yesterday Dr.
Octerlony was called to consult with DR..
Bindewald. and they informed the friends
of Father Ryan that his death might happen
at any moment
For several days the patient had been in
II unconscious condition. His mind wan
deied and he talked wildly about the late
war and his new book. AT intervals he
preached to an imaginary audience and again
would tell over his adventures during the
war and stories OF the lost cause.
Lest evening 1t was discovered that Father
Ryan was In a cOmatose condition, and it
was impossible to arouse him. While very
week. he had been able to talk up to yester-
day. He gradually sank, however, and his
death was seen to be the question of a very
few hours. Dr. Bindewald was again sum-
mOned to his side. aud said that his trouble
was organic heart disease, accompanied by a
lick OF sufficient supply of blood. A few
minutes before . o'clock he began to gasp for
breath and family struggle. The Fathers and
the attendants drew around him, and he
breatbed his last at seven minutes past ..
amld the hushed singing and praying of his
friends
\ SKETCH or THE PoET-PRIEsT.
Father Ryan was born at Norfolk, Va, in
1910 and was therefore fOrty-six years old at
the time of his death. He was educated for
the priesthood, bus when the war broae out
he entered the Confederate army with his
brother. He followed its fortunes in a
sacerdOtal capacity until peace was declared
At the close of the war he was located for
awhile at Nashville, and later at GAINESVILLE.
Afterward he removed to Biloxi, Miss, near
Beauvoir, where his permanent address was
at the time OF his death Here he became
closely acquainted with Jefferson Davis, and
the two were bosom friends for many years.
In 1870 Father Ryan went to Mobile Ala.
to live. He was warm personal friend OF
Bishop Quinlan, then the Bishop of the
diocese, under whom Father Ryan was
stationed. The peet priests fame as an ora
tor had preceded MIN, and the first time he
preached a vast crowd of people packed
the grand old Cathedral of that citv. the
largest church edifice in the South Every
sermon added to his fame, and his Sunday
discOuTses packed the church with 900 peo-
pie, while almost as many were turned away
from the doors. a sermon by Father Ryan
was poem in prose. but a religious one
81, IL ralN
ever attended the church at which Father
Ryan preached had cause to complain of his
unfairness to other sects and denominations
SUCCESS IL CHARITABLE pFEECrIoXs.
He was never called upon to preach more
than once a week except when he lectured
for a charitable or worthy cause. and this
was often. He could raise more money i'm
one lecture in Alabama or Louisiana than
all the church or orphans fairs could DO in
month. While in Mobile he was the director
of the Catholic Charitable Association and
the spiritual adviser of the Children OF
Mary" the larf est religious society COM
posed of Representatives from every Catholic
family in Alabama. In 1873 Father Ryan
and Bishop tluiDlan had misunderstanding,
which resulted in the former leaving Mobile.
His health becoming delicate. he sought and
nbtaint d the Catholic Church at Biloxi Miss.
He remained in Biloxi until the death of
Bishop QunlaD, which occurred several years
later. Father OCallighan. the Vicar General
Of the diocese, then had charge until Bishop
Nanney was appointed Bishop OF Mobile,
eighteen months after Bishop Quinlan's
death. Father OCalligban and Father Ryan
were warm friends, and the latter was called
back to Mobile and made pastor of ST. Ma
rvs Church, pretty little parish church Just
on the outskirts Of the city. He remained
there until lSS3. when he again left, since
which time he has been lecturing through
out the country.
~ PERSONAL APPEARANeE
Father Ryan was very striking man He
had a clear, open countenance and lofty
fOrbead. His eyes were blue and kindly.
Besides being a poet, he was a musician. He
would frequently go to the house of one OF
his parishloners and. telling the servant not
10 call any one, would take his seat at the
piano. With a cigar between his teeth, he
would play and improvise for hours. and
upon coming back to the things of this
world would be surprised to find he had
spent four or five hours in perfect ignorance
Of his Surroundings.
Father Ryan's 'The Sword OF Lee" was
read by himself at the unwilling of the
statue 10 the memory OF the Confederate
dead buried in Mobile, about six years ago.
One day in every year, when relatives and
friends place fresh flowers on the graves Of
those who fought and died for the cause
Father RYAN loved so well, a little child is
placed on the base OF the soldiers statue and
recites again the lines of the poet-soldier-
priest to the leader of the Southern cause.
HIS HEALTH BEGAN TO FAIL-
In 1881 Father Ryan's health began to fail,
and his pb ysician advised him to travel
along the sea-coast and i'm the North. Here
il was that he made his first reputation on
the lecture platform. He then travelled in
Europe, where he visited all the health re-
sorts Of England, Italy, France and Ger.
many He was received everywhere with
! great respect and admiration. In 1885 he
was for time at Boston College, where he
served as a lecturer on religious topics
| Since that time he has devoted himself ex
clusively to lecturing throughout the United
I States.
THE AUTHOR OF WAR LYRICS.
The literary career of Father Ryan cover;
/ the best and most successful part of his life
/ He was the author of a number of Confeder
/ ate war lyrics, remarkable for ardent i'm
/ pulsiveness. They appear to have beer
/ thrown out from the crater Of his volcanic
mind as Vesuvius or Ktna might discharge
/ the fiery matter of their seething in
teriors. In an hour of true inspiration hi
wrote "The Conquered Banner"
Every line may be compared to saddenec
eve, full of tears. 1t must forever be asso