The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-09-24
Life Lost AS Result Of
Fire
W. Louis Ryan Overcome BY
Smoke When Flames DAM
age His Dwelling


Ryan, on Cherry street, in this town,
had tragic ending in the death of Mr..
Ryan, at Union Hospital, Elkton,
about two hours later.
The fire was discovered about one
o'clock Friday morning last, when
Miss Lillian Ryan, a daughter, was
awakened by smoke. She gave the
alarm and the members Of the family
were quickly aroused and CROPPED
their way downstairs through the
sitting smoke to safety, with the ex-
fception of Mr.. Ryan.
1t is thought he may have made
his way down the back steps to the
kitchen, where he found escape cut
off by the fire, when the door at the
foot of the steps was opened. Forced
back up the stairs to the hallway he
evidently was overcome by smoke.
Meanwhile members of the Com
munity Fire Company had arrived
with apparatus and played stream
of water into the kitchen, which was
seething mass of flames, soon
quenching the raging fire.
Repeated attempts were made by
two of Mr.. Ryans sons, and mem
bers of the fire company, to pene-
trate the dense. acrid smoke In
search of the missing man, Clinton
Ryan collapsing on the front stairs
and having to- be carried to safety.
Finally Herbert Ryan, Earl Tyson
and Dick Reynolds, equipped with
smoke masks, managed to reach the
upper hall, and after cropping about
in the pitch darkness and smoke,
stumbled upon Mr.. Ryan, lying I'M
conscious on the floor, between the
door of his bedroom and the head of
| the stairs. He was carried to the
front porch and DR.. r. G. Dodson di-
rected restorative efforts. Mr.. Ty-
son, one of the rescurers had collaps-
ed in the doorway, completely over
come, as his smoke mask had slipped
off as Mr.. Ryan was being carried
down the stairs, and he too required
medical attention.
Mr.. Ryan was hurried to Union
Hospital, Elkton, and after oxygen
had been administered, appeared to
be breathing regularly, but did not
regain consciousness and died about
three O'Clock, from a heart attack.
The origin of the fire, which broke
out in the kitchen, is not known, as
| there had been no fire in the room
for several hours.
The kitchen was completely wreck
ed by fire, and the adjoining sitting
room by smoke and water, much
damage being done as well to all the
rooms and furnishings in the house
by the heavy black smoke.
w. Louis Ryan was a son of the
late Samuel P. and Sarah Dawson
Ryan; was born at Delmar, Del, his
68th birthday being On Sunday, Sept.
LC LohAiAy AAOfOo " 4SAoAA6
Sun during the early boyhood of the
deceased, Mr.. Ryan coming here as a
contractor and builder, his son fol-
lowing in his footsteps, and like the
father, was a skilled mechanic.
In early manhood he joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church here,
and had always been active in church
affairs, being at the time Of his death
member of the Official Board. He
was Superintendent of the Sunday
School for forty years. Mr.. Ryan also
took active part in civic and fraternal
affairs. He served for number of
years on the Board of Town Commits
sioners, and was Past Supreme Chief
Of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
He was one of the organizers and
charter member of the Community
Fire Co., of Rising Sun.
Surviving are four sons and four
daughters: William L. Ryan, Havre
de Grace; Clinton S., Herbert E. and
Arthur W., of Rising Sun; Mrs. Pearl
Keen, wife Of w. Paul Keen, of
Perryville, Md; Misses Dorothy,
Lillian Frances and Anna Mary. at
home. Two sisters also survive, Mrs
Nettie Terry, wife of w. X. Terry, of
Perkasie, Pa, and Mrs. Edith Oliver,
wife of G. F. Oliver, of Sarasota. Fla.
His wife died about four years ago.
Funeral services were held at two
O'Clock Monday afternoon, at the
home of Geo. r. Grason, and were
conducted by Rev. Frank White, pas
tor of Rising Sun M. E. Church, and
Rev. ]. c. Mccoy, former pastor Of
the Church. The casket was bank
ed with beautiful floral pieces from
family and friends, silent tributes to
the daeoasad who waa hold In hitch,