In Honor of James Nicholaus Ryan

You knew this one was coming.  This morning descendants of Ray and Roy Ryan, brothers of James, got together to share stories, information and artifacts.  The children, grandchildren, and spouses from the Ray Ryan branch included Jim, Peggy and Tim Ryan, Pat and Matt Biederman, and Chris, Paul and Mark DiBenedetto and Paul's son, Mario.  Descendants of Roy Ryan included Jim Ryan and his wife. Carol, Pat Gallagher, Mike and his wife, Doloures, and Dan Ryan.  The Jones branch was represented by Tim and Dusty, and Kath. Evelyn and Charles McCafferty had to cancel due to illness.

We had a wonderful time.  Everyone brought artifacts and stories.  Starting with James Hugh Ryan (gr-grandfather to me) was a brass moulder by profession.  You can  read more about him here and here.

James Hugh Ryan, grandson of the first James Hugh brought a working brass cannon. Mike Ryan, great-grandson brought an eagle and a very interesting bottle opener.  Look at it carefully!

Pat Biederman, daughter of Ray, had several samples of Rose Ryan's embroidery.  She brought the piece pictured at the left that had never been completed.

She also had a lacy nightcap that Rose had made.  Rose's mother had at one time had an embroidery shop run in conjunction with her Becker siblings.


Pat also shared with us a purse her grandfather (James Hugh) had brought back from the 1904 World's Fair for her mother, Rose.

Matt and Pat Biederman with purse

Probably one of my favorite items was a very little change purse that had been on the person of James Hugh at the time of his death.  It contained three pennies from the 1890's.

In addition to those items pictured, Mike Ryan brought numerous pictures of our grandfather, Roy, and Matt Biederman brought many of the items featured earlier this month in posts about James Nicholaus, the sailor.

My only regret is that I was so focused on all of the wonderful stories and trying to figure out who belonged to whom that I neglected to get pictures of everyone in attendance. I guess that means we have to do it again. I did manage to get a picture of a some of the new to me second cousins and spouses.

Chris DiBenedetto, Tim Ryan, Mark DiBenedetto, and Matt Biederman

Jim, Tim and Peggy Ryan

Tim, Peggy, Mark, Matt, Pat and Mike Ryan

I apologize to Jim, Carol, Paul, Mario, Tim, Dusty, Pat, Dan and Doloures for not getting a picture of you.  Next time, we put someone in charge of photography.  I so enjoyed meeting everyone.

Kathy

Note:  You can double-click on pictures to enlarge.  I would LOVE it if you would click on the comments box and add to the discussion.

James N. Ryan - Fact or Fiction

In the initial post about Jim Ryan, sailor, I referred to him as "St. James." This is because of the fact that over time, it's been hard to separate fact from fiction.  One of the biggest legends has to do with Jim "saving the day" on the USS Virginia by using his skills as a "moulder" to forge a critical piece that enabled the ship to continue its mission.  I believe the evidence suggests that there is truth to this legend.

In his naval career, Jim was promoted to "blacksmith"/foundryman. It is said that while at sea, Jim was able to "save the day" by forging a critical part that enabled the USS Virginia to continue on a tour.  From here the story becomes unclear.  My Uncle Jim Ryan told me that the piece in question was the ship's prop.  He said that Jim was able to dive down, remove the prop and make the critical repair.  Even as he told me the story, he agreed that this version was not feasible.  Pat Biederman told me that Alvin Wulfekuhl had been to the National Archives and verified the story.  I talked with Alvin and he claimed it was not him.  My cousin, Mike Ryan, told me that in a conversation with his Great-Aunt Rose (sister of the sailor) that she said because of Jim's success, a forge for the first time became a standard part of all ships moving forward.

This is a story that is going to require more investigation.  Apparently Jim told members of the crew that if they could get a hot enough fire, that he could make the repair.  Given the fact that he had worked with his father as a "moulder" before his enlistment, it appears that there has to be some factual basis to these commonly held
stories.  I've not yet figured out how to "prove" this, but should I or any of my readers solve this problem, I will update the blog.

I thought it would be fun to have a "snopes-like" question and answer about some of the things that have been said about James Nicholas Ryan.  So see how well you know Jim.

Claim:  Jim was 16 years old when he lied about his age in order to enlist in the navy.
PARTIALLY TRUE  Jim did "lie" about his age on his enlistment papers, but he was 18 at the time of enlistment
        -- not 16.

Claim:  Jim was a Junior, named after his father.

PARTIALLY TRUE  Jim has the same first name as his father, but his middle name is Nicholas (instead of Hugh).

Claim:  Jim died at the age of 22, a few days after his birthday.

Jim died on May 1, 1911.  His 22nd birthday was April 28th. (Some newspaper articles are incorrect).


Claim:  Jim died as the result of choking on tobacco.

 The cause of death was diphtheria.


Claim:  There is a building in Washington, D.C. named after Jim.

There is a building that houses students on the campus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. named after James Hugh Ryan.  However, this James Hugh Ryan was a Rector at the university and later the Archbishop of the Diocese of Omaha.


Claim:  James N. Ryan is buried in an unmarked grave in St. John's Cemetery in St. Bernard, OH.

Not only is Jim buried in an unmarked grave in St. John's, but also his father, mother and six other relatives.  The family was very poor at the time.  When James Hugh died, he was buried in a single grave.  Rose Ryan was also buried in a single grave.  The others are in the same plot.  


Claim:  James and his father had a very close relationship.

UNDETERMINED  The letters between father and son and the "Father's Lament" published in the previous post suggest a very close relationship.  However, some family members were of the opinion that Jim enlisted to get away from his father. (I tend to think they were close).

Claim: At the time of Jim's death he was a blacksmith in the navy.

Jim was promoted to blacksmith/foundryman on January 1, 1910.


Claim:  Due to Jim's success in making a repair at sea, a forge was installed in all future battleships.

 UNDETERMINED  The evidence at this point is "oral tradition."  This is a question that also will require additional research.

To my Great-Uncle Jim -- You'd be surprised to hear of the impact that you've continued to have on your extended family.  Several family members still have your picture on display.  It is because of you that many of us hope to meet for the first time a week from Saturday.  Thanks for your story.

Kathy

James N. Ryan - A Father's Lament

Among Jim's personal effects returned to the family was the booklet "The Making of a Man 'O Warsman." referred to earlier.  It must have meant a lot to Jim's father, because he wrote this lament on the inside cover.

Here is the transcription:

Elmwood Place, Ohio

In the year nineteen ten (eleven) on the Battle Ship Virginia a young sailor lay dying.  Without any friends he lay waiting till the dawn when death would close his wings about him and shield him from the cares and troubles of this life.  He was far from home from those who loved him, far from the land that gave him birth. But now as he was dying, things certainly were different. His father loved him with a love as no one could ever love again, but his father never knew that he way dying -- never knew that he was sick.  His mother dear did not know either, so this made it all the harder for the poor sailor who was dying and so far from home and friends and no one to pray for him. Only one hour, however, he lay there sick.  He got worse, fell unconscious and failed to rally and died just as he had lived -- far away from home and mother. 

Cincinnati Times-Star, May 2, 1911, p. 3

The record shows that James Hugh demanded that a second autopsy be performed in Cincinnati. Although his son's body was returned in a sealed coffin, James Hugh wanted confirmation.  The evidence suggests that he got his wish.

According the the Death Notice, the funeral took place in the family home and was followed with a Mass at St. Aloysius Church.  He was buried at St. John's Cemetery in St. Bernard, OH.  He, along with his mother, father and several other Ryans are buried in this cemetery.  Not one grave is marked.

Just to complete the record for interested family, I am attaching a copy of Jim's Death Certificate.

James N. Ryan - The Unthinkable Happens

On May 1, 1911 twenty-two year old James Nicholas Ryan died -- of diphtheria.  Just four months shy of fulfilling his commitment to the Navy, he died of a disease that most of us don't even know existed.  We are vaccinated against it as babies.  His parents got the telegram that no parent ever wants to get.

Cincinnati Enquirer, May 2, 1911

Along with the telegram came disbelief. Jim's father could not accept that his young, healthy son was dead. There had to be some "other" explanation than the "official" one. Newspaper articles of the time reflect this confusion. Despite a Death Certificate that clearly states the cause of death as , the article states that "it was stated by some naval officials that there is some doubt as to the cause of Ryan's death." When contacted by the Enquirer, the officer in charge on the Virginia stated that "Ryan died of natural causes" but then added that he "did not care to discuss it."

Cincinnati Enquirer, May 2, 1911

It's no wonder the father questioned the cause of death. The telegram received by the parents simply stated:

"Your son, James M. Ryan, died suddenly this afternoon. Wire as to disposition of remains."  

I can't imagine getting a telegram telling me about the death of my firstborn-son and namesake that seems so matter-of-fact and unfeeling.  I would be in shock.  He was determined to get to the bottom of this. (You can click on the article to enlarge it).

Cincinnati Enquirer, May 4, 1911, p.4

The article states that Jim's death was due to heart failure, owing to diphtheria. It also adds that Ryan had been sick with diphtheria for five days, a fact reflected in Jim's service record. However, members of the crew stated that Jim was "up and around the ship an hour before his death." One officer stated Ryan "was ordered to the sick bay at 12:20 and died at 1:05." Reports such as this probably led to the speculation that Jim died by choking on tobacco. (See next clip)

I've not been able to ascertain the source of this article, but it contains a few errors. It lists Jim's age as 27 and his middle initial as an "M'. It attributes Jim's death to choking on a piece of tobacco that became lodged in his throat.  However, the article goes on to state that "Ryan's inquiries to the Navy Department resulted in a statement that the sailor had died of diphtheria.  This was followed by a statement that he had choked to death."




I think the evidence is overwhelming.  Jim died of diphtheria.  Everyone agrees that he was ordered to sick bay in the last hour of his life.  No one goes to sick bay for an hour to choke to death on tobacco.   It's hard for us to accept 100 years later that someone so healthy and young could die of a bacterial infection that we are vaccinated against and that can be cured by an antibiotic.  Yet antibiotics did not yet exist.  Needless to say, the family was devastated.

James N. Ryan - Great White Fleet - Welcome Home!

Political cartoon from The New York Herald, February 22, 1909. Illustration shows Uncle Sam, George Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt welcoming the Great White Fleet as it returns to home port at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Credit:  Wikipedia - The Great White Fleet

On Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1909, the Great White Fleet returned home after its 14-month adventure.  I can't even imagine the emotions of all involved.  In hindsight, I'm really glad that "our" Jim was able to take part.  He was able to cram a lifetime of experiences into what would turn out to be a very short life.

We do not have much information on Jim's naval career after returning home.  One postcard reflects what was probably pretty typical -- time spent with the ship in dry dock undergoing repairs and upgrades. This card was mailed April 7, 1910 from the USS Virginia, six weeks after their return.

 

We are now at the Southern Drill (?) Grounds.  Will be here for three weeks.  Love to all from your son, Jim.

On July 1st, 1910 Jim was promoted to Fireman, 1st Class.  This was followed a month later to a promotion to "Acting Appointment to Blacksmith (Foundryman)."  According to his service record, nothing noteworthy happened until Jim stayed overleave from 4:00 PM October 6th to6:00 AM October 8th.  For this offense, he was tried by a "Deck Court" and fined $16.50 pay.  

His ratings suffered for that three-month period.  The rating for "Obedience" dropped to 1.5 on a five-point scale and in the column indicating whether or not he would be recommended for Honorable Discharge said "No".  The "5" was a rating for "sobriety."  Jim consistently rated well in this category.  The disciplinary procedures must have had their desired effect because Jim's service record remained complaint-free for the rest of his career.

But tragedy was just around the corner . . .

James N. Ryan - Great White Fleet - The Final Leg

http://www.greatwhitefleet.info

During the final leg of the cruise, the USS Virginia departed from Manila, traveled through the Suez Canal, and made stops in Smyrna, Turkey and Gibraltar before heading home to Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Each member of the USS Virginia was issued a commemorative chart of the entire cruise.  Matt Biederman has Jim's copy framed and in his home.  You can click on the link under the chart above and scroll around the entire map.  You can see where the battleship was on each day and the number of nautical miles sailed while at sea.

Credit:  http://www.greatwhitefleet.info

In the Mediterranean, different battleships docked at different ports.  The Virginia stopped in Smyrna, Turkey. This was a place of special fascination for Jim.  Matt has a letter mailed home from Turkey.  I love its contents.

 

Here is my best attempt at a transcription:

Smyrne, Turkey

January 13, '09

Dear Father,

Your loving letter of December 25th was received yesterday and I was more than delighted to hear from you. We arrived here in Smyrne on the 11th and we stay here until the 25thh of January. It is very cool in this part. You know we are not very struck on cold weather, not being in a cold country on a long while. I think we'll know it alright when we strike New York. The ships company of this ship is kept very busy at this point.  We are going through a navy yard overhauling. I think the ships will have to stand a very strong inspection when we get back to New York, so we are trying to make the ship look it's best.

Well, dear Father, how are you and dear Mother and why don't she write?  It is a coon (?) age since I heard from her.  What is a matter with Rose also, why they must be afraid to write.  I wish you would get them to write me a letter now and then.  Also give them my best love.

I see by your last letter that Mrs. Luffuss ? out to the house.  I also see that she made a hit.  Well what do you think of her?  Would you leave your happy house for her ?  I guess she thinks I am a peach.  I have not sent her a postal or anything since I have been on this trip.  But what is the difference is you got a good pull.  There is another lad on this ship who is writing to her. He kept company with her before he shipped in the navy.  He is a duckman, too.  But she don't know that I know him.  But I do.  So you see I am a good heart.  I am giving him a chance to make good.  So if he don't, it is his own fault.

Say how ? to Eddy to give him my best.  Tell him it will hurt him to drop a note now and then.  I was ashore the day before yesterday.  I think this is the most immoral place I was ever in.  Turkish you know you can get anything you are looking for.   Well, dear Father, as I have wrote all I really know I will have to bring my letter to a close.  Hoping to hear from you very soon. I remain, as ever, your loving son.

James N. Ryan

James N. Ryan - Great White Fleet - San Francisco to Manila

USS Virginia Postcard by Enrique Muller 1907  Credit:  http://www.greatwhitefleet.info

On the third leg of the tour, the USS Virginia, as part of the second squadron, departed San Francisco on July7, 1908. The first port of call was Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time Hawaii was a U.S. Territory.  It would not become a state for fifty more years.  I can't imagine how different Hawaii would have been 100 years ago.

Credit:  Wikipedia - The Great White Fleet

Credit:  http://www.greatwhitefleet.info

Fortunately for us there was an electrician, Frank Lesher, aboard the USS Virginia who collected items from each port.  He kept medals, programs of activities set up for the sailors, letters, and numerous picture postcards. An example from his collection is pictured at the left.  It is a picture of the former queen of Hawaii.

As the focus of this blog is on family history, I'm going to refer interested readers to a website that includes extensive information on each port of call.  You can read his personal correspondence back "home" and get a feel for the kinds of experiences Jim might have had.
Go to: Hawaii  I can't urge you enough to check out this site.  You can choose from among a list of ports and view some of Frank's collection.

One of the most important ports of call was Yokohama, Japan.  The family is in possession of a beautiful embroidered work that Jim acquired in Japan.  Closeups of this work were featured in a previous post.  Pictured is a ticket issued to the sailors for free train transportation.

Credit:  http://www.greatwhitefleet.info

The fleet headed to Manila in the Philippines where they were again greeted warmly by the local population. Who could have anticipated what would happen in this area of the world a short 32 years later.

James N. Ryan - The Life of a "Coal Passer"

Jim Ryan (standing on right)

The Department of the Navy has a website on the "Cruise of the Great White Fleet." I was surprised that the site included a great description of the role of a "coal passer."

The good times were earned by these sailors. There was the seemingly endless round of cleaning chores, watches and drills. But even for the hard-working deck force, life at sea wasn't quite so bad, not when compared to the jobs of the so-called "black gang" in the fire room below decks. At least topside, the deck force had the benefit of sunlight and breezes; below decks, the engineers' world was dominated by searing heat and coal dust.

Coal, commonly referred as "black diamonds," was the ship's sole source of power. Ships would normally go into port and take on coal every two weeks. "Coaling ship" was an all hands evolution and a dirty job. It would take several days to coal a ship. Afterward, the crew would spend several more days cleaning the ship, inside and out, fore and aft, since coal dust settled everywhere.

Members of the "Black Gang", stoke the coal burning power plants of the Battleships of the Great White Fleet. C. 1907-1908. NH 101721.

A member of the "black gang" on the battleship Connecticut described coaling day. "Our ship held about 2,000 tons of the stuff. All the deckhands would go down into the collier (coal supply ship) and fill these big bags with about 500 pounds. Then they'd hoist 'em over to us down in the coal bunkers and we'd spread out the coal with shovels until all the bunkers - about 20 - were full to the top."

The Navy published a booklet called "The Making of a Man o' Warsman."  (Note cover in previous post). Each day 2 1/2 hours was devoted to practicing drills.  Drills might include signaling, collision avoidance, fire prevention, etc.  On p. 14, there is a description of the Coaling Drill.

Coaling Ship.--The most arduous work the men must perform on board a man-o -war is coaling ship. Strictly speaking, "coaling ship" is not a drill, but for convenience in explaining this work we will call it so. Lighters filled with coal are brought alongside and the men are stationed in them to fill bags, and also stationed aboard ship to receive and send the bags below, the bags being carried from barge to ship by means of electric hoists. The men of the engineer's force stow the coal in the bunkers. Signals are hoisted each hour on each ship of the fleet to show the amount of coal taken, which causes keen rivalry among the ships. Coaling is not a thing of great frequency. It may take place once a month, or once in three months, depending upon the amount of cruising the ship is doing.

This is how Jim initially made his living.  When he enlisted as an apprentice seaman, he was paid $17.60.  On January 1, 1910, Jim was promoted to Fireman, 2nd Class.  This promotion put him on a new career path with a corresponding increase in pay.  According to the manual cited above:

FIREMEN

The fire-room force on board a man-of-war consists of chief water tenders, at $55 and $77 a month; water tenders, $44; oilers, $40.70; firemen, first-class, $38.50; firemen, second-class, $33; and coal passers, $24.20. After serving one enlistment (4 years) in any of these capacities a man may take a course at the Machinists' School, in Norfolk, as previously stated, and, if he graduates, may enter the machinists' branch, and is eligible to the promotion of a machinist's mate as explained in the previous chapter. p. 18

This promotion took place about two weeks after the fleet left on its round-the-world tour.  Two more promotions would follow.  Life had to be looking up.  In the next post, we'll discuss the third leg of the tour.

James N. Ryan and the "Great White Fleet"

I have to admit -- I'd never heard of the "Great White Fleet."  Along with the artifacts that Matt Biederman shared with me by email, he included a link to a site that discusses the Great White Fleet. Jim may have died at the age of 22, but what a life he had!




According to the Wikipedia site,

The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various escorts. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy capability.

President Roosevelt envisioned the tour to be a demonstration of not only U.S. seapower, but also American industrial prowess.  The fourteen month-long voyage included sixteen battleships with hulls painted in peacetime white, hence, the nickname.  The squadrons were manned by 14,000 sailors.  During the tour, the fleet traveled 43,000 nautical miles, making twenty port calls on six continents.  What an adventure for a 18-year old!

Credit:  http://www.greatwhitefleet.info/

Jim began his naval career as a "coal passer." He and his colleagues were responsible for the "fuel" that powered these ships. If you refer to the previous post, you can see that the picture showed Jim and crew members aboard a "Coaling Ship." Jim was initially assigned to the USS Franklin but was transferred to the USS Virginia in the October before the fleet's December departure. Over the next fourteen months, this boy from Elmwood Place was about to become a man.

The Great White Fleet

The tour was divided into four legs. Since the Panama Canal was not yet completed, the fleet had to travel around the South American continent.

Credit:  Wikipedia - The Great White Fleet

On the second leg, the fleet traveled from San Francisco to Puget Sound and back. Our young man, Jim, must have loved San Francisco. His disciplinary report states that on June 23, 1908, he returned three hours overleave to the Virginia. Apparently, the ship was in port preparing for the third leg of the trip that would take them to the Philippines.  I can't imagine the joy of traveling the world at such a young age.  In the next post, I will discuss the life of a "coal passer"/ fireman aboard ship.

Ryan "Cousin Bait"

I was reading the post of a fellow family history blogger, and she said that the primary role of her blog is "cousin bait."  I thought that was such an interesting expression, but in the end, that is one of the primary purposes of my blog.  As a result of it, many of my extended family including 3rd and 4th cousins have found me because of something posted here.

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Pat Biederman.  She is the daughter of Ray Ryan, brother of my grandfather, Roy.  I wrote about Ray in an earlier post.  Pat was interested in my post about James Nicholas Ryan, the oldest child of James Hugh Ryan and Rose Gross.  Jim, as he was known, was Pat's uncle, although he was dead by the time Pat was born.  Jim tragically died of diphtheria at the age of 22.  His loss had a tremendous impact on the family.

Pat told me of her personal interest in Jim's history and how her father passed on certain artifacts of Jim's that had been in the possession of his sister, Rose.  Included was a map outlining the ports of call and the distances traveled by the USS Virginia and the other ships in the fleet as they traveled around the world.  She also had a beautiful embroidered picture that had been given to the fleet by the Japanese in remembrance of their visit to Japan.

Pat's son, Matt, is the current caretaker of these very special artifacts. Matt and I have since emailed and shared information and I am hoping to set something up in the near future so that we can all compare notes and the pieces of the puzzle that we each possess. Pictured below are closeups of the embroidered artwork that Matt forwarded to me.

The information I have in my possession includes Jim Ryan's service record that I ordered from the National Archives. The next several posts will focus on separating the fact from the fiction about Jim's life and death that occurred far too early.