Obituary Record

Ethel, 14 yrs. Ryan
Died on 4/13/1914

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Four newspaper articles

# 1 - - Published in the Blair Democrat April 16, 1914

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF ETHEL RYAN

Miss Ethel Ryan, the 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jess Ryan who live in a few miles southwest of Herman, was so badly injured early Monday morning by having her hair caught in the mechanism of a cream separator that she died shortly after being taken to Omaha for treatment.

The accident occurred shortly after six o’clock in the morning. Her mother had been running the cream separator and when little Ethel came down stairs her mother asked her to attend it for a few minutes. Ethel was in the act of braiding her hair and in some manner a portion of her unbraided hair caught in the mechanism, tearing the scalp loose from her head and crushing her skull in such a manner that it affected her brain.

The unfortunate child was rushed to Herman and from there her father and Dr. Cameron took her to Omaha on the early train, where she was admitted into the Immanuel hospital, where surgeons worked over her for nearly four hours, but the injury was such that from the first little hope that her life could be saved, she died shortly after noon.

The remains were brought to Herman Tuesday morning and the funeral was held yesterday.

# 2 - - Also published in the World Herald April 15, 1914

Herman, Neb., April 13-Ethel, the pretty, 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jess Ryan, of Herman, is dead as the result of a shocking accident at the family home early this morning. Little Ethel was turning a cream separator when in some manner a braid of her hair caught in the shaft mechanism and part of her scalp was torn away. She was rendered unconscious instantly.

Mr. Ryan, the father, and Dr. Cameron took her to Omaha on a fast train where she was placed under the care of surgeons, but though every effort was made to alleviate the effects of the terrible injury, the child died six hours later.

The community of Herman is stunned by the tragedy, little Ethel having been one of the most popular children.

The Ryan child was brought into Omaha on a train reaching here at 9 o’clock and was rushed to the Immanuel hospital in a taxicab, where surgeons worked over her for nearly four hours.

The injury was such, however, that from the first little hope existed that her life could be saved. Besides the injury due to the tearing away a portion of the scalp, the skull was crushed in a manner affecting the brain.

The accident occurred shortly after six o’clock in the morning. Mrs. Ryan had been operating the separator and when little Ethel came down stairs, her mother asked her to attend it for a moment. The child was then in the act of braiding her hair. It was a portion of her hair that remained unbraided that became caught in the mechanism.

The body will be taken to Herman for burial this morning. The funeral will probably be held tomorrow.

# 3 - - Published in the Tribune with no date on the newspaper article

Ethel Ryan’s mother died when she was about eighteen months old and she was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Andy Allen, of Blair, and went home to live with her father and step-mother about a year and a half ago. Little Ethel has many friends in Blair who join with the Tribune in extending to the bereaved father and stepmother their heartfelt sympathies in this sad hour of their bereavement.

# 4 - - Published in the Pilot April 15, 1914

One of the most heart-rending accidents that could ever happen to anyone occurred at the Jesse Ryan home, about a mile and a half west of Herman early Monday morning. Mrs. Ryan had been running the cream separator and when Ethel, aged 12 years, came down stairs at about 6 o’clock, her step-mother asked her to turn it a minute while she looked after the breakfast. Ethel was braiding her long and beautiful hair and when she went up to the separator the end of the braid caught in the machinery. In a few seconds the hair and scalp was torn from her head and the skull crushed so she was made unconscious. The little sufferer was taken to Herman at once and on into Omaha on the morning train but the skull was too badly crushed, death came at about noon.

The funeral was held at the Baptist church in Herman, Rev. F. E. Volck, of this city, officiating. Ethel was a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Allen, of this city, and had lived with them ever since she was 18 months old and since her mother died. About a year ago she went to live with her father again.

Burial will take place at Rose Hill, where her mother was buried and near the place of her birth. She was an unusually sweet and winsome girl and her sudden death is a severe blow to her grandparents, with whom she had lived most of her twelve short years, for they loved her as their own daughter. In fact she was beloved by all who knew her, so she hadn’t lived to vain, for the love she gave and inspired will last as long as the old world lasts.

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