Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Thousand Island Sun Alexandria Bay, N.Y. Thursday, 17 October 1907 MRS. BURNS and Miss RYAN Drowned Well Known Women of Redwood Victims of Frightful Tragedy The Accident a Mystery Women Went Out Fishing Wednesday Afternoon and Next Day Boat Was Found Butterfield Lake, situated at the southern border of Redwood was the scene of a frightful double tragedy last Wednesday afternoon when MRS. JAMES BURNS and MISS STELLA RYAN, both well-known women of Redwood, were drowned while fishing. The women went out on the lake at 2 o'clock Wed- nesday afternoon for a few hours' fishing and their fail- ure to return that night was the first intimation that any one had that any untoward accident had befallen them. Searchers were out early next morning and the overturned boat, mute evidence of the sad tragedy, was found in Smith's bay and shortly after the body of MRS. BURNS was discovered nearby. The search was continued and late in the afternoon the body of MISS RYAN was found. Coroner M. M. RYAN, of Philadelphia, brother of MRS. BURNS, was called and decided that an inquest was unnecessary and ascribed the cause of death as sccidental drowning. DR. RYAN'S investigation led him to believe that the acci- dent occurred about 5 Wednesday afternoon. It is his opinion that the two women landed the rowboat on the extreme end of the lake, and that they were perhaps fishing there. He con- cluded that when they were preparing to go on to the lake again MISS RYAN got into the boat and in some way overturned it, falling into the water. It is his belief that MRS. BURNS might have been drowned in an effort to rescue her neice. The body of MISS RYAN was recovered in about ten feet of water, the coroner found, only a short distance from the shore, and the body of MRS. BURNS was found nearer the shore in shallow water, her hair being upon the shore itself and the body extending down into the water. Coroner RYAN believes that it is possible his sister died of heart failure brought upon by the shock occassioned by the sight of her niece in the water. MRS. BURNS was the wife of MR. JAMES BURNS, traveling repre- sentative of the Globe Tobacco company, who resides in Redwood. She was about 43 years of age and a sister of Dr. M. M. RYAN of Philadelphia, of DR. JAMES RYAN of Redwood, EDWARD C. RYAN, an attorney of Syracuse, and MICHAEL RYAN of Redwood. The funeral was held at the Catholic Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Father Bentley officiating. Interment was made in the Redwood cemetery. [Transcriber's Note: Her name was MARY ELLEN BURNS] ===========================================================================