Edward Ryan

Who was Edward Ryan?

Edward Ryan was a remarkable Titanic survivor whose quick thinking and ingenuity helped him escape the sinking ship on that fateful night of April 14-15, 1912. Born in Ballynaveen, County Tipperary, Ireland on January 28, 1888, Ryan was a 24-year-old (twenty-four) third-class passenger aboard the Titanic, embarking at Queenstown with hopes of starting a new life in America. His survival story, filled with both controversy and bravery, would become one of the most intriguing tales to emerge from the disaster.

Early Life and Journey to the Titanic

Irish Roots and Family Background

Edward Ryan came from a Roman Catholic family in rural Ireland. He was the youngest of four children born to Daniel Ryan, a farmer, and Alice Power. His siblings were James, Bridget, and Helena “Lena”. This tight-knit family background would later prove crucial in shaping Ryan’s determination to survive.

Education and Early Career

By the 1911 census, Edward had moved to Dublin, where he was listed as an unmarried motor engineer boarding at 18 Hume Street in Mansion House. This shift from rural Tipperary to urban Dublin showcases Ryan’s ambition and willingness to seek new opportunities.

Boarding the Titanic

Ryan boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger. His ticket, number 383162, cost £7 15s. Though listed as a general laborer on the passenger manifest, Ryan would later give his occupation as chauffeur upon arrival in New York, indicating his adaptability and possibly his aspirations for better employment in America.

The Fateful Night

Life in Steerage

On the evening of April 14, Edward recalled the lively atmosphere in steerage, with passengers singing, dancing, and playing instruments like accordions and piccolos. This vivid recollection provides a poignant contrast to the tragedy that would soon unfold.

Collision with the Iceberg

Ryan offered two slightly different accounts of his experience when the Titanic struck the iceberg:

1. In one version, he was asleep and awoke to a “long, grinding noise and a great shock.”
2. In another, he was awake, cleaning his pipe, when the collision occurred. He woke his cabin mates, who ignored his warnings and went back to sleep.

Survival and Controversy

A Daring Escape

Ryan’s survival story is one of the most controversial and intriguing from the Titanic disaster. In a letter to his parents dated May 6, 1912, he admitted to an audacious plan:

“I stood on the Titanic and kept cool, although she was sinking fast. She had gone down about forty feet by now. The last boat was about being rowed away when I thought in a second if I could only pass out [i.e., get into the boat] I’d be all right. I had a towel round my neck. I just threw this over my head and left it hang in the back. I wore my waterproof overcoat. I then walked very stiff past the officers, who had declared they’d shoot the first man that dare pass out. They didn’t notice me. They thought I was a woman. I grasped a girl who was standing by in despair, and jumped with her thirty feet into the boat.”

This account, while morally questionable, demonstrates Ryan’s quick thinking and determination to survive.

Conflicting Stories

In the days following the disaster, various dramatic tales of Ryan’s survival circulated in the press:

• One account claimed he made a remarkable leap into a lifeboat with a fainting woman in his arms.
• Another story, related by his sister, portrayed Ryan as rescuing a girl from the water after the ship had sunk.

These conflicting narratives highlight the chaos and confusion surrounding the Titanic’s sinking, as well as the media’s hunger for sensational survivor stories.

Life After the Titanic

Immediate Aftermath

After arriving in New York aboard the Carpathia, Ryan spent time in hospital before traveling to Troy, New York, to stay with his sister Bridget Welch. This period of recovery would have been crucial for processing the traumatic events he had experienced.

Return to Europe and Marriage

Ryan only spent three years in New York before returning to Ireland. In 1916, he settled in Hull, Yorkshire, England, where he worked as a fitter for engineering firms. That same year, he married Gertrude Annie Glave, with whom he had three children: Norman Frederick, Monica, and Kathleen.

Later Years and Legacy

During the 1950s, as interest in the Titanic disaster resurged, Ryan reconnected with other survivors and was a special guest at a screening of “A Night to Remember” in 1958. This engagement with his past demonstrates how the Titanic remained a significant part of his identity throughout his life.

Edward Ryan passed away on November 5, 1974, at the age of 86 (eighty-six) in Hull. He holds the distinction of being the last surviving Irish male Titanic passenger. His remarkable story of survival, controversial as it may be, remains a fascinating chapter in the Titanic’s enduring legacy.

What made Edward Ryan’s survival story unique?

Edward Ryan’s survival story stands out for several reasons:

1. Ingenious disguise: Ryan used a towel as a makeshift shawl to disguise himself as a woman, allowing him to bypass the “women and children first” policy.

2. Quick thinking: His split-second decision to don the disguise and board a lifeboat showcases his resourcefulness under extreme pressure.

3. Controversial actions: Ryan’s method of survival raises ethical questions, adding a layer of complexity to his story.

4. Multiple narratives: The various, often conflicting, accounts of his escape published in newspapers highlight the chaos of the disaster and the public’s fascination with survivor stories.

5. Long-term impact: As one of the last surviving Irish male passengers, Ryan’s story became increasingly significant in preserving the memory of the Titanic disaster.

Ryan’s unique tale of survival continues to captivate Titanic historians and enthusiasts, serving as a reminder of the human instinct for self-preservation in the face of unimaginable tragedy.