Thomas Riley [11613]

  General Notes:

In August 1899, shortly after moving to Maine, Blanche and Tom nearly drowned at Mr. Desert Ferry near Bar Harbour, when the crowded pier on which they were standing gave way. The huge crowd was there to welcome the North Atlantic Fleet and timbers collapsed under the weight. Blanche made it to shore only to discover that her husband was still missing. She pleaded with some of the rescuers to look for him beneath the crushed timbers of the sunken slip.

Told that he was beyond saving, Blanche refused to hear it and insisted that he be stretched out over one of the 50-gallon drums and rolled back and forth in an attempt to removed the water from his lungs. To everyone's astonishment after several minutes he began to cough and gasp for air.

Thomas married Blanche Hourihan [11614] [MRIN: 3888] in Jun 1897.