Bryant Whitmore

FIRE TAKES BIG TOLL

Two Burned, Probably Fatally in Blaze That Menaces Carson Today

Carson City Daily Appeal

September 28, 1926

As the Appeal goes to press efforts are being concentrated in preventing the fire from entering Carson at the southwestern end near the Savage ranch.

A second disastrous fire within a space of a few months in the hills west of Carson City today will probably take two lives as part of its toll in addition to destroying considerable ranch property and burning off considerable watershed for ranchers along the foothills.

Arthur Sunday of Carson, who has been employed during the summer as a forest ranger, and Bryant Whitmore, former cowboy in motion pictures and recently employed as a guard at the state prison received burns this morning from which they will probably die. After being rescued from the flames and brought to Carson for first aid by Dr. E. E. Hanier they were sent to St. Mary’s hospital in Reno late today in an effort to save their lives…

October 2,1926

Carson City had another day of mourning today when news of the death of Bryant Whitmore, the prison guard cast an additional spell of gloom over the funeral ceremonies for Ralph Morse, the Indian railroad worker, who gave his life in fighting the fire last Tuesday…

Whitmore, who was 41, is survived by a wife and two children, one a girl aged 15, the other a boy of 11, who are in school at Overton in care of Mrs. Whitmore’s sister. Mrs. Whitmore has been incapacitated for some time and is in Reno…

The governor gave the following statement:

“Bryant Whitmore’s death adds another load to our sorrow and adds another hero to Valhalla. His death was pure sacrifice for when he was clear of the flames he turned back to rescue Mr. Sunday, for whose life he feared. His impulse to help in the first instance was that of a pioneer people whose first thought is neighborliness and helpfulness. He resisted all efforts to dissuade him from the attempted rescue and his example will shine for years as an inspiration to us all. By his death he has gained an added life and Nevada has added a hero to the roll of fame.

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