From the November 23, 1910 Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“Chicago–After dictating into a phonograph a last message to his children, John Kryl, a sculptor, 71 years old, died yesterday.

Seeing that the end was near and fearing that he would not be able to see and speak to his five children, Kryl asked that a phonograph be brought. This was done and the father spoke in the language of his home land, Bohemia, his final words, telling his children that after a long life he was ready to die.

He bade them all farewell, and within six hours he was dead.”