Dear Mrs Keeney:

Your letter of inquiry about your husband has been given to me. As your son was a personal friend, I can sympathize with you in your sorrow. It is very difficult to learn anything about the storm that is certain. There seems to have been an electrical influence with it that took away the senses of the people. But what I say seems pretty accurate. Mr. Keeney's house stood on the southwest corner of a five acre lot, and was partly surrounded by peach trees. It was missed by the first cyclone, which came from the south-west, but was in the track of the second coming from the north-west. The house was utterly destroyed, probably no two boards can be found together. Your husband and son were holding the south door, Mark and James the west door, when the house was struck. They had just finished supper. Mrs. Keeney and Nathan C. Keeney were standing near the door between the two rooms. Mark thinks it blew a minute or two before the house went. After that he knew nothing.

I learn from the men who found them, that your husband was found on his back about the middle of the lot. What hurts he received I cannot say, nor could they as he was so covered by mud. I saw him after I got home, ( I was one hundred miles west and got home the next day ) and I think his face was not hurt. Your son had a large gash over his right eye. Both were easily recognized. When found they were close together. Mrs. Keeney was carried somewhat farther than they were, and was driven head first into the ground almost to her breast. We suppose that death in each case was instantaneous, that they did not suffer, for all the wounded give the same story, that conciousness was lost.

The boys were found nearer the house. Indeed Mark and Nathan found their own way to the only house left standing. Mark lay an hour before coming to. He has an indistinct remembrance of sitting under a tree in the rain. Looking around he thought he saw Nathan wandering around and went and took him by the hand and went to Mr.Walker's. Jimmy found himself under a tree with a leg broken in five places and doubled over the other. He speaks (as does Mark) of dreaming there was a wind. He was recalled to the reality by a neighbor, Mr. Jeffers, calling for his family. Mr. Jeffers found him, but left him there - his own family being lost, and he of course in fearful doubt. Meanwhile a squad of men out seeking wounded came along and put him into a blanket and carried him to Mr. Walker's. There he was kept that night.

Your husband and son were taken to an empty building, and laid out in a room by themselves. Mrs. Keeney was taken to another house and laid out with Mrs. Williams and Miss Sheldon. This had all been done before I got home, as well as the moving of the boys who were taken; Jimmy to the house west of me, and Mark and Nathan two doors east.

Who ordered the coffins I do not know. It was done I think by the township trustee. They were very nice and nicely trimmed. One I ordered myself some three months ago just like these, and it cost twenty-five dollars, from which you may judge what they were. They were like caskets.

Of course there was no procession, none of the usual ceremony of funerals. I saw our most prominent men shoulder to shoulder in one large grave we made for your people. The boxes for the coffins were out side by side all three, and then teams sent for the bodies, your husband and son were brought first, and then Mrs. Keeney. They were placed in the grave as follows : Your husband on the northside, John in the centre and his wife on the south. The boxes were fastened down and over them, inch planks were placed down and over them, inch planks were placed for greater security against pressure. I then went and told Mark and Nathan that they were left alone, but the doctors forbade my speaking to Jimmy.

Then came the funeral. Ten souls had been taken away, ten bodies were to be given back to earth: I trust, to wait the resurrection of the just. As the minister, longest resident in town, and as having lost more of his own people than any other had, the direction of the service was given to me. I read the opening services of the Methodist ritual, then "Jesus Lover of my Soul" was sung, then a prayer was offered, followed by addresses from the Presbyterian and Methodist ministers; then another hymn, "Asleep in Jesus", then I read the closing parts of the service committing the bodies to the earth. Then the hymn, " It is not death to die " was sung and the benediction given.

Then those of us who loved the dead, took our leave of them and they were covered up to rest, while we went home to care for the wounded, and those whom we feared were dying.

Since then I have had the boys moved to my house, all of them. Mark is well again. Jimmy, whose hurt is as bad as any ones, excepting one old man, is doing well and we hope to save his leg and that he will have good use of it. Nathan is doing well, his arm out of the sling and his collar bone going on well.

You have probably before this heard from Mrs. Stevens, who can tell you what was done with the clothes and money found on your husband. The boys have lost everything in the way of clothing, but I have a promise from our church at Atchison to fix them up. Everything of your husband's not on his person was of course lost. Some things from the house close to Mr. Keyes were found about two miles and a half off on the prairie. so there is small chance of finding anything.

May God comfort you in your distress. May he give you the joy of meeting your loved in heaven. Go to Him for rest. --- None ever sought Him in vain.

The boys will be with me for the present. I am the minister of the Episcopal Church at Irving.

If you have questions to ask that are not answered in this, write again, it will give me pleasure to answer them if I can. Your friend in Christ,

Charles Holmes