The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-04
DROWNED IN RIVER
Charles Holmes Loses His
Life In Sight of Friends.
GOT CRAMPS IN WATER
Mother Was Here Visiting
Him at the Time.

Little Arkansas river just afternoon yes
terday opposite HeIlers grove. about a
mile above the Sullivan dam. he was
II years of age, a son of Thomas Holmes.
formerly foreman of the JOB department
Of tn eEagle. and grandson OF T. NJ
Lane Of this city. The funeral win take
place from the residence Of Mr.. and Mrs
T. n Lane, lbs North Waco. at o'clock
today.
The drowning was accidental and
makes a pathetic story. If Charles
/ Holmes had lived one month longer, he
would have been Is years Of age. He
graduated from the Wichita Commercial
college last March. He was good boy
and the pride OF his grandfather 1t is
said that Mr. Lane made his VIII only a
short time ago and provided handsomely
for Charley Holmes. Mrs. Monie White
side, mother Of Charles Holmes, was here
on visit at the time Of the accident
Her home is in Denver. The sister Of
the unfortunate boy, Mrs. Veta Caven-
augh, arrived here from Denver, yester-
/ day.
Mrs. Whiteside arrived here one week
/ ago from Denver to visit her parents and
( son, Charles, who lived with his grand
parents. She was accompanied from
Denver by Miss Therry Gerry, OF that
place. Yesterday Mrs. Whiteside, Miss
Gerry, Charles Holmes and Roy Walter
nnire. step-son Of Mr.. Lane. concluded to
go up to Hellers grove and enjoy the
cool shade of the grove and eat their
dinners there. Mr.. and Mrs. Bert Reeves
and their four-year-old son. Paul. and
AIr. and Mrs Gray and Mr.. Peter
Thomas, Of e Dorado, accompanied
them. Following is Roy Waltermire's
story Of the accident:
I'VE were having a nice time in the
grove and everybody seemed TO be en-
joying themselves. Miss Gerry and
got short distance down the river. we
found that Mr.. Reeves. Peter Thomas
and Charles Holmes were there with
their bathing suits on. They we're in
the brush at the time and Charley
called for me to come down and go IN
bathing with them Miss Gerry said If
wanted 10 go in swimming. she would
take the boat back, get her kodak and
take some pictures. got out of the boat
and went down 20 them and we all went
into the water. I sat down on the oppo-
site bank TO rest when Charley said he
was coming across. told him that he
had better look out, that the water was
deep and very cold. He started across
and seemed to be not making any head
way. l swan to him to assist him, when
I noticed that his legs seemed to be
drawn up. He was strong and he threw
his arm around my neck and dragged
me under. When we got up again, told
him not TO catch around me. 1 struggled
with him until was nearly exhausted
and was compelled to swim for shore. I
think we went under three times before
left him. II there had been some one who
could swim even as good as I can, think
we could have gotten him out. If the
boat had been there, it might have been
different, but IL was away. I supposed
Charley was cramped, but he never said
a word from the time he got into the
trouble untail he went down the last
time The water was terribly cold. was
surprised when struck the water to
ind it so cold
Word got to the city that Charles
Holmes was drowned In the Little river
and there was soon a large crowd col
lected at the grove. Mrs. Whiteside was
shocked at the thought of the loss of
her boy and her mother instinct moved
her to try to do something for him. She
got into a buggy behind Mr.. Lanes fine
driving horse and drove rapidly to the
city and called for Coroner McCollister
to come and help ind her boy who had
not yet been recovered from the water
The tender hearted corner went with
ell haste to the place, but when he ar
rived the people had recovered the body
from the river. There was no effort
made to revive him, because the body
had been in the water two hours before
being recovered.
Undertaked Dunbar went TO the grove
and brought the body TO his place and
yesterday it was taken to The lane resi-
dence on Waco. T. NM. Lane told a re-
porter for the Eagle that he had bought
a lot IN the Cemetery a few weeks ago.
thinking that he would soon need a last
resting place for himself and the idea had
never entered his head THAI he ogruld be
called upon 20 bury Charley there. He
said he went out TO the cemetery and {
ordered the grave dug and cemented- Ills
affections for the boy stin remained and
he did not consider the expense when {
giving his orders FOR the funeral
The relatives ard friends Of Charles T
Holmes were sorely grieyed at the sad 7
accident Charles was a bright boy and 4
seemed to promise a bright future lis (
grsnd-father, T. n Lane. had great (
future pictured IN his mind f5r him aHd .
he spared 10 expense 70 give him The
proper. education for a business man. u
was also sad that his mother had come
so far % enjoy the society u her boy. f
never dreaming that she was coming 4
from her mountain home q attend his 4
funeral