133 West 188th Street

Mr. James B McLoughlin
c/o Wirth & Picard
Lützowufer 17, Berlin
via S.S. Olympic

Friday [August 28th, 1925]

Dear Jim,

I have been endeavoring to get up enough courage to write you this very sad news. Dear lovable Ormonde Butler and little Ormonde were both drowned at Lake George last Sunday. It is almost impossible to realize such a thing. I was going to wait until you returned but thought it best to break the news to you now. Ormonde and Marnie [Margaret] and little Ormonde were just up there for the weekend. Ormonde and his little Son were out in a canoe that capsized with them a short distance from shore. There was no one around to help them, Marnie being the only one who saw it happen and of course she was helpless. Ormonde of course tried to save the little fella and they were both lost. Of course it is all very hazy in Marnie’s mind and so no one will know just what did happen. The funeral took place Wednesday and we all attended. It is just about the saddest thing I have ever experienced and a great loss to us all who as you did loved him so much. There is nothing much for me to say I suppose as words are useless and we are helpless to do anything but offer our prayers. I know just how great a loss this will be to you as it has been to us all, but I felt you would want to know at this time.

Marguerite has had a lovely little girl and she and her daughter are both doing fine. We expect her back from the hospital in about another week. Everything at the office is running smoothly.

With much love,
Brother Hugh.