New-York tribune., 1884-01-15
HOW THE BODY WAS FOUND.


ange Mountain rabbits, and in the pursuit Of
these creatures the boys of the town more zea-
ous than at their studies. Franklin Houm, age eigh
teen. of Jefferson-ave. Orange, and Edward Peer,
age thirteen of Gartland-ave. East Orange started
from their homes early yesterday morning with
dog, and, instead of going to school, took the
Mountain road, which leaves Orange in the valley,
and climbed in a nOrthwestcrly direction the steep
slope Of the East Mountain. Hollum knew
rabbit burrow Gregory-aye
which descending into the ravine that runs
from the mountain summit TO Orange,
acts a drain for the entire mountain road. About
1890 O'clock Hollum and his companion reached
dead cedar tree at he foot of which a burrow
The boy took his dog 10y the neck and was thrusing
his snout into the hole when he startled by the
loud cries of Peer who ran up the steep side of the
ravine calling, Frank! Frank! I've found dead
man.
Peer, while Hollum had been searching for game
had wandered along the bottom of the rayine, over
turning dead leaves and rocks. He came TO a
slight angle in the of the tiny stream which
ran at his feet aud while stepping over some under
bush stumbled. The effort he made to save himself
from falling displaced some leaves, and then
he saw dead hand among the brush
and the face of dead man. half covered
with ice and besmeared with mud, resting on some
rocks in the bed of the stream. The boys made no
effort TO discover whose the remains were but left
the body aud ran at their utmost speed down the
mountain road to the police sta ion in Orange
where they told their story. While Chief McCbes-
ney was having horse harnessed TO carry him 10
the place where the body found he was in
formed that the dead man was Charles DeImonico.
Mr. McC Chesney Immediately telegraphed to thisclty.
Soon after the boys left the body crowd gathered,
and Peter Mead descending into the ravine, began
1.,,l nt, tha 1.ft thara
was a signet ring, and from his waistcOat hung q
slender gold chain attached to a gold watch on the
top case of which were the initials &C. d. The
watch had stopped at $50 o'clock.
APPEARANCE OF THE BODY.
The body lay on its backs with the head pointing
down the hill. The legs stretched at full
length the feet being in natural position. The
right arm clutched the lapel of the overcoat; the
left arm the elbow of which was mbedded deep in
the mud was bent under the body. The action of
the water had washed the short beard upward until
it covered the mouth with layer of ice. On the
forehead there was cake of ice and on the lids OF
the closed eyes small pieces of ice. From the
knees TO the breast the body covered with mud.
A b acb silk neck handkerchief thrown back
loosely from the neck and two of the shirt studs
were unfasened. The collar of the shirt was still
buttomed The body lay in such position that
when Mr.. DelmOnicO fell into the TaVine all the
blood was driven 10 the head.
When Chief McChesney arrived at the place he
was informed OF the discoveries which had been
made, and shortly afterward Mr.. Hoey, Mr. Nora
and Mr. Bdbcock arrived by special train which
left Hobohen at l2:45 p. IN. They at once identified
the body and Mr. HOey gave instructions for It's re-
mOval. 4 wagon sent from R0mers under
tax ng shop in Orange and when it arrived horse
blanket was placed beneath the dead man, should
o,,J }ba hol aiSplf he
was carried about fifty feet down the incline Of the
road to the wagon and thence it taken to tho
undertaking shop. Later 1t was placed in the barn,
where it was put in a deal box and arranged to be
sent to this city.
HOW MIR. DELMONICO FELL INTO TIE RAvGNE.
The road by the side of which the body was found
has a steep grade. 1t is partly macadamIzcd and
in winter when snow lies on the ground, it is q
favorite place for cOasting. On either side IS raw
inc ranging from five 10 fifteen feet IN depth.
guard-rail of heavy birchcn logs prevents teams
and wayfalers from tumbhng into the ravne.
After heavy storm the slender stream at the bot
tom becomes a torrent, which, gathering impetus
from its long descent the hilSid" rushes through
the sewers of Orange. At the summit OF the noun
tain is the sumner-h house of Mr. Brown, banker of
this city; on the right of the road is the home of
Harris Petot and on the left is country-seat be-
ravine at GregOry-ave. is a culvert and in tho
mouth of the opening was wedged Mr.. Delmonic05
hat some 200 feet distant from the place where the
body was found. II filled with red sand and
decaying leaves The ravne al the point where
the body was found is not more than two feet be-
low the level of the road, and person riding in
carriage or walking near the guard rail would have
no difficulty in seeing the bottom.
Mr. DelmOnico is believed to have been seen for
the last time OH Tuesday morning. 1t is supposed
that he wandered mp the mountain road, which it
is thought he had already traversed many times in
his vain search for friends, and becoming wearied
climbed over the guard-rail and leaned against it.
Overcome by fatigue he fell into a doze slipped
the treacherOus ice and rolled into the ravine,
striking his head as he did so upon the iutting
rocks 1t began to rain early last Tuesday and IL
takes little rain on the Orange Mountains 90 make
the guley the bed of torrent. As the storm IN
creased in violence the torrent until IL swept
over Mr.. Delmonico's body and drowned him. Tho
force of the water so great that II turned HIS
wastcoat partly inside out. when the water SUD
sided the leaves, twgs aud mud left by the stream
covered the body.
BRINGING THE BODY TO THE CITY,
When the body was taken into Orange and placed
in Mr. ROmer's barn, County Physician Hewlett
was called and, having simply glanced at il,
granted permit for its removal. The clothing was
left on the body. No effort made to cleanse il
of the filth which had clung TO it; it was simply
covered with an old coat TO await the arrival OF
Charles and Lorenzo Crist who took the 2:30 train
from this city. They arrived shortly after O'Clock
and went directly to the undertaking shop Ir.
Hewlett having given the permit for the removal,
the special train started from Orange al $40 bear
ing MessTs. Hoey, Mora, Babcock and the nephew
of the dead man to Hoboken. The train was fol-
lowed for a considerable distance along the tracks
by a large crowd.
The stories of the boys who found the body were
void of details. Their astonishment was so great
when they found the body that they did not tako
the lm1