The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-16
]. H, BONN IS DEAD,
Caused by Rupture of a
Blood Vessel on the
Brain.
FALSE RUM0RS OF SUICIDE
Ill for Some Time, But the Fatal
Result Was Unexpected-End
Of Busy Career.
FALSE RUMORS OF SUICIDE
Of a Busy Career.
A PIONEER IN LOCAL TRANSIT

dent of the North Hudson County Rail-
road, died at his residence on Weehawken
Heights, at quarter of eleven O'Clock
last night. A rumor that he had com.
mitted suicide in his bath tub created in
tense excitement in Hoboken and the
other North Hudson towns where he was
well known. The rumor was entirely
disproved, however. by ERsEY CITY
NEWS reporter, who made thorough in
vestiRation of the circumstances attend
ing his death.
The immediate cause of Mr.. Bonn's
death was the rupture of blood vesse
on the brain.
Mr. Bonn's illness has been Of short
duration. For twenty-five years he had
visited his Office in Hoboken daily, and
personally supervised the workings OF
the road. In all these years he
had but two vacations. About
physician advised him to take a rest.
Since that time Mr.. Bonn has not left his
house except on special occasions. His
SOUS looked after the interests of the
road. When any contract or other docu-
ment was to be signed it would be taken
10 Mr.. Bonn's home on Weehawken
Heights. About this time it was
,rumored that negotiations were In prog
-s between Mr.. Bonn and a syndicate
liz which the Hoboken Land and Inn
provement Company was the principal
factor for transfer OF the road In which
Mr.. Bonn held the controlling interest.
TOO ILL FOR BUSINESS.
At the time of the rumors. a JERSEY
CITY NEWS reporter visited Mr.. Bonn at
his nome. He was sick man then and
lie did not deny the rumors. He said that
his falling health would compel him to
off n. thuf xUa
made for the road. Shortly after these
rumors Mr.. Bonn's health began to i'm
prove and he visited his Office in Hobo.
ken more frequently. But his brain was
affected somewhat and his physician ad-
vised him to let the business of the road
be conducted by his sons. He refused to
listen to this advice, however.
One day last week he was sent a notice
to serve on IA struck jury. The certificate
of physician was sent to Judge Lippin-
colt, but the Judge refused to believe that
Mr.. Bonn was really incapacitated for
peremptory notice.
On Friday Mr.. Bonn visited his office
for the last time. He was a favorite with
att the employees OF the road and knew
most of them personally. He appeared
to be in the best of spirits.
THE DEATH SCENE.
Last night he was seated in chair in
the parlor of his handsome house on Wee
hawken Heights. All of the members of
his family had retired with the exception
of his faithful wife. She was seated be-
side him.
suddenly Mr.. Bonn's face grew deathly
is bursting" he moaned. Then he sprang
from the chair and staggered toward his
bath room. AS he reached it. he fell.
Blood gushed from his mouth and ears,
and he lay perfectly motionless.
The cries of Mrs. Boon aroused the
sleeping family and they rushed in the
room. They were Mortified at what they
saw.
One of the sons ran to the nearest ply
sician, but when the physician arrived
he saw at glance that Mr.. Bonn was
beyond all human aid.
The scene was pitiful in the extreme.
Mrs. Bonn was completely overcome and
refused to be cpmforted.
Mr.. BONN'S CAREER.
The deceased was sixty-two years old,
and was the surface railway pioneer in
the northern part of the coun-
ty. He was born in East
Friesland, Germany, in 1929. His
folks we're well to do in Germany and
when he came to this country in 1857 he
able property in the northern portion Of
West Hoboken which is known today as
bonneville.
At that time Mcssrs. Goetz and Mech
Ter oPeraUou Stage line nom tneA HoDO-
ken ferry to the North Hudson Towns.
Mr. Bonn saw that these towns were
bound to grow and he consulted the pro-
prietors of the stage line and the conse-
quence was that it was decided to run q
horsecar line.
Mr.. Bonn furnished most of the money
and obtained the controlling interest in
the road, which he has retained until
this day.
The road was a paying Investment
from its inception. AS the years rolled
by the company obtained the right way
i'll all the North Hudson towns and TO-
day there is not horse car line In the
county north of Pavonia avenue that it
does not control
Mr.. Bonn's domestic life was very
happy. He had a most estimable wife,
four sons, Hille. Fritz. Edward ani John
H. W., and one daughter. Annie.
The funeral arrangements have not
be EN- perfected.