Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-18
CAST UP By THE WATERS
Two COrpseS Found, One in BrandyBiEa
and the Other in ChriStiana.
FORMER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
Is the Body of John E. Steele
of This City.
LATTER PROBABLY A PHILADELp RIAN

The bodies of TWO mon wero found
ing, one 10 the south long race aud the
other in the Christina River.
The body OF John Il. SLeele was found
in the south long race near Market
street about o'clock, No marks OF
violence were noted on the body and
| death is believed to have resulted from
drowning.
Levi j. Dale. Waterman at the
city pumping station, went To the sluice
| gates Just above Market street. about
| 6 O'Clock. At tho overflow whore tho
water from the race runs down the
| sluice into the Brandywine, he was sur
| prised to see tho body Of man, face
downward in tho water One leg ap-
peared upon tho breast Of the overflow.
| The body was removed from the race,
when it was found that one shoe and
stocking was missing. Tho man wore
thin cap advertising laundry.
After the body had been removed to
tho morgue it was identified by Jonn
W. Mitchell OF No. i0l East Seventh
street, as that Of John Il. Steele, his
brother law. Mr.. Steele was about
40 years OF age and unmarried. He was
a native OF Maryland and bad for years
been following the water as tngbont
captain. lie had also been in the
restaurant business in this city. Part
OF the time he resided with sister,
Mrs. Mary L. Crohamn Of No. 1908 West
street. He has brother, j. Polk Steele.
in Chesapeake City. Nd, who has been
notified of his death.
About midnight the members OF
John Percy's household, at Four
| 1, aSr haap1 a nnion
az they thought, from the direction Of
houses between Fourteenth street and
the race. This was recalled to them
in the morning when the finding oil
Steee's body was reported. William
Knight of No. 100 West Fourteenth
street, also heard noise in the night,
which he places at about o'clock. II
ia supposed that this sound was made
by Steele and that he was calling for
help after having fallen overheard some
where around Fourteenth and West
streets. Steele had been drinking lately.
A search was made yesterday morning
for the missing shue and stocking, hui
without SUCCESS. A stocking was founr
but, so far as known, it was not The
one which had been worn by Steel.
II is not known how Steele came tC
his death, whether he committe.
suicide or fell or was thrown into th,
race, but the supposition is that while
wandering about he fell into the rac'
and was accidentally drowned. Thi
afternoon Deputy Coroner Chandler
who took charge of the remains, vii
have a post mortsm examination mad
and will hold an inquest later Th
brother at Chesapeake City is expected
, to arrive yesterday, and it il prob
able that the remains may he takel
to that place for burial.
Steele was 10 Second street maTke
Tuesday afternoon and importunet
, several butchers for money. They refuse!
! 10 give 1t 10 him and to Richard
Lowell he said, "You will not refus
me again; shall never bother yo
, again.
BODY IN THE CHRIsTIANA.
, About an hour after Steele's bod
j had been found in the south long rae
: another body, that of a white man
q about 80 years OF age, was found float
Q ing in the Christiana River near th
Wilmington & Northern railroad bridge
4 From appearances 1t had been in tn
8 water for some time, and, on accoun
a of its condition. Deputy Coroner ChHnd
8 Ter, who had been notified, had it sen
until claimed by relatives or friends O
n finally disposed of by the coroner
# The unfortunate man was about
d feet 6 inches tall, had a smooth fac
It with stubby mustache, black hal
;. aud was we'll dressed. A search wa
e made of the clothing, and, althoug
b a small pass book was found, there va
nothing by which the man could b
II identified. From the data in the boo
d it is supposed that he had recent
resided in Philadelphia. There wer
10 no marks Of violence on the body. Il
/. far as could he ascertained, and it
% supposed that the man was either acct
j. dentally drowned or committed suicide
'r There ia nothing to indicate that b
was victim OF foul play. When hi
}. rockets we're searched Sc were found
10 Deputy Coroner Chandler, who is maxi
n log an investigation, will have posi-
i, mortem examination made prior
|. holding an inquest.
ID 1t is thought that the unfortunat
man had heen In come kind of businet
m in Philadelphia. In the book that We
g. found upon his person was writer
ID Lumber for Benny Sheal," and alf
y carrie Nicol," the latter. which WI
j. 10 child's handwriting, being
O. several places There was some mari
10 ing which looked as though il was il
D. tended for a record of some sash whiC
8. had been ordered. In the hook wac
le tag bearing the name of "W. II. Mi
a lick, milk dealer, No. sSl North Fort.
r. sixth street, Philadelphia. The da
IN obtained in the book may be useful
r, Deputy Coroner Chandler.
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