page_title: Robert Emmet Odlum
section_title: Death
hierarchical_section_title: Robert Emmet Odlum / Death
caption_attribution_description: English: Robert Emmet Odlum jumping from Brooklyn Bridge on May 19, 1885.
context_page_description: Robert Emmet Odlum was an American swimming instructor. Odlum was the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, and was killed doing so.
context_section_description: On May 19, 1885, Odlum became the first person to jump into the East River from the Brooklyn Bridge that connects Manhattan, New York City and Brooklyn.  His motivations for doing so included the desire to demonstrate that people did not die simply from falling through the air, thus encouraging people to be willing to jump from a burning building into a net.  Odlum also desired fame and the chance to help himself and his mother financially.
  On the morning of May 19, Odlum entertained a party of acquaintances at Paul Boyton's "Ship", including boxer Paddy Ryan, wrestler William Muldoon, and actor Henry E. Dixey.  Paul Boyton later claimed to have learned that Odlum had visited the Church of the Redemptorist Fathers that morning and had gone to confession and received communion.  The police had been alerted to Odlum's plans.  Odlum sent two friends, James Haggart and a Mr. Cluss, onto the bridge in a cab so that Haggart could decoy the police by pretending to be the jumper.  A tugboat containing spectators for the jump sailed to within a hundred yards of the bridge, with a rescue swimmer hired by Odlum on board.
  Odlum jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge at 5:35 p.m.  A strong wind was blowing when Odlum jumped and seemed to turn him slightly in the air.  As a result, he struck the water at an angle, hitting the water with his feet and right hip.  The rescue swimmer failed to act, but Boyton swam to Odlum in the water.  Odlum was lifted into a boat and brought to the tug's galley, where Ryan and Muldoon assisted in resuscitation efforts.  Odlum briefly regained consciousness, asking, "Is it all over?...Did I make a good jump?"  Arterial blood began dripping from Odlum's mouth, causing him to ask, "Am I spitting blood?"  Robertson, a friend of Odlum from Boston, reassured him that the fluid was only brandy.  Without speaking further, Odlum began to hemorrhage internally.  He died at 6:18 p.m., before the ambulance summoned by Muldoon and Jere Dunn could arrive.  An undertaker's wagon carried Odlum's body to the rooms of William H. Kennedy, the Coroner of New York City.
  The autopsy revealed that Odlum's spleen, liver and kidneys were ruptured.  A deposit of tuberculosis was found at the base of his left lung.  Odlum's first, third and fifth ribs were broken.  The cause of death was determined to be concussion.
  Odlum's funeral took place in Washington, D.C.  Among the tributes was a floral representation of the Brooklyn Bridge, sent by Odlum's comrades from the Washington Light Infantry.  The Roman Catholic burial service was performed by Father Ahern of St. Matthew's, whose homily paid tribute to Odlum's life-saving efforts.  Odlum was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
caption: Odlum jumps from Brooklyn Bridge to his death
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