Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-11-05
smith, th~ American Diver.

and dauntlcss young American from the lamp !
post on Sunderland Bridge, England, From
our papers by the Britannia, we perceive that
he had taken ano,het leap from the same place
which came near losing him his life, The |
height from which he jumped, !, will be re-
aembercd, is 10 feet. A correspondent of the
Northern Times gives the following Parrscu.
lars of the result
"When Smith arrived at the surface Of the
water, the shock was tremendous II appear
ed that his right lower eXtrcm,,cs frs, touch-
ed the water. He disappeared for about two
most gallantly. ordered the boat to make FOR
him with all speedy but another boat being
Nearer 10 him, dragged him into it. l then
saw that he lay against one of the boatmen in
a state of inaction Tho tNo boats approached
side by side, and observed That he was in
sensible that the blood had left his lips.
ordered them to change his position 10 the an
gle of as degrees, and opened the collar OF his
shirt, which was firmly buttoued. There was
no sign of respiration and pulsation at the wrist
had ceased. | opened his hands, aud struck
them with my own open hands several times,
VIXEN he appe ared to retnrn to animation, and
in few seconds he spoke to rt,e. | asked him
if he was hurt in any part of the body, when
he told me family, "upon the right thigh and
LEG, and TO certain extent upon Ihe breast"
He stated, also, that the current of wind which
thnn bp oJ AL
him round in his descent, and that the wind
was taken out of him. begged that he would
60 asquietly to his quarters as he cond, and
that every care would be taken of him.
returned 10 his quarters, at Winters Hotel
near the bridge, and foo nd him harangung the
people who were assembled in the street in
front Of the house. This | did not approve Of,
and with some entreaty he walked into an ad.
joining room. had him stripped, and found
much extravason on the right thigh. My
friend, Dr. Ogden, was with me IN the boat,
and spared no pains at the moment of danger.
About an hour and half after this tremendous
leap, i. c. at the moment Ct writing THE hurried
report, his pulse mounted to I30, though all
his faculties appeared to be restored to him,
and he was in high spirits, which restrain
ed, and told him that he should be kept quiet,
and no curious friends should be permitted to
interfere with the needful tranquility. l. ex.
pressed to Smith an earnest wish that he
would never again make such fearful expert
ment but | am afraid that this is not to be
the last"
! More pcrnicions even than such f,ol-hardy
courage, is the force of the bad example it pro-
duces. We read in the Tyre Mercury that
John Thompson, laifor, Of Sunderland de-
clared that he would that night rival Smith, the
diver, by jumping off Sunderland bridge, which
rash act he performed. He was followed by a
person who had heard him boast Of his intention
who strove to persuade him mol to do so, at the
same time considering that Thompson was not
sincere, and that he world not attempt it. In
this, however, he was mistaken, as Thompson
pulled off his coat, and ascended the railing on
the bridge, while his companion and adviser
was short distance behind him. Assistance
was called for, but before Il could he effective
he jumped down from the bridge into the river
upwards of 100 feet lie was picked up BY thl
police boat and taken 10 neighbcring publr>
house, and a surgeon sent for. lie died tht
same night.-BostOn Transcript.