Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-08
THORNE,S FEAT.
A Leap of One Hundred and Twen-
ty-nve Feet-He Sprawls In MIDI
air and Strikes ON His Side--Tw en-
~ Thousand People Looking On.

~ 1mo0snmu EeOPAc fAooAhnS On.
From the Buffalo Courier. 4th.l tivl
The young daredevil who calls him
self Frank Thorne, and who has recent
ly become notorious throughout the
country by having been advertised to
leap, ON the 18th inst, from the new sus-
pension bridge, below Niagara Falls, into
the river, distance Of one hundred and
ninety feet, has, during the past few days,
made three leaps from high points in
this vicinity, by way of practice. The
first was from the railroad bridge over
Buffalo river, distance of fifty feet; the
second, from the railroad bridge over the
Erie canal, near York street, a distance
of seventy feet.
Both these leaps were made safely,
and created little excitement; but when
il was announced, two or three days ago,
that he would jump yesterday afternoon
from the roof of the Watson Elevator,
into Buffalo river, descent stated to be
one hundred and eighty feet, speculation
became rife both as to his really attempt
ing the feat and as to his performing it
safely. Curiosity not only to witness so
novel and startling sight, but also in
many minds to see man killed, for
thousands thought the leap would GER
tainly be fatal, conspircd to draw
AN IMMENSE CROWD
to the docks on this side of the river,
from which view of the elevator could
be obtained. The hour for the jump was
announced as o clock, and long before
that time the dense population of the
80, IN hn NJ hry
streams of people anxious to obtain
good view The vessels and canal boats
lying moored at the docks, and the docks
themselves, as well as the buildings front
ing them, for quarter of a mile in length,
were soon packed with human beings.
Steamers, tugs, syawl-boats. scows and
skiffs were called into requistion by the
hundreds, and the river was crowded with
all manner of crowded craft. Especially
in front of the looming pile of the ele-
vator, from which the fearful leap was to
be made, was there congregated vast
hotilla of small boats and tugs. The
number of persons that witnessed the
jump was variously estimated at from
fifteen to twenty-five thousand. A free
show with such thrilling features, draws
out the populace without much adver
tising.
PREPARING FOR THE LEAP.
A few minutes before FIVE o'clock the
upturned eyes of the myriads of specta-
tors saw Thorne come out upon the roof
of the building. He was accompanied
by W. II. Pope, the actor, and another
gentleman whose name we did not learn.
A little time was occupied in making the
simple arrangements, which consisted Of
running plank out some three feet frori
the caves While these were going on,
the thoughts and tongues of the vast
multitude below were busy. Some ex
pressed the opinion that, even at that
late hour, the reckless Thorne would
show the white feather; several bets were
made on this contingency; many turned
away shuddering, their nerves not per-
mtting them TO gaze at the daredevil
descent. All who possessed a touch of
sentiment had sensations akin to those |
which come when looking from a terrible
hight or at murderer just before the !
fatal drop.
At two minutes past five Thorne threw
off a coat which was over his shoulders
and came alt
OUT ON THE PLANK.
His attire was simple-almost as much |
so as that of the Georgia gentleman,
which consisted of tooth-pck and
pair of spurs-Thorne wearing a white
handkerchief on his head, red breech-
clout about his middle, pair of heavy
boots on his feet, and the epidermis
which nature gave him. He stood there,
the center of forty thousand eyes, ap-
pearing to be measuring the distance
and preparing for it by several long
drawn inspirations. Distant as he was,
this was readily detected from below,
and beyond this, I4rr
SYMPTOMS OF NERVOUSNESS
we're manifested in his quiyering limbs.
The betting men, of sang .trOid, who
had staked against his leaping when
they noted these indications felt jubi
liant, and the sympathetic shuddered.
Once Thorne lifted his right hand in the
air, and all thought the jump would fol
low, but he dropped it to his side and
again inflated his chest with air. A
SECOND time he lifted his hand, as If in
salute, second time dropped it without
making the plunge, and turning stepped I
back on the roof of the elevator. Many I
thought his heart had failed him, but
when it was seen that the plank was ,
being Feadjusted, the general opinion (
was that there was some fault in the ar 1
All we're wrong, as the fact :
was that his attendant, noticing his 9er-
vousness, called him back, and the NOV
ing of the plank was blind In o mo- s
ment he seemed to recover himself, and
as he stepped out on the plank the I
second time, he seemed far more 'nervy' I
than at first. q
THE LEAP. q
His hesitation theR was slight. He 6
waved his right hand once IA the AIR; .
hen, holding both arms tight to his body t
md his legs close together, he made the e
9erilpps jump. The most intense still a
ness Feigned ~ bis downward progress ]
vas watched. The distance was about I
me hundred and eighty feet even the 2
ormer figures making the highest leap b
,ver attempted in the world, except for
deliberate suicide. of course the OBJ Il
ect Of Thorne was to enter ine water; r
IS he started, feet firsi, and the universal il
eelipg was that if he lost his perpendic- n
liar death was eertain Far abopt third II
4 the descent his legs were kept to-
,ether aud his position maintained, but p
i this point he was observed to spread q
hem apart. His head Immediately a
anted forward, and, to the horror of all, !,
HE FELL sPBAwLISG y =
he rest Of the distance, In ? trihe less d
han three seconds from the time of Ha- |,