National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-19
JAMES McMAHON's LEAP.
He Wanted to Rival Blondin.

The death Of James McMahon, caused by
| jumping from the dome OF the Capitol full
account Of which was published in THE REPUB-
| LICAN OF yesterday morning, has since been the
subject of general conversation. Since the trans
| piring Of the deed and all day yesterday hun
dreds OF persons visited the Capitol and assembled
to the upper gallery for the purpose Of inspecting
the place from which Mcmahon made his fearful
leap. -Four Capitol policemen were stationed at
different points around the tholus to warn
strangers Of aangerous points and prevent, if
any persons be found rash enough to attempt 1t:
but it is to be hoped that the terrible result Of
Mem ahOn's daring will serve warning against
its repetition. 1t would seem from a statement
made by Mr.. Edward McMahon, a brother Of the
unfortunate man, that he has entertained ideas
of this sort for some time past and believed that
deeds of daring and yalOr only required nerve to
insure success. He says that the deceased was
eccentric in his way, and had recently had con-
yersatiOn with a Mr.. Lewis on BIondfn's exploits
in which his 1.-THE narrator's) brother, James Nc
MahOn, asserted that it was Just as easy to walk
on a rope or any other narrow footing at a great
elevation as near the grOund-all lat was wanted
was nerve. Mr.. Mcmahon therefore thinks his
brother was experimenting on his theory, and
while walking on the bslustrade lost his balance
and fell. He thinks his brothers pawnlng Of his
vest was the result of his eccentricity as there
was no necessity for his doing So He saws the
published statements that the unfortunate man
had been loungiDg around the Capitol for some
days were incorrect, as he had been at work at
his trade every day. and did not 20 TO the CAPITOL
until Wednesday. The funeral will take place
to-day.
THIS MELANCHOLY DEATH
calls up many reflections and conlectUres as TO |
the frame of mind which could have led the |
victim TO make that fatal leap. All must agree |
that it was the result Of a temporary INSANITY
but how long that condition might have existed |
before it resulted as it did can never be known,
to the very instant when the leap was made. |
such acts Of desperation not the result of pre-
conceived plans. The mind, in its reflective con- /
dition, whether It be sane or insane sfrinks nom
deeds OF horror like this 1t does from deeds of
crime and violence. There is a physical dreaI Of |
violence which deters all persons from self !
must BE q driibcrats, determined conclusion to
Gnu LIE al all hazard, or it must ~ the result Of
SUDDEN IMPULSE.
II deliberate ana predetermined 1t must be so
determined that IL oyercomes all dread and terror
and fear. In this case there must be some strong,
overpoweripg mental influence, which only the |
suicide himself has any appreciation Of; which Il
is impossible for him to communicate 10 DINERS;
suicide which is inexplicsble The same is tue
when the deed is committed under sudden i'm
pulse.
II may be set down as certain that one Of these
conditions must be the direct cause of the act.
In the case here considered, as before said, there
was no evidence to show any
CONTEMPLATION OF VIOLENCE.
1t is reasonable to conclude that there was none
It will be left, then, TO conclude that some
OyeTpoTeriHg influence seized upon him, and |
forced him 10 the act Of selEdestruction or thar |
nerve by walk upon the balustrade is correct.
There is certain mysterious and unaccountable
impulse which not unfrequently takes hold upon
person when in positions Of peril, which II not |
instantly thrown of by strong effort Of will, is
almost certain to overpoTer the reason of the in
diyidual, and impel him to some act Of despera.
tion.
There are numerous instances upon record that
60 to prove the truth OF this assertion. Not many
years age. in manufacturing establishment in |
Massachusetts, where q triphammer was in op-
Grafton, a stranger stepped into the establishment
and stood in front Of the steam hammer. Its
strokes were quick and regular as the pendulum !
OF CLOCK. The stranger gazed at X for a few
upon the anvil and received the full force Of the
~ TWerful instrument, Of course
cKrsHfNs bis HAND TO JELLY.
When he had sufficiently recovered to give an
account 81 IT, he said he had no conception OF why
he did Il. The impulse seized Upon him, and in |
stantly he obeyedit.
A similar occurrence took place upon bridge
spanning a river X Maine not many years ago.
middle-aged man was crossing an open bridge
over rapid stream. As he got over the middle
OF the stream he stopped to look down upon the
meath, when so suddenly that he had no warning |
he leaped into the water. Fortunately he was
rescued, and in relating the occurrence he gave
the same account Of the OverpoWerinR impulse
which came upon him. In common parlance, he |
"lost his head"
1t has occurred to seamen when aIoft at the
masthead: has overpoWered soldiers on the field
OF battle. An instance is told, the particulars Of
which cannot be now recalled, OF q man throwing
himself
INTO BLAST 7UESAcR
Many persons feel this mysterious hallucina-
ton who are able to resist 1t and hence suffer no
injury. In the case of MacMahon, the easiest So
luton Of the mystery Of his leap Of death is this:
That when over the dome OF the Capitol this
took hold Of him, and before he could overcome it
he had "lost his head" and made his last leap.