Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-03-04
IN INSANE MINIS LEAP.

He Jumps from the Capitol Dome, De-
scends 40 Feet Head Foremost, and is
Found Dead and Mangled.
Many men have been foolish enough,
at different times, to conceive the idea
that for man to win greatness no easier
way was presentable than to do deed of
daring that would strike terror to the
hearts of a community. One of the
deeds most frequently suggested, butless
likely of being committed, was that of
jumping from the dome of the Capitol to
the ground below, a distance of nearly
300 feet. 1t was never supposed that a
man in his sane senses would ever at
tempt such an exploit, as the odds for
life were fearfully unbalanced in the
scale of chances. Still the attempt was
made yesterday, about / o'clock, and
with the result that might have been ex-
pected-the man, when found, being an
almost unacceptable mass of clothing,
blood and bones. An hour previous to
making the leap he had been seen by a
telegraph operator on the roofs about the
main building, climbing light ladders
and making dangerous ventures toward
the caves, but acting In manner to in
dcate that he possessed strong nerves
and perfect control over himself. Not
having time to spend in watching him,
the electrician proceeded to attend to
his business.
Afterward he mounted to the upper
outside gallery that encircles the crest of
the dome at the base of the pedestal to
the statue of the Goddess of Liberty.
Taking view of the different sections of
the city which this point commands, he
finally halted on the east side directly
over the entrance. Here he first attract
ed the attention of a coachman mounted
on the box of his carriage, which was
situated on the roadway near the east
park, by climbing upon the railing of the
balcony. He was seen to assume an up
right position look around, then gather
himself up and shoot out into the space
intervening between where he stood and
the ground. He turned as he descended
and came head-foremost, soon striking
the iron cornice of the lower gallery,
which forced him off on the iron braces
beneath, and also showing marks of
blood where he hit in passing. He then
landed head-first on the copper roof of
the main building, distance of about
10 feet from where he started. Infor-
nation of the fact was Immediately given
to Capt. s. s. Blackboard, Chief of the
Capitol Police, who, accompanied by
some of his officers, at once proceeded
to the spot. On reaching the roof, they
found the man completely doubled up
and life extinct.
He was somewhat Strengthened out and
removed to small space near the room
where the electric batteries for lighting
the dome are stationed, and left to await
the arrival of Coroner d. C. Patterson,
who had been notified. The body pre-
sented a horrible sight to gaze upon.
The head had been completely crushed
in and one side of the face was perfectly
fiat deep cut, splitting the skull, ira
versed across the head above the right
eye, and through which portions of the
brain were protruding. One eye had
sprung from the socket, and appeared
ready to drop out. The nose was crushed
flat, all the teeth gone but one, some
loose in the mouth, and the tongue cut
and bleeding. The right shoulder was
broken, also the arm. The neck had
been driven into the body, and the head
appeared resting between the two shout
ders. About the physiognomy and
clothing was profusion of blood that
assisted in making up a sickening sight.
Washington Republican, FEB. ID.