The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-06
DOOLAN'S LEAP.

THE ATTEMPT OF YOUNG MAN TO JUMP
PROM BRIDGE INTO PAssArc FALLS.
Years ago Il vas q common practice With Paterson
young mon TO leap from tho bridge across the chasm
at Passaic Falls into tho wator below, depth OF at
least eighty feet but varying according to the height
OF the river. This jump was first taken. II is
said, by s.sam Patch" and his example
was ufterward emulated by the lads until
they became quite expert and this really fearful leap
came to regarded very great feat at oil. but
Sam Patch used TO run and jump from the rocks a.
one side, white the boys, not to be outaone, or
rather with a desire TO Guido. became so
reckless TO jump from the old wooden foot
bridge across the chasm-a much more dangerous
performance. These lads learned that they only
managed to drop into tho water perpendculnriy they
wero all right, and utter several had suffered from
broken limbs BY dsrcgardiug this they became quito
expert Finaly the practice was disapprsvcd OF by
the city authorities, many being manned from time
10 time and so IL discontinued and nothing has
been done IN that way Tor long time until last
week, whom Frank Higgins succesaed in creating a
sensation that way without disaster, and this put
II into the heads OF others TO try II.
rooLHARpY.
On Sunday afternoon, about six O'Clock, two young
men, Thomas Doolan and William RoseIler, the ior-
mcr machinist and unmarried man. aged about
twcnty-three years. sauatered Into tho Falls
Vas scarcely anybody about, aud the
two BEGIN TO banter one another about the
feat OF jumping OIL The oftugc, ana ootu men stripped
to ther psntaloons ready to mako tho nwful plunge,
which should only be attempted II attempted al all,
by those wfo In perfect possession OF all their
senses Roecllcr cricd out he mounted the railing
the western sido OF the bridge, near tho centre,
who goes nrstf''
80 on Bill answered the other, as ne elambcrcd
on the rail at little distance and stood on tho mar
row lodge outside, with his back toward the rail.
Here Coos then," exclaimed koseiic, as he lcsped
down perpendiculsrly, head first Another moment
aud he had como to the suriace aud was swimming
toward tho BASIN a few hundred feet below. AS he
sAxsno Txvrt
Tom Dooian, rcmarking. swell, s'pose Ill have TO
no now good by boys" followed, but not In As good
.form Tor struck tue water at angle OF for,yhve
degrees or trilc moro IT. cned 10 tho horizon
nj and never returned entirely 10 the
surface About halt mute elapsed then he
soeu partially Submerged tho back OF his head and
one shoulder uppermos but those also under WAFER,
ana In this positioo, with bis neither cxtrcmi,cs
quito OF sight he nUsted slowly across the narrow
chnnnc not less than atty sixty feet deep In tho
chasm, ard sank by tho irowning wall OF gray ROCKS
on The othcr side.
TRYING TO RECOVER BoDr.
imme dtnteiy alt was CONSERVATION, and In q lew
minutes thousands OF spectators had collected, oil
wild with excitement. All known means were used
to recover the cody, but without avail. Parties
probing the suien waters 10 compel them to give up
their dead ami yet night closed In and no BODY was
found. Early yesterday morning the search was 70.
nswcd, and finally, about seven O'Clock, George
all night caught something on their line to which
ttached largo hook aud pulling ny tho already
biontcd body of young Doolan appeared, with not .
bruise on H. The remains wtrc found not two fcot
from where Doolan had disappeared
This II IL thought viii stop, ut least for time, all
ike fooIhardy attempts Some present
when the descent was made by Dooisn are positive
that hts foot caoght IN somenng at the bridge, and
finally fuck tho wster nat. but tho most rciiabis
reason II as given above.