The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-05
A LONG LEAP TO Ills DEATH.
PLUNGING INTO THE PdSSAIC FALLS
BASIN TO RISE NO MORE.
Following the Example that Sam Patch set
In Patterson Years Ago-The Fooihnrdy
and Fatal Attempt of Two y oung Men.


The Passaic Falls consist of cataract
that plungcs into tho cleft OF the rocks SO deep
that the fall from the edge Of tho precipice to
the surface OF tho river below. where il boils
and foams like caldron. is about eighty feet.
The sides OF the river at the place are precipit-
GUS rocks. rs smooth ms the walls OF a room.
rising perpendicular from tho water to tho
height Of eighty feet The depth OF the stream
is generally believed 10 be sixty or seventy feet
and in reality IL is not more than forty or fifty.
About 200 feet below tho falls tho chasm is
covered by n single span foot bridge. perhaps
fifty feet in length. This bridge affords do
lghtfu view OF the falls, but II makes ono dizzy
20 look down TO the water below. 80 great is the
height. As n matter Of safety and to preclude
the danger TO people from yielding to the ire
sistible temptation Of jumping of. il is guarded
at the sides by an iron railing, eight or ten
feet high.
This bridge took the place OF an old wooden
one some years ago. From tho wooden ono tho
famous Sam Patch one day jumped of into the
water below. and the Paterson gamins OF mo
day, bound not to be outdone. vontured on FOL
lowing the experiment until there was generally
n crowd OF Youngsters there who would take tho
eighty foot leap nj any time for % cents. They
performed the feat by jumping of gently ,balanc-
ing themselves with their arms. until they near
~ reached the surface OF the water. and then
suddenly clapping their arms to thcir sides they
disappeared under the surface. III they aid not
40 nus insy Mere IN danker %, AK t ,har
struck any other way than precautionary they
would OF course have thoir breath knocked COM
pletey out OF them.
But one or two narrow escapes put an end 10
this practice until last week. Then lad named
John Gsnn9r made successful ZAP ,Er IL was
several spectators who thought H. q case OF eui-
eide and ran for ropes and graphing irons, but
were astonished 10 find the youth whom they
went TO rescue sitting comfortably on top Of a
rock TO which he had swan.
Hearing Of the feat Two other young mem ili
street. and Thomas bowling, OF Marshall street.
aged respectively is and 20 years.went up
quietly one night last week and did the feat
successfully.
Yesterday afternoon these same two young
men were at the Fails. aud We're seen standing
on the bridge for n long time as II contemplating
It's repetition. but no one appeared to pay any
particular attention to them. They waited until
hundred-at the Falls M usual on Sunday
afternoons, and then went to neighboring
saloon for q drink. and then returned to the
bridge. Their evident intention was appa-
renily TO create n sensation.
There was then an unusually large throng
near the bridge. Then they suddenly clam
hered upon the high railing. without divestng
themselves Of their clothing. and startled the
spectators 10y giving wild whoop and plung
ing out into the air. on their way o tho water.
fully eighty feet below.
William Roselle went down perpendicular. or
straight as an arrow. and went under the
water with a short. sharp swoot" like n sharp
edged stone. He arose to the surface like u
porpoise and swan for the shore overhanded.
Thomas Bowling made a misstep or a slip as
no Jumped. and turned over and over several
times before he struck the water. square on his
stomach. with loud splash. He sank slowly
10 the bottom and rose no more. IL is supposed
that the fall OF eighty feet and striking on his
body. 50 that he became unconscious.
Great excitement prevailed and such a multi
tude crushed upon the bridge over the chasm
that there was danger that Il would break. So
the police drove the people of. Persons. fockcd
10 tho sccnn until three or four thousand people
blackencd the edges Of the precipce. a largo
searchin ing party had failed to recover the body
up to lo's last night. The affair created tho
pened in Paterson in n long time