Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-08-15
LONG LEAP TO DEATH.
Following the Example that Sam Patch
Set in Patterson Years AgO-The
FOOlhardy and Fatal Attempt
Of Two Young Men.
New York SUM-

Of Two Young Men.
New York SUM-
The Passaic Falls consist OF cata-
ract that plunges into the cleft OF the
rocks so deep that the fall from the
edge Of the precipice to the surface
Of the river below. where it boils and
foams like caldron, is about eighty
feet The sides of the river at the
place are precipitous rocks, as smooth
as the walls of a room, rising perpen-
dicular from the water to the height
of eighty feet. The depth Of the
stream is generally believed to be
sixty or seventy feet, and in reality
1t is not more than forty or fifty.
About 200 feet below the falls the
chasm is covered by a single span
footbridge, perhaps fifty feet in
length. This bridge affords a de-
iightful view OF the falls, but it makes
one dizzy to look down into the wa
ter below, so great is the height. AS
q matter of safety. and to preclude
the danger to people from yielding to
the irresistible temptation Of Jump
ing of. it 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 the wooden one the famous
Sam Patch jumped on into the water
below, and the Patterson gamins OF
the day, bound not to be outdone,
ventured on following the expert
ment until there was generally a
crowd of youngsters there who would
take the leap any time for 25 cents.
They performed the feat by jumping
OF gently balancing themselves with
their arms, until they nearly reached
the surface Of the water. and then
suddenly clapping their hands to
their sides they disappeared under
the surface. II they did not do this
they were in danger Of breaking their
arms when they struck the water,
and il they struck any other way
than perpendicularly they would OF
course have their breath knocked
completely out Of them.
But one or two narrow escapes put
an end to this practice until last
week. Then lad named John CAD
nor made a successful leap. 1t was
done at six o'clock in the evening
and there were several spectators
who thought it case Of suicide and
ran for ropes and graphing irons.
but were astonished to find the youth
whom they went to rescue sitting
comfortably on top OF rock to which
be had swan.
Hearing Of the feat, two other
young men, expert swimmcrs-Wil-
nam nOSctic, VI MILL StAcct, ouo
Thomas Bowling, of Marshall street
aged respectively Is and % years
went up quietly one night last week
and did the feat successfully.
Yesterday afternoon these same
two young men were at the falls, and
were seen standing on the bridge for
q long time, as IL contemplating its
repetition; but no one appeared to
pay any particular attention to them
They waited until there was a large
throng Of spectators-several hun
dred-at the falls, as usual on Sun
day afternoons, and then went to q
reighboring saloon for drink, and
then returned to the bridge. Their
evident intention was apparently to
create q sensation.
There was then an unusual large
throng about the falls and several
hundred persons near the bridge
Then they suddenly clambered upon
the high railing, without divestine
themselves of their clothing. and
startled the spectators by giving 9
wild whoop and plunging out into
the air, on their way to the water
fully eighty feet below.
William Roselle went down per.
pendicular, or straight as an arrow
and went under the water with Q
short, sharp, @swoot," like a sharp
ened stone. He arose to the surfact
like a porpoise, and swan for thu
shore overhanded,
Thomas Bowling made a misstep
or a slip as he jumped, and turned
over and over several times before
he struck the water, square on hi
stomach, with q loud splash. HI
sank slowly to the bottom, and ROSE
no more. 1t is supposed that thu
fall of eighty feet, and striking OF
his stomach, knocked all the breath
out Of his body, so that he becam.
unconscious.
Great excitement prevailed, and
such q multitude crushed upon TIT
bridge over the chasm that there wa
danger that 1t would break. So TIT
police drove the people of. Persons
fIocked to the scene until three o.
four thousand people blackened thu
edge of the precipice. A larg'
searching party had failed to recover
the body up to 1870 last Thursda,
night. The affair created the great
est sensation OF anything that hal
happened in Patterson in a long
time.