Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-06-20

The Leap into Niagara.

The Buffalo Courier gives some in
teresting particulars of the recent bold
leap of H. p. Peer from the new Sus-
pension Bridge over the Niagara river.
The many spectators, it says, saw be-
fore them neat looking man attired in
merino hose and suit of tights with
blue trunks. Fitting tightly about his
hips and close to his body and passing
up just under his arm-pits was funnel
shaped, inflated life-preserver, construct
ed after an arrangement known only to
himself. Strips Of cotton cloth were
tightly banded about his hips and 1oins.
A broad sponge covered his mouth and
nostrils, and his ears were filled with
the same material, the sponge being first
moistened with spirits. Over his shoul-
ders was leather sling or brace, which
passed behind in the form of loop, hav-
ing a small brass ring in the centre. =
When all was in readiness tho signal
was given to the boatmen in the river
below to get ready, and then Peer ad-
justed his sponge protectors. and crept
over. the rail npap I .saafold. where he
sat down for a brief siDa
After paper bag had been thrown to
the breeze to test its force, Peer lowered
himself between the two boards of his
scaffolding, and hung first by both hands
and then by one. The suspense proba-
bly, will never be forgotten by those who
we're waiting for the drop. After mo-
ment's delay Peer again took hold with
both hands, Strengthened himself out,
and with goodbye" he let his hands
drop close to his sides and went down
like an arrow. The people who had
been reclining on the ground jumped to
their feet and stood fairly transfxed
with mingled feelings of dread and sus-
pense. Peer shot directly down with al
most lightnng-like velocity, and look
ing like boy to those above, disappeared
with great splash. feet foremost, be-
meath the river Niagara, sending the
water three or four feet into the air
above the line where he entered.
The feat was gracefully performed
With all the strain upon the nerves it
was pretty sight and intensely inter-
esting, He did not re-appear as quick
ly as was expected, and the people ex-
claimed, "He's gone! He's killed."
However, within four or five seconds his
head and then the upper part Of his body
appeared above the water and with his
hand he flung of the balance wire which
had become entangled about bis face. He
came up about fifty feet below where he
entered, and. starting TO swim, went
down short distance below the bridge,
was picked up by Thos. Conroy,a guide,
and two other men who were in a boat.
When asked what sensations he OK
pcrienced, he said: "Nothing in partic-
ular as | went down nothing more than
if had jumped ten feet instead Of one
hundred and ninety-two. L think !
must have gone about eleven feet under
the water when I encountered the under
current, but did not go into it. AS it
caught me il threw me fiat on my back,
and in that position | war carried very
swiftly about twenty-five feet between
the two currents, and the feeling to my
back was just as though ! had been
drawn over a rough board table, but no
evil effects followed. | had my eyes
open and looking up could sec the bridge
through the water. Ny life-presorver
saved me after went under the water.
Realizing that must be about my bust
ness l threw up my hands. padded a
little and instantly rose to the surface"
An attempt is being made in Paris to
found paper modelled after the Ameri-