The Phoenix herald., 1879-06-28
A Man Drops 196 Feet from Niagara
 River Suspension Bridge.

A large number of people visited ! Niagara Falls to witness Harmon Peer in the performance of his jump from the new Suspension Bridge at the Falls into the river. according to announce ments circulated throughout Q large section of the country for some weeks past Special rates were given by the Great N estern Railway from London and St. Thomas, ss well as by the Erie Railway aud Canada Southern Railway from points on their respective lines, and the trains were all compara lively we'll filled, notwithstanding the many jumping hoaxes which have been per petrated here from year to year, and even those N ho were present o-day were possessed with very lively mis givings as to the bona-fde issue of the present affair, until Peer made hls ap- pearance on the bridge about 3 P. M. He was dressed i'll 8 white Guernsey shirt, drawers, and blue trunks, outside of which he wore q sort of rubber co { of mail of a sufficient thickness to pro- tect his person from serious iDjury in it's concnssion with the water, yet not so heavy as to impart any ppearance of clumsiness.
 In the center of the bridge from
 
 go, was little windlass having a cyliu- Ter about six inches in diameter, on which was wound about 220 feet of very light copper wire, fastened to his body in such a manner as to keep his body in an upright position during the de- sceUt without Tn any degree impeding his progress. c ,nsitlerable excitement was manifs sted by the large CT .wds as sem led along the tops of tue banks or either side of the river as Peer climbed over the railing of the bridge prepara tory to descending. But this was greatly intensified when he hung onl, by his hands to the very bottom tim bers of the structure, with nothing be tween him and the river below, dis tance of exactly 196 feet. Hs suddenly loosed his hold amid cries of '' Ohl Oh r from the spectators, and quickly placed his hands under his arms, ln which position they remaineL during his perilous rip, which lasted bu' four seconds. He struck the water with fhud and splash, distinctly audible on the tops of the banks. and dislpp aresi under the water, remaining out of sight for as much as ten seconds. after which he reappenred about fifty feet from where he went down, au was quickly taken into boat ill waiting amti loud cheers from the spectators. After short rubbing down, and before reach Ing the shore, he stood up iu the boat, showing that he was not much the worse of his ducking.
 Peer is about 80 ears of age. about five feet ten inche, high, well built. and has prepossessing appearances While he was preparing for his per formance relative and namesake of his who has several times walked across the Niagara Falls on u tight-rope ex- hibited some marvellous feats in his line on the guys which run from the bank of the river to the center of the bridge.
 H .rmon Peer resides at Teeterville, County Norfolk, Olt he got his first idea of jumping when lie was sailor. seven years ago, in stle Caribbean Sea, accident tally being kn cked oifu tnpmast into the sea, s distance of 1O6 feet, After that, in Milwaukee. he Was asci- ientally thrown from a vessel mast sixty-twb feet. N | being seriously in jnr d i'll these falls, he jumpe f. on Watson & C. 5 Elevator, In Milwaukee, d distance of seventy two feet, turning twice over i'll his descent, and that Was his last jump till he jumped to day. There Is no jlmp recorded to exceed this.
 The next best is Sam P P.tchs jump at Niagara Falls, of 142 feet, in 1929. Peer intends to reprat his feet of to day it the same place on the 4th of July next. He walked to the P aspect House thIs aftern on. to make his ar engagements with number of promi- nent railroad men tor a series of ex cursious.-SpeciaI Disp1tch to tze Chi cago TIi6ane.