Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-24
A FOOLHARDY LEAP.

a Sailor Jumps from Suspension Bridge, a
Distance of 1856 Fee'.s Into the Niagara
Riuer.
Suspension Bridge Special, May 81.
A large number of people visited this
place to-day to witness Harmon Peer in the
performance of his jump from tho new sus-
pension bridge at tho Falls into the river,
according to announcements circulated
throughout large section of the country
for some weeks past. Special rates were
given by the Great Western railway from
London and st. Thomas, as we'll as by the
Erie railway and Canada Southern railway
from points on their respective lines, and
the trains were all comparatively we'll filled,
Notwithstanding
-. THE MANY JUMPING HoAxEs
which have been perpetrated here from year
to year, and even those who were presentto-
day were possessed with very lively mlsgiv-
ings as to the bona fide issue of the present
affair, until Peer made his appearance on The
bridge about P. M. He was dressed in q
white Guernsey shirt, drawers, and blue
trunks, outside of which he wore sort of
rubber coat of mail of sufficient thickness
to protect his person from serious injury. in
its concussion with the water, yet not so
heavy as to ihpart any appearance of clum-
siness.
IN THE CENTER OF THE BRIDGE
from which point he jumped, or rather let
go, was little windlass having cylinder
about six inches in diameter, on which was
wound about 22O feet of very light copper
wire, fastened to his body in such a manner
as to keep his body in an upright position
in the descent without in any degree i'm
peding his progress. Considerable excite
ment was manifested by the large crowds as
sembled along the tops of the banks on
either side of the river as Peer climbed over
the railing of the bridge preparatory to de-
scending. But this was greatly intensified
when he hung only by his hands to the very
bottom timbers of the structure, with moth
ing between him and the river below, dis
lance of exactly one hundred and ninety feet.
He suddenly loosed his hold amid
CRIES OF "oH Oh -
from tho spectators, quickly placed his hands
under his arms, in which position they re-
manned during his perilous trip, which lasted
| thud and splash, distinctly audible on
| the water, remaining out of sight for az
much as ten seconds, after which he reap
peared about fifty feet from where he went
down, and was quickly taken into boat in
waiting amid loud cheers from the specta.
tors. After short rubbing down, and be.
fore reaching the shore, he stood up in the
boat, showing that he was not much the
worse of his ducking. :.
l
is about so years of age, about five feet ter
inches high, we'll built, aud has progresses
ing appearance. While he was preparins
for his performance . relative and name
sake Of his who has several times walked
across the Niagara Falls on tight rope OK
hibited some marvellous feats in his line OF
guys which run from the bank of the rive,
to the centre of the brid pc.
Harmon Peer resides at Teeterville, Coun
ty Norfolk, Ont; he got his first idea Of
j Humping when he WAS q sailor, seven year.
ago, IN the Caribbean sea, accidentally being
knocked off a tOpmast into the sea, . dis
lance of 1O8 feet. After that, in Milwaukee
he was accidentally thrown from vessel
mast sixty feet, not being seriously in
jured in these falls.
BE JUMPED
from Watson & Co. g elevator. in Milwaukee
3 distance of seventy two feet, turning twic
over in his descent, and that was his las
jump till he jumped to-day. There is n,
jump recorded to exceed this.
THE NEXT BEST Is SAM PATCH JUMP
at Niagara Falls, of 142 feet, in 1899. Pee
intends to repeat his feat of to-day ct til.
same place on the 18th of July next. 81,
walked to the Prospect house this afternoon
to make his arrangements with . number o,
prominent railroad men for series of ex
cursiona @ 49, 90 -