Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-19

at Loss
New YoRK, May 16.-The sporting fraternity
was in high state Of excitement the other
day. young man, who is emulating the un-
lucky Sam Patch, had laid a wager that he
would jump from the great Brooklyn bridge
into the East river. The hour chosen by the
athlete (for his death) was five minutes past
noon. Before that hour you could see sport
ing 'gem'n,' in barred trousers and radiant
with diamonds, scurrying down the narrow
streets and alley-ways leading to the river.
While they were waiting for the event to take
place they talked noisiIy and put up
money. When the time approached the
disciple of Sam Patch appeared in the
centre of the span, clad in flesh colored tights.
blue trunks and maroon shirt At the great
height he looked like a pigmy acrobat. The
men who were with him appeared equally di-
minutive. There was a fierce wind blowing
that made a barge. crowded with sporting
men, dance on the waves. A small boat. sta
toned directly under the bridge, bobbed up
and down vigorously. The distance from the
floor of the bridge to the water at high tide is
1875 feet. 1t is flood tide about noon. From
below the diver could be seen peering over the
edge Of the great structure. and raising his
hand as if signalling farewell. Bnt he
didn't jump. One of the engineers
or the OTlQg6 bore QoWn on Lne
party of sportsmen, and told the ambitious
Young man that he would meet his death by
jumping off in such a gale. Hadn't he better
wait for more propitious weather. Well, he
thought he had. So the man. thus reserved for
a few more days of life, pulled on his everyday
trouser. and went to q resort for sporting
''gem'n" on the river front. and attempted to
knock the wind out of his bones with a stiff
brandy cocktail The wager was for $3.50. with
the privilege of making three attempts. The
FOOLS name is Robert Donaldson He says he
will make the leap yet if it breaks his neck.
This is the season when aspiring girls make
their debut on the stage. to their own bitter
disappointment and the chagrin of their
friends. These ambitious young women come
every year with the blossoms on the trees.
They generally wither before the blossoms do,
one night behind the footlights being quite
long enough. Within a week Lillian Olcott has
aspired to soar to Thespian heights at a single
fiight-Romeo and Juliet. of course-and she
has come down (not to be too delicate) like the
famous Darius Green and his flying machine.
Going up Fulton street, Brooklyn, the other
day, a small boy thrust a dainty theatrical
programme into my hand. 1t was a sort of a
biographical notice of the fair debutante The
young woman is a daughter of DR.. Cornelius
Olcott of Brooklyn, and possesses more than
ordinary education and refinement. She was
captivated by the success of Mary Anderson,
and thought she would like to do it too Mary
Anderson has done no end of mischief What
young woman can resist the desire for lavish
praise, fortune and magnificent steam yacht
three years. was encouraged by her
friends, committed the parts of Juliet"
Lady Macbeth" Pauline" "Parthenia,'
and others equally difficult engaged company
to support her and secured Haverly's Brook
lyn Theatre. Thus far she followed Mary An
derson successfully. But the result of the first
night. despite the claque and applause of
friends, has made the cottage at Long Branch
and the steam yacht all her own recede into
the dim distance.
The debut of Margaret Mathers. which is
soon to take place at McVicker's Theatre, in
Chicago. is the subject of much gossip in theat-
rical circles here. Her manager, ]. NJ Hill, is
almost mad with great expectations He has
employed the ablest instructors. and has ex
pended money only as a man does when he is
sure of getting it back again. The ele-
CANT dress which she is to wear as
Juliet l have already described. 1t was made
in Paris for Spanish girl of high rank, who
was to have been married in it. Her support
includes Mines Levick and other well known
actors. At any rate, Miss Mathers will have
brilliant star in her dramatic career as far as
surroundings go. Her manager is so san
guine that he intends chartering special car
from New York to Chicago for the benefit of
critics who may wish to go and see the great
event. If she, too, should come down like Da-
rius, it will he a sad spectacle. All one can do
in such a case is to hold his breath.
went into the Tombs the other day to see
murdereF-not togr atify my curiosity but with
an ulterior purpose in view. Just as l reached
the inner corridor a short man passed me with
a sort of a Shuf1ing gait and began ascending
the circular iron stairway that leads to the
second tier. His hair was of an iron gray and
his face, of sallow complexion, was covered
with a stubbly. uneven growth / made this
observation as he looked over his shoulder ner-
vously to speak to one of the keepers, making at
the same time an unsuccessful attempt to smile
1t was Ex-Governor Moses, of South Carolina
Had it not been for his keen pair of eyes you
would have put him down for-I was going to
say vagabOnd-so untidy was his dress He
is awaiting his trial on charge of sWindling
His present unenviable position recalls the
time when he was Governor of South Carolina
and dashed around on State occasions in a yer.
million coach drawn by four high mettled
horses, gorgeous In gold mounted trappings
He spends much of his time in reading and
writing and attempS to be philosophical 1t is
a pitiable spectacle to see him walking the
tier when exercise is being taken in line with
thieves, pickpockets and criminals Of the low
est types.
An effort is being made in this city to get
signers to petition among physicians asking
President Arthur to grant stay of execution
in the case Of Guiteau. DR.. George M Beard
of this city, who has taken the boldest position
of any on the insanity Of Guiteau. is at the
head of the movement, / think If the Presi-
dent should grant the stay petition will be
presented asking for the appointment of a
commission of neurological experts to examine
into Guiteau's mental condition and make a
fact that 1 do not remember to
have seen stated before. This is that
an attempt was made years ago by some of
GulC6au'S relatives TO commit him to
lum, and that this failed only through some
accident 1t is said that certificate Of lunacY
was signed by his family physician. In the
petition it is asserted that Guiteau has been
insane for twenty years, and that if the opin-
ions of the leading authorities on insanity had
been brought before the court the issue of the
trial would have been different The disposi-
tion of the case of Maclean, who recently fired
st Queen Victoria, is referred to as in striking
contrast to the protracted trial Of Guiteau and
it's result. There are some phv sicians who will
refuse to sign the petition, taking the ground
that Guiteau cannot be hung too high-ought
to be hung in fact higher than Haman, sane or
insane. AS there is such a large cless of peo-
pie in the country that take this view of the
case unreasonable as it is), when the move
ment becomes better known Ut has been so
quiet hitherto that it has escaped notice. there
viii be a great hue and cry against it.
Brooklyn preachers have no equals in the sen.
sational line surely. They are so successful in
attracting public notice that our New York
preachers despair of ever equalling them They
have been forced, in fact. to resign themselves
to a torturing obscurity. AS Oscar Wilde
would put it, they must confess that they are
painfully mediocre. 1t is not Mr. Beecher tnis
time, nor Mr.. Talmage. 1t is the Rev. Mr..
Crafts Who is heS | don't know But that
he has hitherto been unknown to fame makes
the event all the more startling, as it suggests
the possibility of other obscure Brook
lyn clergymen doing a similar feat The
Rev. Mr. Crafts recently gave dinner to some
Brooklyn preachers. Wishing to do something
extraordinary he had the viands called for by