Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-10-17
A Diver of Other DAYS.

Tue NaClO08l AepuDuCA0.J
In this day, when pe1ilous feats of
diving and swimming at Niagara and
elsewhere create SO much interest in
some and horror IN others, q brief &C.
count of the exploits at Niagara and at
various places in England of a "great
American diver" of the ancient time
may not be wholly out of place. The
following account of them is taken from
the Washington Globe of January %,
1841, which credits it to "a late London
paper"
This extraordinary man, on Monday
afternoon, gave flying leap from the
topgallant yard of the coal brig Wake
field, Of Blythe, lying off Rotherhite, in
the presence of an immense concourse
of spectators, who lined the shores on
both sides eli the Thames, England. He
astonished the spectators for upwards of
an hour on the topgallant yard by his
feats, although it was blowing gale at
the time. On mounting aloft he fixed
himself on the topgallant mast head, and
with his feet kicking in the air and his
head on top of the mast remained in that
position for some time. He then de-
ecended to the yard, which was braced
taut, and, although the ship was anything
but steady, ran from one end of the
yard to the other, without holding on by
any rope, occasionally harranguing
the people. He made slip-noose, which
he placed around his neck, and threw
himself off the yard. He remained sus-
pended for few seconds, with the rope
under bis chin, and raised himself with
great dexterity on to the yard, when he
exclaimed, "Come tomorrow, and you
will see me- hang myself again!" He then
hung to the yard with one foot with his
head downward, and exhibited many
other antics. All this was done with
the greatest apparent Indifference, and,
indeed, he appeared the only uncon-
cerned person present. He stated that
he had jumped off place below the falls
of Niagara, a height of 1877 feet from the
water, and, among his other exploits, he
had leaped from a cliff at Port Isaac,
in Cornwall, 347 feet high, into the sea;
from Bangor bridge, the highest in
Great Britain, 2l0 feet high, and re-
peatedly from the topgallant masts of
English and American line of battle
ships. At last he prepared for his leap,
| first making fast Handkerchief around
bis head. and securing one of his hands
with q rope, which he twisted around
his wrist and fingers. After doing this
he held up his arm and exclaimed, 81
only use one hand; the other is tied up
and I can't move it." He then told the
people that his head WIS as hard as iron,
and to convince them that it was SO, he
ratified it against the topmast until he
actually made the lower mast shake. He
then made bis address previous to the
leap, by acQuaiuting the people that it
was erroneous to suppose that a mans
breath was taken away by falling from a
great height, for while he was descend.
ing he would speak something, which he
hoped would not be forgotten. He the1
pulled off his shoes, held them above his
head, and exclaiming. "Now, here
goes" he made flying leap from the
end of the yard into the water, calling
out as he descended, "Good.by, don't
forget me when / come ashore" Whe1
he fell into the river the spray rost
above him to the height Of twelve OF
fourteen feet, and in an instant his heai
and arms appeared above the water
waving the silk handkerchief which he
had fastened about his head while OF
the yard. Loud cheers greeted hin
from all quarters; and he swan ashore
the people as he landed rewar}ing hin
with money which he deposited in hi
shoes, and in box carried by a man OF
crutches. TOT his benefit.