National Republican., 1883-09-24
A DIVER OF OTHER DAYS.
An American Who hstouishcd thc People
orr To,Io,, yVnrfy-fx.o ypsrs tpo.

An American Who kstOuishCd tho People
OF London Torty-tlvo Years Ago.
In this day, when pcrilous feats of diving
and swimming at Niagara and elsewhere
create so much interest in somo and horror
in others, brief account of the exploits at
Niagara and at various places in England of
II great American diver" Of the ancient
time may not be wholly out of place. The
following account of them is takon from the
Washington Globe of Jan. 25 1871, which
credits it to "a late London paper"
This extraordinary man, on Monday after
noon, gave IL flying leap from tho tOpEallant
yard Of the coal brig Wakefield, of Blythe,
lying off Rothcrhithe, in the presence of an
immonsc cOncOurso of spectators, who lined
the shores on both sides of the Thames, Eng
land. He astOnished the spectators for up
wards Of an hour on the topgallant yard by
his fcats, although it was blowing gale at
the time. On mounting aloit, he liked him
self on the topgalantmast head, and with his
feet kicking in the air, and his head on the
e top Of the mast remained in that position
for some time. He then descended to the
yard, which was braccd taut, and, although
the ship was anything but steady, ran from
one end of the yard to the other, without hold
ing on by any rope, occasionally hamuguing
the people. lie made sip-noOsc, which he
placed round his neck, and threw himself of
the yard. lie remained suspended for few
seconds, with the rope under his chin, aud
raised himself with great dcNtcrity ON to the
yard, when he exclaimed Come tomorrow
and you will see me hang myself againW lie
then hung to the yard by one foot with his
head downward, and exhibited many other
antics. Nj this was done with the greatest
apparent Indifference. and indeed he appeared
the only unconccrnGd person present. He
stated that he had jumped OIL place below
the falls Of Niagara, height Of 1871 feet
from the water and among his other
exploits he had lcapcd from cliff at Port
Isaac in Cornwall. 81 feet high. into the sea-
from Bangor bridge, tho highest in Great
Britain, 2iO feet high, and repeatedly from
the topgalant musts of English and AmCri-
can line Of battle ships. At last he prepared
for his leap. first making fast a handkerchief
round his head, and securing ono of his hands
with rope, which he twisted about 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 can't move it, He
then told the people that his head was as
hard rs iron, and to convince them that it
was so, he ratified it against the topmast until
he actually made the lower mast shake. lie
then made his last address previous 10 the
leap, by acquaintng the people that it was
erropeous to suppose that mans breath was
taken away by falling from great height,
for whilo he was descending he would
speak something, which he hoped would
not be forgotten. lie then pulled off his
shoes, held them up above his head, and OK
claiming, "Now, here goes" he made a fly
ing leap from the end of the yard into the
water, calling out us he descended, GOOD
by, don't forget mo as come nshore.' When
he fell into the river the spray rose above
him to the height of twelve or fourteen feet,
and in an instant his head and arms appeared
above the surface of the water, waving the
silk handkerchief which he had fastened
about his head while on the yard. Loud
cheers greeted him from all quarters, and he
swan ashore, the people as he landed reward
ing him with money, which he deposited in
his shoes, and in box carried by man Oh
crntches, for his benefit.
Here is some lofty tumbling." What
other lunatic has ever equaled it?