The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-20
A FATAL LEAP.
Professor Odlum Jumps From the Brook
Iyn Bridge Into the River-He Died
Before Reaching the shore.

NEW York, May lc.-rhis afternoon q cab
entered the New York entrance OF the Brook
lyn bridge, and was driven TO the middle OF
the great span. Here the driver pulled up,
and two men got out and began
to climb the railing. Before they had
reached the top, bridge policeman
came running owaid them, brandishing his
clCb, and ordering them to get down and
thot." While he was talking wsth the
young men. covered wagon containing
Professor Robert Il. Odlum and compan-
Ion, stopped about hundred feet behind
the cab. Quickly divesting himself of the
blue flannel coat. IN which he way
DIR. seed. Professor odlum. clad in red
carriage and spreng lightly 60 the railing.
He quickly resched the top, and poising
himself for moment, he stood erect aud
glanced hurriedly at the surface OF the East
River far below him. The people on the
bridge tent mp cry OF horror whom they saw
the Professor prepare to plunge or
feet beneath his feet The policeman,
whcse attention had now bsen directed
from the Boynton. rushed toward the Pro.
feasor Before he had COMO dozen feet Pro-
fessor Odlum. without moments hesita.
ton. had leaped out from the railing into
the Dir. lIe held ore hand above his head
"
Mt the moment was clear OF shipping.
A tug and schooner noated lazlly
in the stream several hundred yards bel ow
the bridge. The tug was filed with report
ers and club men. Boynton stood near the
Prov, aDxionsly watching the bridge. The
moment Professor Odlum's body was seen to
leave the railing Harry A. Dixon, the actor,
started watch, which he held in his hand,
in order to time the descent.
For nearly hundred ieet the Professor
came down all right, feet first. and
he shot downward with the speed
discernable for longdistance. When within
thirty feet OF the wafer his body began to
turn. As il realizing his danger, Professor
Odlum brought down his hand with q war.
like motion 10 aid him In recovering his bal
ance. The movement was however made teo
late. His body had now turned so far that
it was impossible to change it's course. Half
a second later, with mighty splash that
threw MP the water on all sides as IL torn
with shell, Professor Odlums body struck
the water on one side and sank out OF sight.
The tug hurriedly pushed itself forward
to the place where the body fell, and
Caption BoyntoD, after seeing that
life preeervers hsd been thrown out
into the water, sprang over the side of the
boat and waited for the body to come TO the
surfece. Soon he saw the white face of .he
Professor rising from the water. and a mo-
ment later was by his side Ssizirg q life
preserver near by. he placed it beneath the
body OF the iDseDsible Professor. Blood,
mingled with froth, came from the
mouth of the daring man. Row boats soon
came to the rescue. and Professor Odlum
was taken from the water. A few minutes
later he was transferred to the tug, aud re-
storatives were applied. After considerable
rubbing, the eyes Of the Professor opened.
What kind of Jump did make" he
Whispered. "Firstclass. my boy" replied
Boyton; bat he was insensible again before
the words had hardly left his lips. The tug
steam ed hastily to her SIP, and Just as the
shore was reached q shudder passed through
the frame OF the Professor, and then, after
breathing heavily once or twice, his heart
stopped beating. and he was pronounced
dead. The body was taken ashore
and conveyed to the undertakers. Professor
Rorbert z. Odlum was formerly the Professor
OF swimming school. bat latterly has been
clerk in Willard's Hotel. 1t has been his
ambition TO jump from the Brooklyn Bridge.
he made the attempt once before the bridge
was completed, but was prevented from car
ryiDg out his scheme By the policeman. He
was three and one-half seconds In the air
before reaching the water He was thirty
three years old and unmarried