, 1885-01-22
a NEW SENSATION.
THE EXPERIMENT WHICH a CRANK
WISHES TO MAKE


Washington Cor. New York SUM-
aDid you ever leap from a very high
place. and do you know what the sensation
is during the passageF'
who, with hundreds OF others, was wander
ing through thu monument grounds a few
days ago.
replied hat l had no such experience.
Then you have something TO learn" he
said. Have l had lit Yes; but / am not
satisfied. I intend 10 jump from the top Of
that monument. It's more than $50 feet
high, they say. / never leaped from a higher
place than 10 or 100 feet. 1t was from the
mast OF n vessel don't NOV exactly how
many feet it was. Did 1t hurt met No,
not a great deal 4 struck feet fore
most in the wnter, and went under,
1 don't know how far, but a good
ways, for they had time to reach mi after
l came up, a little dazed, but amply paid
by the delights OF the sensation during the
passage knew a man who jumped from
a higher place and was 50 much injured
that he diod; but he didn't understand it,
and struck hard on the water. IL requires
skill and GOODNESS 70 do tho thing rightly.
Capt Luce, now admiral, went down forty
or fifty feet under the water when the Arc
tic sank But that was not n leap. He was
carried down by the suction when the ship
made the plunge. It was altogether a diff
ferent experience. He could not help him
self. and had little chance to note how he
felt. He had his little son In his arms at the
time, and that took up his attention, no
doubt, and the unhappy circumstances Of
the little fellow being struck lead
from his arms by a timber when
they rose probably drove from his
mind all rscollections of what must
have been the agreeable sensation Of going
dofvu az fur Into tba dnrfh NJ the nrnun
Luce told me that it was a terrible rather
than an agreeable experience. 1t was not
like jumping from q high place, a perform
ance attended by sensations which nothing
else can produce. Things Of accident and
design are always attended by different SEN
Stations, you Know. l nave been looking a
good while for a place TO take a great leap,
and have travelled a great distance to survey
the monument with the view to jumping off.
The distance from the top would give plenty
Of opportunity for enjoying the sensation OF
falling a greater distance than any man has
ever fallen"
But you would be killed and newer relate
your experience or enjoy an instant's r~ecollec-
ton Of the sensation"
"Yes, that's true, perhaps, but 1 would
have all the delight while / was falling, just
the same. That's what l want 1t would
compensate me. We all strive for pleasures
which have an ending after a longer or
shorter time. / fancy that the intensity is
proportioned always to the distance. Don't
your
The mans ~earnestness increased, and he
assumed an air Of mystery. He resumed:
But l may not be killed. Indeed, / don't
mean TO be. II l were l would not caro-.
Did l know l should i would take the leap all
the same. No man goes into battle or faces
my danger without some hops OF coming out
safe. Generally he makes provision to that
end, which, however faulty, affords him
hope. l will do the same. I've got a con-
t~rivance, simple as an umbrella, and easy as
a cane to carry, which sprung at the right
I'M tant will land me like a bird, whose wings
let 1t come down from any height In perfect
safety. I have never used II, but / believe
it win work. II it don't 1t viii matter little.
! Will have the supreme pleasure Of jumping
from the monument. and in the passage TO
the earth experience the most delightful
sensation that man has ever had
That the man was upset in his mind wa
evident. l encouraged hin TO proceed, re-
marking that as the monument was about
completed he might DO deprived OF the Gov
eted opportunity to make the leap. He said:
II was detained on the way. intended to
make the leap about the last thing before
the workmen left tho top. was there in
time for It, but 1 could not get the chance.
My idea was TO have Gen. Casey employ me
in some capacity that would take me to the
top. and at the last moment make the leap
in sight Of the assembled multitude. But
l shall do It yet. I'll find a way, II is not to
immortaliz9 myself, or anything OF that
kind, that / ave in view, but solely the
pcstacy of the fall OF $50 feet to tho oarth-
saving the few feet after l have spread my
contriyance for letting mo down oasy, or, as
/ ave said, TO the utter extinction of
vitality which would otherwise ensue.
Gen. Casey will miss q great opportunity II
he don't jump off, as his concluding act in
tho construction 1t would be an immense
feat II the last man on the outside, when
me removes the last stick OF the scaffolding,
instead OF crawling through the opening to
come Town inside, don't jumr, he will be a
fool"
l suggested that the capitol dome would be
a great place to practice at leaping.
"No,n said hs, at wouldn't do at al. I've
examined IT, There are too many obstacles.
It's tho sheer leap Of $50 feet that will give
the sensations | want to enjoy. 1t takes ten
or twelve minutes to be hoisted up inside OF
the l would expect TO come
down in less than half a minute. hin
what would DO crowded into that brief space
OF time-the exhilaration, the ecstacy OF
falling from such a height l will do it yet.
It will be something / win have all 70 myself.
whether l light like a bird or am crushed
into a jelly"
To the question when he intended TO AXE
the leap, he said, II mean to do it on dedi-
cation day, Fob. q. l will find a way by
that time. Once on the top. and those open-
ings not stopped. l am sure to make the leap.
II l have to wait ten years l will do It. 1
was born TO do It. What greater thing Is
there in this worldl It's my mission. II l
don't do It," and here the man drew near,
and In a low voice, with strange elibera
ton, added-"if l don't do It, il they won't
let me, / will blow up the monument with
dynamite. I've got 1t ready. know tho
opening where a charge can be placed that
will bring the monument down to the last
stone. The work Of thirty-hve years will
tumble to tho ground in five seconds It's
the sensation / seek-ths sensation OF a leap
FROM the monument top. If l am deprived
Of that III have the satisfaction Of seeing
the monument come down. That viii be the
next best thing to the leap. III do Il! I'll
do iti Ahai7
At that tho man made of at a rapid pace,
and ] have not seen him since.
Suppressed.
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