New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-05-27
A PLUNGE TO DEHrH.

Prof Robert e. Odlum JumpsGl3s Feet
Into East River Prom Brook1ymrBrtdge
and Dies Soon After.
J, Last Tuesday afternoon, the 1ebhinst, a cab
left. the New York entrance Of the Brooklyn
bridge and was driven to the middle Of the
great span. Here the driver puAedup, and
two Zen got out and began TO climb the rail
ing. Before they had reached thetcpta bridge
policeman came running toward sthern, brand
lshlng his club, and ordered them to .sget down
.iout of that" While he was talking to the
young men covered wagon containing Prot
Robert b. Odlum and companion stopped
i ing himself of the blue flannel suit. in
which he was dressed, Pref .Odlum clad
in red shirt and trunks, jumped from the
carriage and sprang lightly to therrsiling. He
quickly reached the top, and, posing himself a
m m 11 ne stood erect and glanced hurried
him. The people on the bridge cert up a cry
OF horror, when they saw the professor prepare
to plunge off the bridge into the river, 1S5 feet
beneath his feet. The policeman, whose atten-
tlon on hsd now been directed fronttke first man,
rushed toward the professor. Before he had
gone dozen feet, Prof. Odlum, without
moments hesitation, had leaped out
from the railing into tho air. He
held one hand above his head, as a rudder
TO guide him in his descent The.river below
and aschooner foated lazily in the stream
several hundred yards below the bridge. The
tug was filled with reporters and club men
Boyton stood near the PROV an1ioualy watch
: 33 1g bridge The moment Prof. Odlum's
body was seen to leave the railing Harry E..
Di4ey, the actor, started a stop wstsh which he
-. held In his hand in order to timesthe descent
For nearly 100 feet the professer,eame down
a4 right feet foremost He shgt downward
with the speed of meteor, his refaeuit max
ing him easily discernible for Icing distance
When within thirty feet of the water his body
began to turn. As if realizing Prof. Odium
brought down his hand with Warlike motion
to aid him In recovering his balance The
body had now turned SO far that it was impos-
sible'., to change its course. Half
sc seconda later, with mighty splash. that
Il threw up. the water on ali sides as if
. torn. with a shell, Prof, Odlun's body
sight The tug hurriedly pushed.itaelf for
& ward, to the place where the body fell, and
Copt Boynton, after seeing that life presery-
ershad been thrown out into the water, sprang
over the side Of the boat and waited for the
body to come to the surface. Soon he saw the
white, face of the professor rsingfr the
water and moment later he was 10y his side.
: Selling a life preserver NEARLY he placed il
beneath the body of the insensible professor.
Blood, mingled with froth came from the
mouth of the dying man. row boat came to
from the,water A few moments later he was
transferred to the tug and restoratiyes were
administered. After considerable rubbing the
eyes Of the professor opened. ''What kind
Of ajumpdid / make?" he whispered .ssFirst
rslass myboy, responded Boyton, @you.w1ll be
alright in little while" But he was insensible
again before the words had hardly Left lis lips
The tug steamed hastily to his ship, and Just
as the shore was reached a 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 lndertakers. Prof. Robert E. Odlum was
formerly the proprietor of a swimming bath
intWashington, but latterly has been clerk in
Wllard's hotel. It has been his ambition to
jump from the Brooklyn bridge He made
the attempt once before the bridge was COM
rleted, but was prevented from carryi1 & out his
scheme, by the police He was 81 seconds in
the air before striking the water. He was un-
married, 81 years of age and man Of good
aaSits