The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-23
1'ERMS-BY MAIL,
LOST HIS BALANCE.
Professor Robert E. Odlum Jumped
From the Brooklyn Bridge
into the River,
But Turning in the Air, Struck on
His Side, and Was Almost
Instantly Killed.

NEW YORK, May 19.-This after
noon a cab left the New York en-
trance of the Brooklyn 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
tow ard them, brandishing his club
and ordering them to "Get down and
ont of that" While he was talking
with the young men covered wagon,
containing Professor r. e. Odlum
and a companion stopped hundred
feet behind the cab. Quickly dlvest-
inc himself of the blue flannel in
which he was dressed, Professor
Oilum, clad in red shirt and
franks, jumped from the carriage
and sprang lightly to the railing.
n. quickly reached the top and
nn,s,nghimseIf for a moment he stood
erect and glanced hurriedly at the
surface of East river, far below him.
The people on the bridge sent up
cry of horror when they saw the
Professor prepare to plunge off the
bridge into the river, l35 feet beneath
his feet. The policeman, whose at
tention had now been directed from
the other men, rushed towards the
Professor. Before he had gone q
dozen feet Profess ,r Odlum, without
a moments hesitation, had leaped
ont from the railing into the air. He
held one hand above head as
ARUDDER TO GUIDE HIM
in his descent. The river below was
at the moment clear of shipping. A
tug and schooner fioated lazily in the
stream, several hundred yards below
the bridge. The tug was filed with
club men and reporters. BOynton
stood near the prov. w.anXiOusly watch.
ing the bridge. The moment Pro-
feSSor Odlum's body was seen to
leave the railing, Hardy E. D.xey.
the actor. started a stop-watch, which
he held in his hand, in order to time
the descent. For nearly a hundred
fest the Professor came down all
right--feet loren OSt. He shot down.
ward with the speed of meteor, his
red suit making him easily discern
able tor a long distance. When
within thirty feet of the water his
BODY BEGAN TO TURN,
and, as if realizing his danger, Pro-
fessor Odlum brought down his hand
with warlIke motion to aid him In
recovering his balance. The move
ment was, however, made too late.
His body had now turned SO far that
it was impossible to change his
course. Half second later, with a
mighty splash that threw up water
on all side, as it torn with shell,
Professor O ,llum struck the water on
one side aud sank out of sight. The
tug hurriediy pushed itself forward
10 the place where the body fell, and
Captain BoyntOn, after seeing that
life prtservers had been thrown into
the water, sDrang over the side of the |
boat and waited for the body to come |
to the surface. AS soon as he saw
the white face of the Professor rising |
from the Water he Was by his side. |
Seizing life preserver near by, he |
placed it beneath the body of the in
sensible Professor.
BLOOD, MINGLED WITH FROTH,
came from the mouth of the daring |
man. A row boat soon came to the |
rescue, and Professor Odlum was
taken from the water. A few
moments later he was transferred to |
the lug and restoratives were ad-
ministered. After considerable rub
blng the eyes of the Professor opened. |
What kind Of jump did ! make?"
he whispered. First-class, my boy"
responded BoyntOn. you'll be all !
right in little while" But he was
insensible again before the words had
hardly left his lips. The tug steamed
rapidly to her slip, and just as the
pier was reached a shudder passed
through the frame of the Professor,
and then after breathing heavily |
once or twice, his heart stopped beat
ing, aud he was pronounced dead. |
The body was taken ashore and con-
veyed to an undertaker's. Professor
Robert E. OGium was formerly pro-
fessor of the swimming bath in !
Washington, but latterly has peen a
clerk iu Willard Hotel. It has been
his ambition to jump from the
Brooklyn bridge. He made the at
tempt once before the bridge was
completed, but was prevented from
carrying out his scheme by the police.
He was three and one-fOurth seconds
10 the air before striking the water.