The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-06-12
LEAPING INTO THENIAGARA
AN INCIDENT RECALLED BY on.
LUM'S FATAL EXPLOIT.
A Swedc's wonderful Jump from n
High Suspension Efridge into the
Furious EIOOd-IHis Lucky Escape.

High Suspension Rridge into the
Furious EIOOd-IHis Lucky Escape.
The fatal recent leap Of Robert f. Cd
! lum from the East River bridge, recalls
a similar foolhardy exhibition, which,
however, did not terminate fatally. IL
occurred, says a Lewiston IN. " CORE
spondent of the New York Times, about
thirty-five years ago, but had been nearly
forgotten in the lapse of time. In 1850
81 there was constructed across the Nj
agara river Just above Lewiston, where
the river issues from the deep gorge ex-
tending to this point from Niagara falls,
a suspension bridge for vehicles and pc
destrians. The roadway was destroyed
by the force of the blast sweeping down
this gorge in February, 1864, and moth
ing remains of it but shattered frag
ments hanging to the wire cables. This
bridge was $40 feet long, with a floor
twenty feet wide, and sixty
feet above the water In the
summer of 1851, soon after the
completion of the bridge, poor Swede
with an unpronounceable name, who an
swercd to the name Dave" was loating
about the village doing odd jobs. He
stated one day in the presence of several
persons that in Sweden he had several
times made greater jumps than the dis
lance from this bridge to the water, and
that he would not be afraid to try it.
Upon being offered $40 to make the at
tempt, he Immediately accepted the Offer
The following Sunday at ? p. Ne, was APP
pointed for the trial. The distance to
be jumped was the least factor Of danger
In the proposed attempt. Not only did
the wind from the gorge make it proba-
bic that the Jumper could not maintain a
perpendicular position, but the river be-
meath the bridge was furious. swrling
flood, in which few swimmers would care
to venture. These obstacles were pointed
out to the Swede, and efforts were made
to dissuade him from the foolhardv at
tempt. But as many persons had ex-
pressed doubts as to his courage he de-
cared that he would jump, regardless of
the consequences. News of the proposed
undertaking had circulated about town,
and at the appointed timc--a fine July
afternoon-a large crowd was assembled
on the bridge and upon both banks, and
many carriages from Niagara Falls were
there.
The Swede was promptly on hand He
went to the middle of the bridge, clam
bered over the railing to one of the
strngers, and after waving his arm up
and down, and shouting in broken Eng
lish to the crowd to look at him, he
sprang off. For about twenty five feet
his body kept vertical position, then
the wind struck him, and whirled him
about so that he struck the water on his
back and shoulders, with splash that
was plainly heard on the banks. He dis
appeared beneath the surface, coming up
again far below, and feebly padded
with one hand as he was whirled and
tossed about by the impetuous current.
A boat had put out from the shore, and
to everybody's surprise he succeeded in
keeping ahoat until it reached him many
rods below the bridge. The most re
markable part OF the whole affair was
that the fellow entirely recovered from
the effects of his crazy leap. Although
he was bruised from head to heels by
the conclusion and confined to his bed
for some days no internal organs were
injured, and he was soon about again
Dragging of the feats he would under.
take in jumping But he was wise
enough never TO repeat this one. "Dave"
was a familiar figure in that vicinity
many years ago, but as telegraphs and
daily papers were in their leading strings
in those days it is likely that his renown
is now first published, thirty four years
after the fact, when Odlum's fatal leap
naturally recalls it.