The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-05-28
A pLurnU TO DEATH.
Prof. Robert y. 0dlun Jumps 1876 Feet
into East Hivsr From Brooklyn Bridge
and Dies Soon After,

ana Dies Soon Afeof.
Last Tuesday afternoon, the 9th inst, d cab
left the New York entrance OF Tie 1sr5oklyn
bridge and was driven to the middle of the
great SPAN Here the driver pulled up, and
two Ken got cut and began to climb the fail
ing Before they had reached the top a bridge
policeman cattie rtinning toward them, brand
lshing his clnb, and ordered HEM I'd .'gGt down
out OF that" While he was talking to the
young men covered wagon containing Prof.
M 100 fset t oan9 and ind companion. stopped
ing himself OF the blue flannel suit, in
which he was dressed, Prof. Odlum clad
i'll red shirt and trunks, jumped from the
carriage and sprang lightly to the railing. He
quickly reached the top, and, posing himself a
ly at the surface OF the east rivsr, 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, 135 feet
beneath his feet. The policeman, whose atten-
ton had now been directed from the first man,
rushed toward the professor. Before he had
a moments hesitation, had leaped ont
from the railing into the air He
held one hand above his head, as q rudder,
to guide him in his descent The river below
was at the moment clear of shipping. A tug
and a schooner foatcd lazily in the stream
several hundred yards below the bridge The
tug WAS filled With reporters and club men.
Boyton stood near the prov, aHxiOusly watch
ing the bridge. The moment Prof Odlum's
body was seen to leave the railing Harry e.
Dixey, the actor, started stop watch which he
held in his hand i'll order to time the descent.
For nearly 100 feet the professor came down
all right, feet foremost He shot downward
with the speed of q meteor, his red suit max
ing him easily discernible for long distance.
When within thirty feet of the water his body
A.. = n
brought down his hand with a warlike motion
to aid him in recovering his balance. The
movement was, however, made too late. His
body had now turned go far that 1t was inpos5
slbls to change its .cdurse. Half !
second later, with a mighty splash, that
torn with SHE'LL Prof. Odlum's body
struck the water on one side and sank, out Of
sight The tug hurriedly pushed itself for
ward to the place where the body fell, and
Copt Boynton, alter seeing that life preserv-
ers had been thrown out into the water, sprang
body to come to the surface. Soon he saw the
white face of the professor rising from the
water, and moment later he was BY his side
Selling a life preserxer niearly he placed it
beneath the body Of the insensible professor,
Blood, mingled with froth came from the
the rescue and Professor Odlum was taken
from the water. A few moments later he was
transferred to the tug and restoratives were
administered After considerable rubbing the
eyes of the professor opened 'What kind
OF ajump did make?" he whispered 'sFirst-
class my boy" responded Boyton, syou will be
alright in little while" But he was insensible
again before the words had hardly left his 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 undertakers. Prof Robert E. Odlum was
formerly the proprietor of swimming bath
in Washington, but latterly has been clerk in
Wizards hotel 1t has been his ambition to
jump from the Brooklyn bridge He made
the attempt once before the bridge was COM
pleted, but was prevented from carryir g out his
scheme by the police. He was "a seconds in
the air before striking the water. He was I'M
married, 80 years of age and man of goots