The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-23
A Foolhardy Feat.

Soon after O'Clock on Tuesday after
noon cab left the New York entrance
of the Brooklyn bridge and was driven to
the middle of the great span. Here Tie
driver pulled up his horses, and two men
got out and began to climb the ratings
A bridge policeman ran toward them.
brandshing his club and ordering them
to "Gct down out Of that" While he
was talking with the young men a COW
cred wagon containing Profess or Robert
+. Odlum and companion stopped
about 100 feet behind the cab Quickly
divcsting himself of the blue flannel suit
in which he was dressed, Professor OBJ
lum, clad in red shirt and trunks,
jumped from the carriage and sprang
lightly to the railing. lie quickly reach
ed the top and posing himself for n
monument he stood erect and glanced
hurridly ut the surface of the East River,
1875 feet beneath him
The Professor, without moments
hesitation, lcaped out from the railing
into the air. lie held one hand above
his head rs rudder to guide him in his
descent The river below was at the
moment clear of shipping, a tug and a
schooner fluated in the stream several
hundred yards below the bridge The
tug was filled with reporters and club
men. Captain Paul Boyton stood near
the PROV anxiously Watching the bridge.
The moment Prof Odlum's body was
seen to leave the railing Henry T.. DiNey
the actor, started a stop watch which he
held in his hand in order to time the
descent. For nearly hundred feet the
professor came down all right, feet fore
most. lie shot downward with the
speed of meteor, his red suit making
him easily discernablc for long distance.
When within thirty feet of the water his
body began to turn. AS if realizing his
danger, Professor Odlum brought down
his hand with wavelikc motion to aid
him in recovering his balance. The
movement was, however, made too late.
His body had now turned so far that it
was almost impossible to change is
course. Half second later with Il
mighty splash that threw up the water
on all sides us if torn with shell.
Professor Odum's body struck the
water on one side and sank out of sight.
The tug hurriedly pushed itself forward
to the place where the body fell, and
Captain Boyton, after seeing that life
preserycrs had been thrown out into the
water, sprung 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 rising from the water, and
later he was by his side. Selling Il life
preserycr which iloated near he with
difficulty placed it beneath she body of
the now insenible Professor, Blood min
gled with frOth came from the mouth of
the daring man. \ row-boat which
came to the rescue of the Captain and
his charge was soon pushed within his
reach
With considerable difficulty the body
of the Professor was dragged into the
boat A few moments laterit was trans
fcracd to the tug boat and restoativcs
were administered. After considerable
rubbing the eyes of the sufferer opened
and sought the face of Captain BOyton.
what kind of Il jump did make ?'
he whispered
"First-class, my boy" responded the
Captain. you'll be all right in 4 little
while"
But the Professor was inspnsiblc again
before the words had hardly left his lips
The PROV Of the tug was turned toward
Old Slip and all steam WAS crowded on
Just rs the pier was reached his heart
stopped beating
The body was taken ashore and con
vcycd by carriage to the undcrtakrr's in
Pearl street
Professor Robert T., Odlum was form
erly professor of swimming bath in
Washington. but lattcrly has acted as Il
clerk in Wizards Hotel It has been
the ambition and dream Of his life to
make this jump from the BROOKLYN
Bridge. lie made the attempt once be-
fore the bridge was completed but was
prevented by the police. He was three
and a-luartcr seconds in the air before
striking the water lie was unmarried.
33 years Of age and Il man of good habits.
-Philu Record.