The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-29
A JUMP OF 1876 FEET.


Hotc a Professor Ended His Life in EndedU-
oring to Accomplish a Great Feat.
This afternoon, says a New York dispatch
of the 18th, cab left the New York entrance
of the Brooklyn bridge and was driven to the
middle of the great span. Here the driver
pulled up aud two men got out and began to
climb the railing Before they had reached
the top policeman came toward them brand
ishiug his club and ordering them to ''get
down out of that" While he was talking
with the young men covered wagon contain
Prof. f. Odlum and a companion stopped
about hundred feet behind the cab. Quickly
divesting himself of the blue flannel In which
he was dressed, Odlum, clad in red shirt and
trunks, jumped from the carriage and sprang
lightly to the railing. He quickly reached the
top, and posing himself for a moment STOOL
er, ct and glanced hurriedly at the surface OF
the E ist river far below him. The people on
the br.d dye set up cry OF horror when they
saw the professor prepare to plunge OIL the
bridge into the river 1875 beneath his feet. Tne
policeman now rushed toward the professor,
but before he had gone dozen feet Odlum,
without moments hesitation, had leaped
from the railing out into the air. He held one
hand above his head as rudder to guide him
in his d, scent The river below was at the
moment clear of shipping A tug and
schooner lay llzily In the stream several yards
below the bridge. The tug was filed with
club men ard reporters. CAPTAIN Boynton
stood near the PROV and clos ly watching the
bridge. The moment Odum's body was seen
to leave the railing Harry 4. Dixey, the actor,
started a stop watch which he held in
his hand, in order to time the descent.
For nearly one hundred feet the professor
came down all right Feet foremost he shot
downward with III. speed OF m tcor, his red
suit making him easily discernable Tor long
distance. When within thirty feet of tn, wa
ter his tody began to turn. As II realizing his
danger Odlum brought down his hand with a
quick mott N to aid him In recovering his bal
ance The movement, however, was too late
His body had turned so far 1t was now impos-
sible to change its course and half second
later, with a mighty splash that threw up was
ter on all sides. Prof. columns 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
Boynton, after seeing that lfc-prcsorycrs had
been thrown into the water, sprang over the
side of the boat and watched for the body To
come to the surface, Soon he saw the white
face of the profess or rising from the water aud
In moment was by his side. Selling life
preseryer near by he placed 1t beneath the
body of the insensible professor Blood min
scd with froth came from the mouth of the |
drowning man. row boat soon came to the |
rescue and Odlum was taken from the water. |
few moments later he was transferred TO the |
tug and restoration administered. After con-
rubbing the eyes of the professor |
opened. "What kind Of jump did | makeP |
40 whispered.
'First-class. my boy" responded Boynton,
you'll be all right in little while" But he
vas nsensible again before the words had
hardly left his lips. The tug steamed hastily |
% her slip, and Just as the pier was reached
,hudder passed through the frame of the pro-
essor, and then after breathing heavily once
Or twice his heart stopped beating and he was
dead. The body was taken ashore
md conveyed to the undertaker's.