Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-22
ODLUMs CHECKERED CAREER.
sketch of the Life of the Unfortunate
Swimmer.

sketch of the Life of the Unfortunate
Swimmer.
Our dispatches Tuesday morning gave
an account Of Prof. Odlum's fatal leap
from the Brooklyn bridge. The following
is a briet account of Odlum's career,
taken from Herald dispatch from Wash
ington, d. c.:
Prof. Robt. Z. Odlum was originally a
newspaper reporter in St. Louis. About
nine years ago he came TO this city and
started swimming school on Il street,
which he managed for three years. He
lost money In the enterprise. After that
he Travelled awhile with Paul BOyton as
an advance agent. During the Guiteau
excitement in connection with Hugh
Coyle, a show manager of Philadelphia, he
ran Guiteau museum in small towns
throughout the country. O1lum delivered
the lectures and CoYle did the managing.
For several years he was employed as
manager Of the bathing establishment at
Fortress Monroe He saved the lives of
several persons while AT Fortress Monroe
among them a son Of Schuyler COlfax. In
the early part Of last season he was en-
gagged as a ticket taker at the National
Theatre. After the burning ofthe theatre
ne was employed a. night clerk at Will
lard's Hotel.
SEEKING NOTORIErY ASD WEALTH.
Lin talking with your correspondent the
week before last he said he had been
thinking OF this lump ever since the
Brooklyn bridge had been built. lie said
the danger was not as great as was gener-
ally supposed, aud admitted that his prin-
cipal object WAS 10 gain nOtoriety, so that
he could secure profitable engagements as
swimmer during the summer. lie
showed your correspondent a letter which
he had received from Paul Boytou, in
which BOytOn stated that some one would
make the jump, and the quicker he did IL
the better. 50 ~ 70 get ahead Of All others.
Boyton added postscript, saying 500
not try 1t unless you are sure about it and
certain yOu can DO it,"
oDLuMs PLANS.
Your correspondent was one Of the last
| to speak 10 him the night he let this city.
| He said his programme was tO 80 ON the
/ bridge early some morning with his SWIM
ming costume on; that after getting on the
! bridge in "a carriage be would throw OIL
| his OYerc0at aud hat aud make the leap.
| lie said that II not interiered with by the
| police on the bridge be- would have no
/ trouble IN making the leap al right, but
! that if he had 10 climb up ON the top of
| the bridge in q hurry 50 as 10 eyade the
l police he would be out Of wind when the
/ time came 10 make the jump, and that in
tuat case lhere' might DE some danger
/ about lt. Yesterday a telegram was roe
/ ceivcd from him stating that he had made
/ all his arrangements aud that the jump
would be made.
HIS AGED MOTHER.
! The mother OF the deceased lives In this
| city, az does also his sister, Mrs. Char.
| lotte smith. His mother H. very old, aud
! did not know exactly the purpose of his
/ trip TO New York, except that 10 vas 100
/ connection with some swimming enter
/ prise. Mrs. Smith, his sisior, is well
known in connection with labor matters.
bring one " the assistants sent TO New
| York by Senator Blair's Labor Commit.
tee last summer TO Investigate the cOndi-
ton of the working women OF New York.
She vas opposed % all at his swimming
enterprises, but did not know the de-
tails Of this last one until be had gone
20 New York. She saVsit was impossible
90 turn his mind on of this jump. though
she had often talked 20 him about &C. The
first his mother knew OF 10 was by receiy.
ing telegram Tonight stating that the
remains Of her son would be shipped to
tlis city tomorrow.
DEAF TO PERSUASION.
All Of Odmm's friends here have en-
| dcaYoSed " persuade him " give UP this