The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-29
a LEAp,Nc LuNA1Ic.
Prof Odium, for Nororiety, Leaps from
Brooklyn Bridge and is Killed.


| Prof Odium. for Nororiety, Leaps nom
Brooklyn Bridge and is Killed.
NEW YORK, May 20.-Yesterday after
noon a 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 and two men got out and began
to climb the railing. Before they had
reached the top bridge policeman came
running toward them, brandishing his club
and ordering them to ''get down out of
that" While he was talking with the
young men, . covered wagon containing
Prnf. Robert E. Odlum and a COM
panion stopped about one hundred feet be-
hind the cab. Quickly divesting himself
of the blue flannel suit in which he was
dressed, the Professor, clad in red
shirt and trunks, jumped from the
carriage and sprang lightly to the
railing. He quickly reached the top, and
perching himself for a moment he stood
erect and glanced hurriedly at the surface
Of the East River. The people on the
bridge
SENT UP A CRY OF HORROR
when they saw the Professor prepare b
plunge off the bridge into the river, 135 feet
beneath his feet The policeman, whose
attention had now been directed from the
two men, rushed toward the Professor. Be-
fore he had gone dozen feet. OdluIn, with
oft moments hesitation, had leaped out
from the railing into the air. He he'd one
hand above his head az a rudder to guide
him in his descent The river below was
at the moment clear of shipping A tug
and schooner floated lazily in the stream
several hundred yards below the bridge.
The tug was filed 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, Harry f. DiXey, the actor,
etarted 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 foremost He shot
down with the speed Of meteor, his red
suit making him easily discernible for q
long distance. When within thirty feet Of
the water the body began to turn, aud as il
realizing his danger, Prof. Odlum
brought down his hand With warlike mo-
ton to aid him in recovering his balance
The movement was, however. too late. His
body had been turned so Tar that it was i'm
possible to change its course. Half a second
ioect. rith opisioa ehos Wy
the water on all sides as il torn with q shell,
Prof Odlum's body
STRUCK THE WATER on ONE SIDE
and sank out of sight The tug hurriedly
pushed itself forward to the place wheTo
the body fell, and Captain Boyton, after
oeelng that life preservers had been thrown
out into the water, sprang 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 q
moment later was by his side. Seeing life
preserver near by he placed it beneath the
body. Blood mingled with froth came from
the mouth of the daring man. A rev boat
soon came to the rescue and Prof. 0dlum
was taken from the water, and in few
moments he was transferred to the tug and
restoratives were administered. After con-
siderable rubbing the eyes of the Professor
opened.
"What kind of jump did 1 makee'' he
whispered.
'First-class, my boy" responded Boyton,
you'll be all right in a little while"
But the Professor was insensible again
before the words had hardly left his lips
The tug steamed hastily to her slip and
just as the pier was reached, 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