The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-20
WHEN
CLOTHING STORE.
A FOOLS FATAL LEAP.
Robert Il. 0dlum Jumps from Brooklyn Bridge
Into East River, and Is Killed.

New YoRK May 19.-This afternoon cab
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 police
man came running toward them, brandshing
his club, and ordering them to "Get down
out of that While he was talking with
the young men, covered wagon, containing
Prof Robert E. Odlum and companion, stopped
about hundred feet behind the cab. Quickly
divesting himself of the blue flannel coat in
which he was dressed, Professor Odlum, clad in
red shirt and trunks, jumped from the carriage
and sprang lightly to the railing. He quickly
reached the top. and poisng himself for mo-
ment, he stood erect, and glanced hurriedly at
the surface of the East river, far below him.
The people on the bridge sent up cry of hor-
TOR when they saw the Professor prepare to
plunge off the bridge into the river, l35
feet beneath his feet. The policeman
whose attention had now been directed to the
Professor, rushed toward him. Before he had
gone dozen feet, Professor Odlum, without
moments hesitation, had leaped out from the
railing into the air. He held one hand above his
head as rudder to guide him. The river
shipping. A tug and a schooner foated
Jazily in the stream several hundred
yards below the bridge. The tug was filled with
reporters and club men. Captain Boyton stood
The moment Professor Odlun's body was seen
TO leave the railing. Harry A. Dixon, the actor,
started watch which he held in his hand, In
Oid9s to time the descent.
For nearly a hundred feet the Professor came
down all right, feet first, and he shot downward
with the speed Of a meteor, his red shirt
making him easily discernable for a
long distance. When within thirty feet
turn. AS if realizing his danger, Professor
Odlum brought down his hand with a war-like
motion to aid him in recovering his balance The
movement was, however made too late. His
body had now turned so far that 1T was lmpos-
sible to change its course Half second later
with mighty splash that threw up the water on
all sides as if torn with a shell, Professor Cd
lum's body struck the water on one side and
sank out of sight The tug hurriedly pushed it.
self forward to the place where the body
fell, and Captain Boyton, after seeing 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 a moment later was by his side
Eeizing lfep preserver near by he placed it
beneath the body of the insensible Professor
Blood mingled with froth, came from the
mouth of the daring man. Row boats soon came
to tho rescue. and Professor Odlum was taken
from the water. A few minutes later he was
transferred to the tue, and restoratives applied
After considerable rubbing the eyes of the Pro-
lessor opened What kind of Jump did maker
he whispered "Frst-cass, my boy" replied
Boyton. But he was insensble again, before
the words had hardly left his lips. The tug
sseamed hastily to her slip, and just the shore
was reached shudder passed through the frame
of the Professor, and then. after breathing heav-
ily once or twice, his heart stopped beating and
he was pronounced dead. The body was taken
ashore and conveyed to the undertakers. Prof.
Robt z. Odlum was formerly the professor
of a swimming school, but latterly has been clerk
in Wilards Hotel. 1t has been his ambition to
Jump from the Brooklyn bridge. He made the
attempt once before the bridge was completed,
but was prevented from carrying out his scheme
by the policeman. He was three and one half
seconds in the air before reaching the water
He was thirty. three years old and unmarried