Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-22
TIE NEWS IN BRIEE.
Lear 20 neash.


A SWIMMING MASTER JUMPS FROM THE BROOK.
LYN BRIDGE, STRIKES THE WATER ON HIS
SIDE, AND DIES IN A FEW MINUTES.
r. Il. Oldum, Washington swimming master,
who was well known In the capital, and who taught
the children Of President Hayes aud President Gar.
held the art Of swimming, Jumped from the great
span OF the Brooklyn bridge into tue East river Tues
day afternoon, aud was Titled BY the concussion.
Oldum's mind was full Of the deeds Of Sam Patch
and other famous JUMPERS aud he had for some time
entertained the idea Of jumping from the great
had made many jumps from lofty elevations into the
Potomac aud he was perfectly at home when once In
the water. lie had announced his purpose before
hand and the bridge police were on the lookout for
him, determined that the fOolhardy attempt should
not be made. To circumyent them man was sent
ahead on to the bridge dressed in a swimming cos
tune, aud when the police bad gathered about him,
supposing him to be the would-be jumper, Oldum,
accompanied by two attendants, and wearing an
coat closely buttoned his red trunks drove rap
idly ON the bridge in an ordinary express wagon. lie
excited suspicion. when tho express wagon
reached a point about half way between the New
York tower and the centre Of the bridge Il suddenly
stopped, and Oldum, throwing on bis Disguise leap.
ed from his wagon, jumped the outside railing Of
the bridge his red tights showing with startling dis
tlnctness against the sky, and raising arm made
| signal to some friends who were watching him from
| a tug-boat In the middle Of the river below He did
not wait minute after giving the signal, but, plac-
ing his hands by bis side aud pressing his feet to-
gether slid quickly from the railing and in instant
shooting toward the water, 185 feet below. With
frightiul velocity he sped downward, still holding
himself 10 position, his straight, red form flashing
like arrow through the air Suddenly, and for
what reason will never be known, when the descent
about half completed, his friends were Mortified
TO see him lose his balance spread his In vain
attempt TO gain H. and then whirl around IN the air
| and strike the water resembling blow fiat his
| back and side. The tug, which filled with re-
| porters and club men, Paul BoytOn among them,
steamed instantly to Odum's side aud, mangled aud
| bleeding he lifted from the water, though he
| rallied enough to ask, "What kind Of jump did
make 2" and "Am hurt much 2" II was seen At once
that he could not live. His ribs crushed in his
body black and blue, blood squirting from the
bursted veins and arteries IN his side aud legs, aud
his skin was swollen into Jumps where the blood was
| striving to break out. The tugboat put quickly for
| the New York shore and a messenger was sent pos,
haste for ambulance. But before the crushed aud
bleeding form could be lifted from the boat life was
extinct. Those who timed Oldum's descent as II was
watched from the tugboat, say that just ~ secondi
elapsed from the time he slid from tho railing unit
| he struck the water. The body removed TO the
| morgue, and an undertaken summoned, while the
news Of Oldum's death telegraphed TO his wifi,
10 Washington, who is left with a family Of young
| children.
James Haggert, who acted a decoy for the polio,
IN give 0dum a chance to make his fatal jump from
Brooklyn bridge Tuesday, nrraigned wednesday
morning before Justice Walsh in Brooklyn. Their
we're three charges against him-one of obstructiDl
the highway, another aiding aud abetting in the
mission Of eucide aud the third of carrying conceal
ed weapons, loaded revolver having been found IL
his pocket. He held in $500 bail on each charge