Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-25

a 8elnRina Aa1ara Eonesa ain = n.n1.a a.
and Dowm Ne Went.

When the news Of Professor Odfumsu
fatal leap from The parapet ~ ~
Brooklyn Bridge reached here. mawa 4
San Anton o letter "a The Phfiadeinhia
Times, We were talking over the affair
IN the s'Gold Room. Sam Graha.n er-
Sergeant Of Rangers. called attention "a
. parallel incident which attrncked 4
great deal Of attention on the frontier
81 the time and gave the name Of ssaam-
mond's Leap" 20 q lofty canyon val 81
the bank o. the Rio Grande. about efx
miles west from where the alkaline
waters Of the pecos empty into Il
twas 4 sfinoino liznra - sra,,,sr,,
that caused ''Hammond's Leap. Ham
mond was . NAVY, born ia England. and
ct the time he made the leap about
twenty-six years Of age. BE was Of rather
slender build, but Wiry and muscular,
and Jack Harris the contractor for whom
ne worked, considered him his best
Churn-driller. Harxis's camp was at
the head Of Q deep canyon. about one
mile south Of VineQaroan. He vas an
gagged in making al and two side cuts
and worked gangs day and night.
Hammond worked IN the daY gang and
the big wall tent he shared Will az or
eight others was about 300 wards from
the edge Of the lofty wall, against whose
base the muddy waters of the great
river" dashed and tumbled. AT this
particular point the river Is quite deep.
One night the sleeping occupants of
Harris'B camp were aroused by q
series Of startling yells which came from
Hammond'B tent. Before they could
collect their senses and settle ia their
minds whether OF not the camp had been
attacked by Indians Hammond dashed
from the tent, and although held by his
companions, finally tore himself away,
and yelling at every Jump, made giant
bounds toward the river. The drilIers
and blasters In the cut stopped their
work and ran up on the bank to see
what was the matter. They saw HAM
mond as he dashed toward them and
heard his agonized yeIls. A cry Of
horror burst from their lips as the YELL
Ing man reached the brink Of the preci-
pice and without an instant's hesitation
leared out and shot down like plum
met to the boiling food loo feet below,
they heard the loud splash made by his
body when II struck the water and then,
with blanched faces and hushed voices.
hurried down TO the river level 20 search
Tor the poor fellows mangled body.
What was their surprise to meet the
supposed dead man alive and uniniured.
He was ehivering with cold, however.
and the muddy water dripped from his
clothing.
''What was the matter ?" cried the
group Of searchers in chorus.
'sOne Of them internal singing liz
ards got into my ear and nearly drove
me crazy answered Hammond, tsbut
he popped out when struck the water.
BY the way. boys what do You think Of
that Jump"
cit ought to have kilIed'you. said one
man.
CIT didn't, though" cried Hammond
with laugh. "I'n make it again for
ten-dollar bill. !"
The next morning Jack Harris had
the distance measured, and the tape
line held close TO the cliff edge. marked
l55 feet and few inches when the other
end touched the water. Hammond did
not appear TO suffer from his terrible
flight through the air. He worked for
Harris until the latter's contract was
finished and then went into Mexico 20
work on the Mexican Central. he was
In his underclothes that night and his
feet were protected only by thin socks,
he struck the water feet first and de-
scribed the sensation experienced as
similar TO that If the feet had been
smartly slapped with . broad strap.
While in the air he felt no difficulty ii
breathing, and the increased velocity as
bis body neared the water was not ply
sically perceptible.