The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-27
LEAPING INTO THE NIAGARA.
An Incident Recalled by 0dlum's Fatal
Leap from the Brooklyn Bridge.

LocKPoRT, May 26.-The fatal leap of Robert
E. Odlum from the East river bridge recalls
similar foolhardy exhibition which, however,
did not terminate fatally 1t occurred about
thirty five years ago, but had been nearly for
gotten in the lapse Of time. In 1S50-51 there
was constructed across the Niagara river, just
above Lewiston, where the river issues from the
deep gorge extending to this point from Niagara
Falls, suspension bridge for vehicles and
pedestrians. The roadway was destroyed by
the force of the blast sweeping down this gorge
in February. 1864, and nothing remains of it
but shattered fragments hanging to the cables.
This bridge was $40 feet long, with a
floor twenty feet wide and sixty feet
above the water. In the summer of 1851, soon
after the completion Of the bridge, poor Swede.
with an unprOnounceable name, who answered
to the name Dave" was loafng about the vii
lage, doing odd jobs He stated one day in the
presence of several persons that in Sweden he
had several times made greater jumps than the
distance from this bridge to the water. and that
he would not be afraid to try it. Upon being
offered $40 to make the attempt, he Immediately
accepted the offer. The following Sunday, at
P. NJ, was appointed for the trial. The dis
tance to be jumped was the least factor of dan
ger in this proposed attempt. Not only did the
wind from the gorge make it probable that the
jumper could not maintain perpendicular posi-
Cioi, uut tHe river DeuedtH Tie DrlUso was q
furious, swirling food, in which few swimmers
would care to venture. These obstacles were
pointed out to the Swede, and efforts were made
to dissuade him from the foolhardy attempt
But as many persons had expressed doubts as to
his courage, he declared that he would jump, re-
gardless of the consequences News of the pro-
posed undertaking had circulated about town,
and at the appointed time-a fine July afternoon
"a large crowd was assembled the bridge
and upon both banks, and many carriages from
Niagara Falls were there.
The Swede was promptly on hand. He went
to the middle of the bridge, clambered over
the railing to one of the stringers and after
waving his arm up and down, and shouting
in broken English to the crowd to look at him, he
sprang off. For about twenty five feet his body
kept vertical position, then the wind struck
him, and whirled him about SO that he struck
the water on his back and shoulders with a
splash that was plainly heard on the banks. He
disappeared beneath the surface, coming up
hand as he was whirled and tossed about by the
/ impetuous current A boat had put ont from
the shore, and to everybody's surprise he sue
ceeded in keeping afloat until it reached him
many rods below the bridge. The most remark
able part of the whole affair was that the fellow
entirely recovered from the effects of his crazy
leap. Although he was bruised from head to
heels by the conclusion and confined to his bed
for some days no internal organs were injured,
and he was soon about again Dragging of the
feats he would undertake in jumping. But he
was wise enough never to repeat this one
Dave was familiar figure in that vicinity
many years ago. but as telegraphs and daily
papers were in their leading strings in those
days it is likely that his renown is first
published, thirty four years after the fact, when
Odum's fatal leap naturally recalls it.