The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-29
Another Sam Patch.
JUMPS FROM THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AMI
..f LOSES HIS LIFE.

JUMPS FROM THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AND
.....f.. LOSES HIS LIFE. wv F.
About a o'clock Tuesday afternoon
a cab left the New York entrance of
the Brookly bridge aud was driven to
the middle of the great span. Here the
driver pulled up his horses aud two
men got out and began to climb the
railing. Before they reached the top
a bridge policeman came running tow.
ard them, brandishing his club and
ordering them to "Get down, out of
that" While he was talking with the
young man covered wagon containing
Professor Robert f. Odlum and q
companion stopped about a hundred
feet behind the cab, Quickly divest-
ing himself of the blue flannel suit 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 posing himself
for a moment he stood erect and
glanced hurriedly at the surface of the
East river, far below him. The people
who were on the bridge in thatvicinity
sent up a cry of horror when they saw
him prepare to plunge off the bridge
into the water, 1875 feet beneath his
feet. The policeman whose attention
had been directed from the daring
swimmer turned his head Just in time
to take in the true situation. He left
the two young men who had endeavor-
ed to throw him off the scent and
rushed back toward the professor. -w
Before he had gone dozen feet
Professor Odlum, without moment :
hesitation, leaped from the railing into
the air. He held one hand above his
head as rudder to guide him in his
descent. The river below was at that
moment clear of shipping A tug and
a schooner tioated in the stream sew
eral hundred yards below the bridge.
The tug was filled with reporters and
men, Captain Paul Boyton stood
anxiously watching the bridge. Lin,
The moment Professor Odlum's body
was seem to leave the railing, Henry
E. Dixey, the actor, started stop
watch which he held in his hand in
order to time the descent. For near.
ly hundred feet the Professor came
dowd all right, feet foremost. He shot
downward with the speed of meteor,
his red suit making him easily discern
ible for long distance. When with
in thirty feet of the water his body be-
gan to turn. As if realizing his dang
er, Professor Odlum brought down
his hand with wavelike motion to
aid him in recovering his balance.
The movement was, however, made
too late. His body had now turned
so far that it was impossible to change
its course; Half second later, with
a mighty splash that threw up the
water on all sides, as if torn with a
shell, Professor Odlum'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.
Some one saw the white face of the
professor rising from the water, and a
moment later and he was by his side.
Selling life-preserver which hoated
near, he with difficulty placed it beneath
the body of the now insensible Pro
fessor. Blood mingled with froth
came from the mouth of the daring
man. . ..r.-.... ..r ..-.....
A row boat came to the rescue of
the captain and his charge was soon
pushed within his reach. With CON
siderable difficulty the body of the
professor was dragged into the boat.
A few moments later it was transferred
to the tug and restoratives were admin
istered. After considerable rubbing
the eyes of the sufferer opened and
he recognized the face of Captain Boy
ton. ... H.
"What kind of a jump did 1 make p
he whispered. ....
''First class my boy responded the
captain. "You'll be all right in a
little while, I....... .....- .......-.. !
But he was insensible again before
the words had hardly left his lips.
The PROV of the tug was turned toward
Old Slip and all steam was crowded
on. just as the pier was reached a
shudder passed through the frame of
the professor and then, after breathing
heavily once or twice, his heart stop
ped beating and death came to his re.
lief, Sorrowfully the body was taken
ashore and conveyed by carriage to
the undertaker's in Pearl street. ...
oDLUMs PREVIOUS FEATs.
1t was the ambition Of Odlum's life
to make this 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 police. He was born
in Washington and his mother and
sister now reside there His sister is
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, well known in
New York and Chicago from her con-
nection with the work of opening new
fields for woman's Industry. Odlum
was thirty seven years old and had
gained considerable notoriety as a
long distance swimmer several years
ago. In 1876 he swan from Point
Lookout to Fortress Monroe. In 1878
he started a natatorium in New York.
which was successful for several wears.
until he began to neglect it. He has
several times jumped from great heights
into the water. In 1880, during the
Hanlan Courtney race, he jumped from
the aqueduct bridge to the Potomac,
and later from the top of the smoke,
stack Of the steamer Lady of the Lake,
a distance of more than 100 feet. OF
recent years he has been employed az
swimming instructor at the Hygeia
Hotel at Fortress Monroe, and last fall
saved from drowning at that place a
son of the late Schuyler Colfax. His
last employment was at Willards Hotel
-, n r.