Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-20

| FUTILE ATTEMPTS OF PAUL. BoYToN TO DIS
SUADE HIM-THE EVIL OMEN OF THE BROKEN
GLASS-"ILL DO IT IF 1T KILLS ME'-ELUD-
ISG THE PoLICE-THE LEAP, THE TURN IN
THE AIR AND THE DEADLY FALL on THE
SIDE
| Robert f. Odlum. of this city, known popu-
larly as "Bob" Odlum, made his long-contem-
plated leap from the Brooklyn bridge yesterday.
1t cost him his life, as he had been repeatedly
warned by Paul BOyton and many other friends
it would. Ever since the great bridge was COM
pletcd Odlum had been anxious to jump from
it. He went to New York nearly five years
ago, before the structure was finished, and at
tempted to jump from the cables. He was ar
| rested, but afterward released In February,
1882, Frank Haggerty, of this city, offered him
5000 to do it, and on the 26th of that month he
went to New York again and tried it. The
police, however, were on the outlook for him,
and he was once more arrested. Above one
month ago he wrote to Capt. Boyton that he
was going to open a swimming school at Old
Point Comfort, Va, and intended to jump from
the Brooklyn bridge in order to gain notoriety
and national reputation for his place Boy
ton tried to dissuade him, and got other sport
ing men to urge the professor not to attempt it.
Notwithstanding these warnings however, he
left Washington early last week, and, alter
spending three days in Philadelphia, arrived
| in New York late Saturday afternoon.
views with him, in which he repeatedly declared
his intention to carry out his purpose before
bridge every day during his stay in New York.
On Monday Capt. Boyton and IIaggerty were
with him. When the party reached the central
span Odum looked over the side and, if
! pleased with the prospect, said: "If had boat
down there now I'd cut that water in u mo-
ment-it amounts to nothing. l can do that
any day in the week. Capt Boyton told him
that he would need hearse more than q boat
if ne attempted it, but the professor laughed ut
the idea.
AN EVIL OMEN.
AS they returned the trio stopped in a restau-
rant. While they were eating Professor Odlum
accidentally knocked over one of the glasses
and it broke on the floor. Boyton at once
jumped up from the table and shouted "For
Gods sake, Bob, give this thing up for week
or SO. anyhow. That means bad luck. Leave
the town Tonight These appeals were con-
| tinued by the captain and his friends until mid
night, when the professor retired, more resolved
than ever to jump from the bridge. "I'll do it
II 1t Kills me-, he said as he left his friends for
the night
He arose yesterday morning more cheerful
and confident than ever, and telegraphed to a
party of friends in Philadelphia to come over
on an early train They did not arrive until
Odlum made his headquarters at Paul Boy
ton place on 29th street, known as The
ness his jump assembled at o'clock yesterday
afternoon. After talking with the professor
and drinking to the success OF his enterprise
they boarded the tug Charles Runyon, which
had been chartered for them. Prof. Odlum,
James Haggerty, &. w. Herbert. OF st. Louis,
and a Washington friend remained at The
ship" an hour longer, however, in order to give
their friends an opportunity to get around to
the bridge.
They then took an elevated train down to the
city hall, it being about 5 o'clock. The profes-
srt had on Il double suit of clothing. On the
aside he wore pilot jacket, blue carded
trousers, canvas shoes and derby hat. Inside
OF these was his regular swimming suit. which
SISfp nt p,.irs f.f ifn ,1yrc
light red shirt.
RCsE THAT DECEIVED THE POLICE.
When the four men left the elevated train the
professor and his Washington friend got into
covered express wagon and the other two
jumped into a cab. They drove for the bridge at
once. the cab leading the way. A double force
of police had been watching for the professor
all day. When the cab was about 100 yards
from the New York tower, Haggerty jumped
out took on his coat and waistcoat, and began
to to drop his suspenders; The ruse was Il success.
The police rushed for him and he was pris-
oner in less than a moment. They marched
him of in triumph, while the crowd of prone
naders followed.
Meanwhile the express wagon, with Odlum
inside, was driven toward the center. When
they reached 1T the professor stepped out of it,
with his swimming suit on, and cOolly turned
to the driver and said: ''Say, old man, we are
going TO make history today He jumped on
to the railing. smiled at his friends ON the tug
below and then gave
A LEAP FROM THE BRIDGE.
| Then there was a shout from the tug below All
eyes were turned upward toward the little speck
high up in the air us it came down like rod
Paul BOytOn stood on the bow of the little yes-
sci, tightly clutching the flag pole and intently
watching the body in its swift downward de-
| scent. There was an awful silence on the tug
as it pitched from side to side with the waves,
and the upturned faces OF the watchers were
| pale and white Professor Odlum's BODY
came nearer and nearer the surface of the
water.
He had made good jump, for he came down
| as straight arrow for nearly 100 feet
Then the body suddenly turned as If forced
around by the air currents. The professor was
entirely conscious at this time for he threw his
arms under him and tried to catch his feet SO
as get himself into an erect position again. Un-
| to save himself He struck the surface fiat on
| his left side, and disappeared beneath q huge
| wave of water that spurted fully twenty feet
| mendOus force, as the water eddied around the
spot as if Il big ship had just gone down there
When Boyton saw the body turn he threw Off
his coat and vest and jumped into the water
| He struck out vigorously for the place where
Prot. Odlum disappeared and waited for him to
quickly and the captain grasped it. Bob, how
| do you feel? How are your he shouted TO the
dying man. The lips moved feebly as if in an
tricl<led out OF the sides of the mouth The
captain knew that death was near and shouted
| for help.
TAKEN FROM THE WATER.
passing fishing schooner lowered its life
boat and took Boyton and his unfortunate COM
panion aboard. The tug afterward drew up
| alongside and they were transferred to it, A
| start was then made for the shore.
There was not a sign of lite in Professor Od-
| lum when he was laid in one of the berths of
| the propeller. The little streams of blood still
| oozed from between his lips and his face was
as still and pale as death. A thin dark blue
| line on his left side, about twenty inches long
| and almost perfectly straight, showed where he
| had struck the water. 1t was the only mark
on his body. Captain Boyton applied
rcstoratives and tried to get some recognition
| from him.
| After about ten minutes the eyes opened, and
| as the dying man recognized Boyton he tried
| to SMILE and said. "Well, what kind of a lump
did make?" He was assured that it was o per-
feet one. and he answered feebly: ats all right
| Cap; it all right" These were his last words
| Before the tug touched shore, at 6:15, he was
| dead. The body was taken to an undertaking
establishment in Pearl street.
AS soon as the tug reached the wharf an am.
| bulance was sent for In about fifteen minutes
one appeared, bringing Surgeon Hathaway
Odlums body lay in the kitchen of the boat
| Life had been extinct several minutes The
! surgeon said the blood that came fnOm his
| mouth was due evidently to some accident to
| his lungs. The shock he received on striking
the water was the prime cause of his DEATH
The second was the rupture of some internal
organ or some injury to 1t. The bruises were all
| on his back, aud extended from his neck almost
| to his heels. His ribs on both sides were crushed
| SO much that they were quite soft In the
| small OF his back was a bruiSe the size of both
his hands. The flesh on the calf of his left leg
was bruised and showed stains where blood had
| broken through the flesh. Whenever the doctor
/ mt his "a nd the dead mans chaSt tharo NO :,