Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-22
A MAN JUMPS FROM BROOKLYN
BRIDGE.
But to Find Death in IA Watery Grave
Porf. Odlum's Daring Spring-Many
Spectators Witness the Scene-The
Kuse Which Deceived the Police.

Ruse Which Deceived the Police.
NEW YORK, May 19-Soon after 4 o clock
this afternoon a cab left the New York
entrance of the Brooklyn bridge and was
driven to the middle of the great span.
Here the driver pulled up his horses and
two men got out and began to climb the
railing. Before they had reached the top
of the bridge policeman came running
toward them brandishng his club and or
dering them to "get down out of that"
While he was talking with the young men
covered wagon containing Prof. Robert
+. Odlum and IA companion stopped about
hundred feet behind the cab. Quickly
divesting himself of the blue flannel in
which he was dressed, Prof. Odlum clad
in red shirt and trunks jumped from the
carriage and sprang lightly to the railing
He quickly reached the top, and poising
himself for Il 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 that vicinity sent up
cry of horror when they saw Prof.
Odlum prepare to plunge off the bridge
into the river, 1875 feet beneath his feet.
The policeman whose attention had been
diverted from the daring swimmer turned
his head just in time to take in the true
situation He left the two young men, who
had endeavored to throw him off the scent,
and rushed back toward the professor.
Before he had gone dozen feet Prof.
Odlum, without a moments hesitation,
| leaped out from the railing into the air.
| He held one hand above his head as a rud-
der to guide him in his descent. Tn river
below was at the moment clear of ship
ping. A tug and schooner tloated lazily
in the stream several yards below the
| I,il, l,a tItfr Il .tarl
and club men. Capt. Paul Boyton stood
near the prov anXiously watching the
bridge. The moment Prof. Odlums body
was seen to leave the railing Henry f.
| DiXey, the actor, started stop watch
which he held in hand in order to time the
descent.
For nearly a hundred feet the professor
came down all right, feet foremost. He
shot downward with the speed of meteor
his red shirt making him easily discerni
BILE for long distance. When within
thirty feet of the water his body began tC
turn, and as if realizing his danger the
professor brought down his hand with a
wave like motion to aid him in recovering
| his balance. The movement was, how,
ever, made to late. His body had now
turned 50 far that it was impossible tC
change its course. Half second later
with mighty splash that threw up the
water on all sides as if torn with a shell
Prof. Odlum, struck the water on one side
and sank out of sight The tug hurried
and pushed itself forward to the place
where the body fell and Captain Boytor
after seeing that life preservers had been
| thrown into the water sprang over the
side of the boat and waited for the body tC
come to the surface. Soon he saw the
white face of the professor rising from the
water and moment later he was by his
side. Selling n life preserver which float
ed near, helwith difficulty placed il beneath
the body of the now insensible man
Blood mingled with froth came from the
mouth of the daring man, A row boat