The National tribune., 1885-05-28
A DEATH LEAP.
Prof. Odlum's Terrible Plunge from the BROOKLYN
Bridge.

Robert E. Odlum, who had gained consider
able notoriety as q swimmer throughout the
country, jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge on
the afternoon of May 10, and died soon after
being taken from the water.
Odlum has for some time been contemplating
the leap, thinking thereby to get his name
prominently before the public preparatory to
opening swimming school at Norfolk, Va.
His mother and sister, who live in Washington,
demonstrated in vain in regard to his rash de-
termination, and when he left that city for
New York telegraphed to the police there to
use every effort to stop the suicidal act. All
the vigilance of the police however, was of no
avail, Odlum and his friends by very ingeni-
Gus device, succeeding in throwing them off
the scent While the officers were patrolling
the bridge and narrowly scanning all vehicles
and pedestrians, hanson cab, containing q
young man in bathing costume, who took occa-
sion to render himself as conspicuous as posi-
BILE, dashed onto the bridge. Some person
probably q confederate-shouted, There goes
Odlum!" rush was made by the police to-
wards the vehicle and the occupant seized.
He protested against this action and declared
he was going to leap from the bridge. While
this squabble was going On a covered wagon
stopped in the center of the bridge and Odlum
jumped out. In second he had climbed the
railing and was looking down towards the
river to If it clear of vessels in the spot
WHtTc Hc WlSucu W reap. JuSU dt bulS
the police, whose attention had been diverted,
took in the situation, but too late to stop the
fatal dive. They rushed towards the spot
where Odlum stood, but before they had taken
dozen steps in that direction the doomed s,,an
leaped into the air. A cry of horror went up
from the passers-by as the form of the diver
disappeared below the level of the bridge.
A tug filled with reporters and club men lay
about 100 yards below the bridge. Paul Boy
ton, the swimmer, stood near the prov anx-
iously watching the bridge. The moment
Odlum leaped from the railing stop watch was
put in motion by which it was found that three
and quarter seconds elapsed until he struck
the water. For the first 100 feet his body shot
down in perfectly straight position but when
about 35 feet from the water it turned slightly.
Odlum waved his arm, which he had hitherto
held over his head, in the evident effort to
straighten his body. He was too late and his
body in second struck the water in slantng
position. The water was dashed up to ire
mendous hight and the sound of the splash
could be heard far away.
In a moment he tug was put in motion to-
wards the place where Odlum disappeared in
the water, and as it drew near the spot BoytOn
leaped off. Soon q white face appeared on the
surface, and in a moment BOytOn was by the
divers SIDE Selling life preserver which
fOated near he placed it under Odlum,
from whose mouth blood, mingled with froth,
gushed. A river boat by this time had reached
the two men and with great difficulty the
inanimate body of the unfortunate man was
dragged in. A few moments later it was trans
ferred to the tug aud it was laid on the
kitchen floor, where restOratives were ap-
piled. After considerable rubbing the eyes of
the sufferer opened, his lips slowly moved, and
as bright stream of blood issued from them,
he said give me air; l can't BREATHE" and
again relapsed into insensbility. In few
minutes the dying mans eyes again opened and
he said "What kind of jump did make?"
" First-class, my boy" responded Boyton;
you'll be all right in little WHILE"
The boat in the meantime was heading for
the shore as rapidly as possible, but the unfor-
tunate man had breathed his last before it ran
into the slip.
Odlum was 80 years of age, unmarried, but
leaves a mother and one sister.