Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-20
it the following which he said-he wanted en-.
sraved ON plate and put upon the coffin:
ROBERT EMMETT ODLUM,
;s3 YEARS OLD,
Born in the United States
Capt. Boyton said he would be responsible
for the funeral expenses.


Capt. Boyton said he would be responsible
Tor the Funeral expenses.
4 SKETCH OF oDLCM.
Odlum came to this city from ST. Louis about
seven years ago, and opened the natatorium, or
swimming school, ON E street, between 9th and
9TH. He had then already achieved a reputa-
tlon as an expert swimmer The natatorium
was financially failure. He has lived in this
city ever since, with his mother and his sister,
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, who is well-known from
various labor organizations. He has "a brother
also also who who, was a clerk in the Pension
west After giving up the natatorium
Odium became manager OF summer re-
sort down the river and was subsequently
employed at Hygeia hotel, Fortress Mon.
roe: While there he saved the lives of sew
era persons. including the son of the late Schuy-
Ter ColfaX. During the last two years he had
had no regular employment 1t is thought that
his need of money impeled him to the act
which resulted in his death. Odlum for
Light infantry corps. He was native of New
York state, and 33 years of age. When he
W., Was :, an aIi infant he removed with his fam
10 take rank as professional swimmer
from Memphis he went to ST. Louis, and then
came to this city. He tall and had a hand
some athletic figure. His complexion, eyes and
hair were dark, and he wore IA small dark
mouStache. Odlum has made several leaps,
crowds We're assembled on the banks of the Po-
tomac to witness the race between Hanlan and
hbCS. oUluln Jumped from the AQuoQuct
bridge, and struck the water safely Subse-
quently he made jumps of various distances
about the river. About three years ago he
made a jump from pole erected on the
steamer Mary Washington, which came near
putting an end to his existence. He struck the
wafer a little on one side and was badly
bruised. Odlum also gave swimming eXhibi-
tons, and one of his teats was TO stay under
water for two minutes without rising To the
surface; A year ago he was attacked with a
nemofrhaSe, which was caused by remaining
under water too long. He was companionabe
ana general favoriIe among his acQuaintances.
Odlum has seemed for several years an nXious
to distinguish himself as Il leaper. Before the
BROOKLYN bridge was completed he went to New
York for the purpose of jumping from the cables.
given up the design, and last week made ar
ranSements with Capt. Boyton, in New York,
to undsr1ahe tax the feat soyton it was an
compllShing the feat. Odlum left this city for
New York last Thursday. Before leaving he
spoke among his friends very freely, of his in
tentiOns but enjoined them to secrecy, as he
feared that any premature announcement
would defeat his purpose.
oDLUMS TALK WITH A STAR REPORTER.
He told STAR reporter that, far the
danger was concerned, he would much rather
undertake this leap than repeat the one he made
from pole on a steamboat. That leap, he said
was about 90 feet, while the leap from the bridge
was l4O, or go feet greater than the leap which
Killed Sam Patch, at GennesSee Falls, n. Y.
When he leaped from the pole, he said, a chair
was strapped to the top and to this he aScended
by means of n ladder. The pole seemed to be
swayng in the air. Three times he rose from
the chair before he could steady himself for the
leap He had then to take a long spring out
ward, in order to clear the deck of the vessel.
The pole swayed, SO that he feared that he
could not get good spring, but finally made
one side. The leap from the bridge, he
said. would be simpler, he would
have only to step, off There was danger. he
said, of a mans being made unconscious
dizzy by the air rushing into his nostrils. He
thought that If a man preserved his conscious
ness ,sf that he could guide himself properly;
"In case, said Odlum, Il found that I had
lost my balance when l neared the water.
would pull my knees up to my chin-roll my
in the water possible. In other words,
would present as little surface to the water as
could"
Odlum expressed great confidence in his
ability to make the leap successfully, and had
already arranged to give exhibition with
Capt Paul Boyton, in Baltimore next week, ex-
pecting that the fame which he would win by
his Jump would make him Il big card"
HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED.
The first news received here last night of the
fate of Odlum was dispatch from Boyton ad-
dressed to Wizards hotel saying: "Robert E.
Odlum jumped off Brooklyn bridge this evening
and was killed. Body recovered Please notify
relatives what disposition made of body. Ans
wer."
This dispatch was sent by the proprietor of
Willards hotel to police headquarters, and
Lieut.. Austin, In charge, sent Private Proctor
to the residence of Odlum's mother, 215 IL,
street, to notify them of the occurrence. Mrs
Smith, when Informed of her brothers death,
appeared almost insane with grief. \ STAR re-
porter called at the house this morning and
found the mother and sister of Mr.. Odlum over
whelmed with grief and profuse in their de-
nunciations of Paul Boyton for encouraging
the deceased to go to New York to take the
fatal leap into eternity. The first they knew
that Robert had gone to New York was when
they read it in THE STAR Saturday evening
They have as yet made no arrangements as TO
the QiSDOSitiQn of the remains II : understood
that there will be a meeting of his friends in
this city to-day.