Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-12
A FEARFUL LEAp LEAFS

Professor X. E.. Odlum, of yy,s,.
City. Leaps From East River n"ste
Mt New York, Into tho River ,.l'dsd
Below-He is Rescued, but Mo- fed
Reaching Shore. 'efod
New YORK, May 20.-Professor y
Odlum arrived in this city from Wasbir.
OH Friday last to perfect arrangement"
his contemplated jump from the East u, |
bridge into the East River. When seoa
terday by a reporter at Captain Born,s
place in West Tw~enty-ninth Street. ba
Il propose to jump from the brblpa "
withstanding the statement of the H.,
officials that they will prevent me. IVY
confident that the feat can be perfor,,'
without mishap, and 1 can assure the ms1
that 1 am rs jealous of my ncrso.
safety as a man well can hs
have carefully taken into cons;,.
alton every detail in connection wifi, \
undertaking and the more 1 study !, !.
firmer am l convinced of its feasibility ~
height of the bridge is 40 feet, beine !
thirty feet higher than the jump wLiGs
made in 1883 at Marshall Hill, on the po..|
mac, which in my opinion was far NV
dangerous than my proposed jump from !" N
bridge. In jumping l will be attired !,
close fitting jersey waist and trunks Al
step off with the left foot first and Strike !
water with both feet close together, n
friends will be in a boat below the b,id1
and will signal me when the river is clear
boats, so that there will be no danger Of \
landing on the upper deck of a ferryboat J
Sound steamer. Captain Boynton will Al
be in the water attircd in his nautical rs
render me assistance should any be-
CURED"
At a few minutes after six o'clock n
evening the Professor jumped from near,
center of the bridge, and after striking N
water he disappeared for a few seconds n
r%eappearing at the surface of the water !
seemed to be unconscious, and was carri]
some distance by the tide. Captain Raw
Of the tugboat Charles Runyon, who MI
messed the act, succeeded with some did
Guilty in reaching the body, and took if
Pier II, East River, where it was tail
charge of by his friends.
The act was witnessed by hundreds J
people who were crossing the bridge, and
first it was thought to be a case Of suicid|
When the body of the Professor was lanl1
at the dock at Pier II it was found that n
was extinct. Captain Rowe states M
Odlum was alive when taken from n
water, but died before reaching the pier. /
the request of the dead MANS friends N
body was removed to No. 40 Pearle Strl
where Coroner Kennedy will hold al inou1
to-day.
WASHINGTON, May 2o.--Prof. R.
Odlum, who jumped from the East Riv
bridge yesterday afternoon, was a reside
of this city, where he has lived for mad
years. He has had a varied career. h
first attracted notoriety by jumping from /
Aqueduct bridge, which spans the Potomd
above Georgetown. The distance is abOI
ninety feet, and the attempt was perfectl
successful. He has given several eylT5
tons in swimming jackets, and at one tn|
conducted a natatorium, and at aotA)
period was connected with a variety theatl
as usher, and at still another time was col
nected with a summer resort on the Pot
mac. Last year he was employed at ID
Hygea Hotel at Fortress Monroe, where \
saved several persons from drowning by h
eXpertness in swimming. He was abo]
thirty-five years of age and unmarried.