Connecticut western news., 1885-05-27
SAM PATCH,s SUCCESSOR.
Robert Emmet OdIum Springs from The
 BIK East River Bridge to Death,

A gleam of red tights flashing through the air, a swirling, writhing body midway between the East River bridge and the green water, a heavy plash like gunshot, and Robert Elm met Odlum, gasping and almost dead, hoated face downward in the East River. It had been known for some time that Odlum pro posed to take flying leap of the bridge, but the authorities of New York city had deter mined to prevent the exhibition. On Tuesday Odlum said to his friends:
 "Gentemen, I am bound to do it. I've come here from Washington to make this jump; it is perfectly easy. All am afraid of is that the police will stop me and people will ordinary clothing over his jumping dress, rode out to the centre of the bridge in a wagon.
 It was but the work of @ moment for the athlete to bound lightly from the wagon to the roadway, and in another moment his head and shoulders showed above the big girder that runs six feet above and parallel to the roadway, from which hangs a lattice-work of wire ropes Quickly he drew himself up and stood balancing himself, his right hand grasp ing one of the big guy ropes. schooner was bearing down against the wind on the strong ebb tide but just as she neared the bridge she tackled and went about from right under Od- lums feet leaving clear space beneath. Then the crowds of foot passengers on the bridge rai ised shout as they saw the red-clad figure poised on the girder below them. The police man on the TOAuWay neATQ the cry ana e1LnuL- taneously rushed toward the man. But they were too late. With mocking glance over his left shoulder he lightly sprang of, holding his right hand high and straight above him.
 His head was bent back on his shoulders and his eyes were turned toward the skies. ''There he goes," yelled the crowd, and Henry E. Dixey touched the spring of his stop-watch. Two-thirds of the 125-foot drop to the water Odlum accomplished in 8 twinkling his body as straight as spear. Then bis head bent backward and his back curved. Systematically his legs drew up. With a desperate sweep downward of the right arm he vainly tried 10 right himself.
 In half a second the body struck the water with splash that could be plainly heard 600 feet away. Odlums back was bent-his head down-hke & bow, and although his feet struck water first the concussion must have been awful. The time occupied by the descent was 3H seconds. He sank out of sight, and the watchers held their breath, but in a mo- ment Rleam of red could be seen just be- heath the surface of the water and with a ringing hurrah the people above and below cheered the daring swimmer. But he did not hear it.
 His head dropped far forward, and his body was bent in the shape of a crescent. A row boat had put off from the tug, but the tide carried it out of reach. The tug steamed near the floating body and Boyton plunged head foremost toward it, having removed only his coat and vest. He brought the face above the water, but before the clumsy men in the row. boat could have the body aboard a schooner nearly ran down B yton and his burden.
 After long suspense the limp, death-lke mass was pulled into the small boat and was thence taken on board the steam tug. The upper part of Odlum's back right thigh was torn, black and bleeding and the whole left side of the back was mass of black and blue flesh. His eyes were closed, and his head lolled about as if his neck were rubber. The red swimming shirt was slit up the back as if ripped with a keen knife.
 Efforts were made to resuscitate Odlum, but he soon afterward died, he having burst a blood vessel.
 SKETCH or oDLUM's LIFE.
 Robert b. Odlum was born near Ogdens- burg, N. r., in 1853. He was always fond of water and learned to swim before he could read. Five years ago he established a swim ming school in Washington and taught the art to many statesmen's sons. In June, 1883, he swam out and saved the life of Schuyler Col faxs son off Old Point Comfort, Ya., after 8 hard struggle against wind and tide. For this he received warm letter of thanks. During the last inauguration he was em. ployed as a special detective at Willard's Ho- tel, Washington, and later became clerk in the establishment and gave up his swimming school The idea of jumping of the big bridge had long been 8 pet scheme of his. Two years ago, before the structure was fin ished, he made trip to New York city and asked the Bridge Trustees to let him go out and leap off the span. They refused, and he went away disappointed. Besides the jump al Marshall Hall, mentioned above, he jumped from the Aqueduct Bridge, eighty feet, ir Courtney boat race. Besides this he made many smaller leaDg