Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-20
And Strikes In the Water Below.
q Distance or One Hundred
and Thirty.1lve Feet.
BE Strikes on His Side and from the Re.
suit, Lives But Few Seconds.
New YoRK. Nav 10.

and was driven to the middle of the qrea,
span. Here the driver pulled up his horses
and two men got out and began to climb the
railing. Before they reached the top bridge
policeman came running toward them bran.
dishlng bis club and ordered them to s.gei
down out of that" While he was talkins
with the young men . covered wagon con.
tanning Prof. Robert E. -Odum and . com
panion. stopped about 100 feet behind the
cab. Quickly divesting himself of the blue
flannel suit 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 a moment he stood erec,
and glanced hurridly at the surface of the
East river, far below him. People who were
on the bridge in the vicinity sent up cry Of
horror when they saw Prof. Odlum prepare
to plunge off the bridge into the river, 1876
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 stua.
ton. He lett 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 the Professor, without
a moment's hesitation, had leaped out from
above his head as rudder to guide him in
his descent. The river below was at that
moment clear of shipping. A tug and
schooner f1oated lazily in the stream several
yards below the bridge. The tug was filled
with reporters and club-men. Capt. Paul
Boynton stood near the prov, anxiously
watching the bridge.
The moment Odlum's body was seen to
leave the railing, Henry E. Dixey. actor,
started stop watch which he held in his haad
in order to time the decent. For nearly 100
feet the professor came down all right, feet
foremost. He shot down with the speed of a
meteo-, his red suit making him easily dis
cernable for long distance. When within
80 feet of the water, his body began to turn.
As if realizing his danger, Professor Odlum
brought down his hand with wave, like a
motion to aid in recovering his balance. The
movement, however, was made too late. His
body had now turned so far that it WAS i'm
possible to change his course. Half a second
later, with a mighty splash that threw up the
water on all sides, as if torn with shell, Pro-
fessor Odlum struck the water on one side
and sank out Of sight.
The tug hurriedly pushed itself forward to
the place where the body fell, and Capt.
Boynton after seeing that life preservers had
been thrown out into the water sprung over
the side of the boat and waited for the body
to come to the surface. Soon he saw
the white face of the professor rising
from the water and a moment later he was
by his side. Selling life preserver, which
foated near by, he with difficulty placed il
beneath the body of the now insensible pro-
fessor. Blood mingled with froth came from
the mouth of the daring man. row beat,
l.: :,t~ 81 n,Tt ttn al md
his charge, was soon pushed within his reach.
With difficulty the body of the professor was
dragged into the boat. A few minutes later
it was transferred to tug and restoratives
administered. After considerable rubbing
the eyes of the sufferer opened and he sought
the face of Capt. Boynton. "What kind of a
Jump did l maker" he whisped. "First
class, my boy" responded the captain. ''You
will be all right in little while" but he was
insensible again beford the words had hardly
left his lips.
The tug was turned toward the old slip and
all steam was ordered on. just as the pier
was reached, shudder passed through the
frame of the Professor ,and then after breath
ing heavily once or twice, his heart stopped
beating and death came to his relief. The
sorrowful body was taken ashore and con-
veved BY a carriage to the undertakers on
Pearl street.
Prof Robert E. Odlum was formerly pro-
fessor of the sw wimming bath in Washington,
but latterly has acted as clerk in Willard's
Hotel.
1t has been the ambition and dream of his
life to make the fatal jump from the Brook
lyp bridge. He made an attempt once be.
fore the bridge was completed, but was pre-
vented from carrying out the scheme by the
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