The Portland daily press., 1885-05-20
SAM PATCH's COUNTERPART.
Prof. r. e. Odlum Jumps from
Brooklyn Bridge.
A Fearful Fall with Fatal Con.
sequences.
He Is Taken from the Water Alive
but Death Soon Ensues.

New YORK, May 19.-Soon after o'clock
this afternoon a cab left the New York en-
trance to Brooklyn bridge and was driven to
the middle OF the great span. Here the driver
pulled up his horses and two men got out and
began to climb the railing but before they had
reached the top bridge policeman came run
ming toward them. brandishing his club and
ordering them to "get down out of that"
While he was talking with the young men
covered wagon containing Prof. Robert e. Od-
lum and companion stopped about q hundred
feet behind the cab. Quickly divesting him
self of a 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 posing himself for a moment he stood
erect and glanced hurriedly at the surface of
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 1856 feet
below his feet
The policeman whose attention had been
diverted from the daring swimmer turned his
head just in time to take in the true situation
and he left the two young men who had en-
deavored to throw him off the scent and rush
ed back toward the professor but before he
had gone dozen feet the professor without q
moments hesitation had leaped out from the
railing into the air. He held one hand above
his head as a rudder to guide him in his
descent. The river below was at the moment
clear Of shipping, and only a tug and schooner
hoated lazily in the stream several yards be-
low the bridge. The tug was filed with re-
porters and club men, and Capt. Paul Boy
ton stood near the Prov anxiously watching
the bridge. The moment Odlum's body was
seen to leave the railing Henry E. Dixey, the
actor, started stop watch which he held in
his hand in order to time the descent.
For nearly hundred feet the Professor
came down all right, feet foremost and he shot
downward with the.speed of meteor, his red
suit making him easily discernible for long
distance, bat when within thirty feet of the
water his body began to turn, and as if real
lzing his danger Prof. Odlum brought down
his hand with wave like motion to aid him
IN recovering his balance. The movement was,
however, made too late for his body had now
turned SO far that it was impossible to change
Its course, and half second later with q
mighty splash that threw up the water on all
sides as if torn with a she'll Prof. Odlum
struck the water on one side and sank out Of
sight.
The tug hurriedly pushed itself forward 10
the place where the body fell and Capt. Boy
ton after seeing that life preservers had been
thrown out into the water sprang 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 fromlthe water and
moment later he was by his side. Seizing
life preserver which hoated near he with diff
Guilty placed it beneath the body of the now
insensible professor. Blood mingled with
A row boat which came to the rescue of the
captain and his charge was soon pushed with
in reach, and with considerable difficulty the
body of Ethe Professor was dragged into the
boat and fewjmoments later it was transfer
red to the tug and restoratives administered.
After considerable rubbing the eyes of the
sufferer opened and he songht the face of Capt.
Boyton.
What kind of jump did 1 make?" he
whispered.
"First class, my boy" replied the captain,
''You'll be all right in little while.'' But he
was insensible again before the words had
hardly left the lips.
The PROV of the tug was turned toward the
old slip, and all steam 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. Sorrow
fully the body was taken ashore and conveyed
by carriage to an undertaker's in Pearl street.
Odlum was formerly professor of a swim
ming bath in Washington but lasterly has act
ed as clerk in Willard's Hotel. 1t has been
his ambition and dream of his life to make the
fatal jump from Brooklyn bridge and he made
an attempt once before the bridge was COM
plsted bat was prevented by the police. He
was three and one-quarter seconds in the air
before striking the water. He was unmarried,
90 years OF age, and man of good habits