The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-30
nNE MOTE CRANK.
Trodie's Leap Outdonc by u New Yorker.
Jump from the bridge.

Brodio's Leap OutdUne by u New Yorker.
Jump from the bridge.
Ngw YoRK, August 2S.-LawrenCc Dom
oyan, aged "A yearg, weighing 100 pounds
and standing i've feet eight inches high
without his stockings on, quit his work as
pregsman early this morning and pro-
ceeled out to the center ot the Brooklyn
bridge to leap up into fame by Jumping
down to what might be his death. He
had been previously padded and dressed,
a. much, d, least, as q ballet dancer or q
trapezs artist, and hG knew that he must
take time by the foreloCk II he was to
evale the police in the leap. 1t was 1850
A, NJ. when he began preparing for the
feat, and not agreatwhile attor. that when he
struck out through the waters Of East river
and swan 800 yarda to boat containing
friends and witnesses who would see that
he got tho $500 wager for which his leap
had been made.
Aier he Ind BEEN rowed ashore and ar.
rested, this is what Donovan said:
"l went Htraight down-Btraight as a
plumb line-Rnd did not lose my senses
all, 1t seemed u long time going down.
as many minutes as II probably was Gee.
Onda-but didn't turn nor BwerVe from
tha straight liue. struck the water with
big clash and went right through.
was well protected with padding, 80 that
no harm could come 10 me. When came
up to the surface, was no more exhaust.
cd than that was able TO swlm q hundred
yards or 30 to the boat. They pulled me
in aud took me 10 the pier, where | was
arrested
These remarks were made in the Grim.
inal Court room, whittier tho uninjured
jumper had been escorted by the police.
"l don't want TO shake hands with you,
l don't think you're hero at oil, but q
fraud. Even ii you did jump rs you pre-.
tend, II is nothing to make any fuss over,
but only an evidence Of how biga fool you
are"
This was the salute which Bridge
Jumper Donovan received from the benCh
at the Tombs this evening, when he
reached out to shake hands with Judge
Duly, Just after the Judge had fined him
$40 for "Obstructing travel on tho BRIDGE"
and told him he was very sorry TO be un.
able TO find some law Under which 60.
verer puniBhment could be inflicted. In
the course Of his examination Of the bridge
policemen and other witnesses, the Judge
was unable to find anyone that had &C.
tually seen Donovan make tho Jump,
wherenpon ho said:
What is there 10 show that this man
may not have gotta few men 10 get a boat
and row out under the bridge, and Ills
friends to make great ado and say that o
mau had jumped from the bridgeH My
opinion is that hO never jumped at al"
III think It's d rusG, subtertuge and q
fraud; but this thing Of going jumping
oil bridges aud going through rapids has
got to bOstopped. These men pander to
the morbid taste now prevalent, and are
able to live In illeness.
Look ut this big loaier that ought TO DO
breaking stones OF saving wood. This
thing is a craze. Brave men would not
do 1t. II i5 simply brute Courags that
prompts II, and no one but an Rddle,pAted
loon without an ounce Of brains In his
head would attempt II. 1ilwere 10 let you
10, seven or eight other looms would try 10
do 4 little better. Somebody would dive
oil, and Bomo other fellow would put him.
sell IN Rn India rubber bag, and be thrown
oll,'
4, X. Fox paid the fine, and Donayan
left court with very crushed look,