New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-29
HIGHER THAN BRODIE'S LEAP
DoNovANs JUMP FROM THE BRIDGE.
EERvrNa HIMSELF WITH cosFEE-HIs ONLY oBJEcT
TO WIN WAGER.

kEhViNo HIMSELF WITH cosFEE-HIs ONLY OBJECT
TO WIN A WAGER.
"Steve" Brodie, who dropped from the Bridge
last MONTH no longer the "rgnns star In the Fourth
Donovan. another Fourth warder surpassed Brodies
feae Yesterday. Donovan jumped from the Bridge 81
its msnsss point from the Same spot where odinm
mads MS fath leap aysar ago, but unlike Odlum' 10
executed his foolhardy attempt In safety.
The plans for tho lump made deliberately. Dono-
de mss brode tho day after he jumped from the Bridge
and concluded that the feat not difficult one; that
hs could accomplish iy himself little purse was made
up ana two weeks ago Donovan went into training for
the experiment. Opinion was divided among the few
VINO Were let into the secret but Danovan
Was eonndsnt from the frat and staked
$500 "Tom" Leonard the isnitor OF TIE Gazette build
inE, began TO train him, and four times, a. preliminary
exercise Leonard accompanied Dono 70 High Bridge
where he jumped from the parapet into the Harlem. Tue
last 1omp was made on Wednesday. Then Donavan de-
clared himself ready for the Bridge any other jump
What ono Fourth warder could do any other Fourth
Wsrier could repeat, his opinion. Yesterday was
chosen IS the proper time, and tho hour was
placed st p. m But learning that 1t would
DO high water early in 'the morning tho time was
changed An express wagon hired on Friday night
TO DO In readiness at tho New-York entrance to the
Bridge By o'clock A boat was to be ready ct tho
Dover-st dock at the same hour.
Donovan appeared shortly after s. His ordinary dark
clothes were drawn pair OF light drawers and
red flannel shirt Leonard, bis trainer. had made
him q set Of heavy cotton pads to
be worn under tho armpits and between the
legs 30 that he would not be injured by striking the
water Leonard wanted him to take o spongen his
mouth but Donovan declined he died In his attempt
he wanted his mouth clear, he explained When he
stepped into the wagon at tho Bridge he pair OF
baseball shoeL Mrs. Leonard the last moment begged
min not to mako the attempt but Donovan
drank strong cup OF coffee and reminded her
that when Fourth Warder undertook
anything he never went back It The man who
took the fare At the Bridge looked lite suspciousy
at Donovan but there was nothing to indicate HE pur-
pose aud no went unmolestcd The driver lay back
IN the wagon and pretended to be asleep As they
passed The Police Gazette Building the roof was crowded
with people, some Of whom had opera gassos These
we're invited guests, who hand to witness the
jump and had bet the result. When the wagon
reached the New-York tower, Donovan handed back
tho lines to the driver
"Now I'll get ready for business Tom," he remarked
He threw of his outer clothing and stood ready as the
wagon reached the centre Of the Bridge and stepped on
the wagon to the dig cable that runs on level at this
point before begins to ascend toward the Brooklyn
tower The sun was just getting up over the house tops
and Its rays were streaming through the net work OF tho
Bridge There was not boat on the river and
the water at high tide and quito smooth
There was ono near disturb Donovan. The driver
looked on without word. Donovan only paused TO col.
ec himself Then he drew long breath sprsng out eight
feet feet fore foremost, % his flannel .Sirt making rcd
streak through the air. From the pier bis do,
three three seconds @ % aud half to rssen the water
his body remained perfectly straight With hi: hand, A.
his balance. BY peroePtiDle EFFORT he hs % brought
gong Of sight In another instant hc came
Ss tho rse e M'D1 shoos head n'to the
water from his eyes aud struck out boldly for
went GV up from the crowd Donovan SWAN more than
hundred yards before he reached tho boat and was
you're a nice lazy lot of ducks, you are" wa. hi.
nrst exclamation. :" D1d you thnk was goin' to back
Another witness Of the occurrence was Go1dus'Sr % G
that Had u%p
Bridge Fitsyibbons sprans into grocery wagon anu
vson ws. fs''is s .oAsa fa1'S,. . the p came p
WIN Win paSS, and IN T. 1coo ws Ts0mpsoS cSsAr pno
John Hsnlcy and Peter M.nonoy. hfe.sver. In bathing
attire. were 10 the boat. Mshoney and Hsnley we're
mau FitEgb6on picked out Donovan whose clothing
wet. told him that he was undor arrest DonovaA
jump lie was taKen AZ ence to the Fourth Precinct
WHAT did you mako that Jump for r. asked the police
man. ,,
piled Donovan. 81 did 1t bet OF $500 between Two
OF my friends Donovan was taken before Justice Duhy
s uS mSmO' rSSs cGS WHEN Gs' s w back
in the police station Doaovsn,. friends from all part:
around the building so that the polico had TO sally out
aud drive them away
Donovan s twenty-rour years. OF stout and
sond frame. In general appearance there 10
In his face lie lIvos with bis parents and two sisters
s' IS ssap sUp c6sSo.r nS8s % III. iSs MSSse
VINO had jumped from the Bridge. Inn not proud Of e.
said he. "Wnat has TO DO with rskng HE nto
unnecessarily It's the devil that Jump,,dd
say and II ho had broken his back he struck tl:
water. tho devil would have had him ia h. h,
cockpit" Tho mother was more lonien| onh enc Sav
that Larry" wac her only boy snd q gooa Doy,
bnt he had got into bad company aud his father was
severe on him. A few years ago Larry ran hHy
from homo 10 Boston and changed his name 70 Dono-
wnen he returned he kept the name ana mas oeen
~ didn't drink . drop except my coffee" said
Douovan land don't feel the worso Tor my Jump
vent down quick that It was all over In Minute nus
show In a dino museum eithcT'
Justice Duffy did not look on the adventure go fsvora
An anticipated iunatic would do such thins as ss
re-. hi: life The >, :ISs Ja:s1c !. atom aided .S:S
"crank" nonsense, and lie would give Donovan .no
extreme punishment teat wAs In tho power OF tno
law TO iDhct. He would like be continued 70 senu DON
harm to himself or any body elsa "As ~ TO-, ne con-
cluded, 81 viii nne you $40 for nterruptlng ttaveI ON
tne Bridge" Frank Onvor appeared tor Donoxan; SaG
Gro wdod with ali the sporting" fraternity IN the
lower part Of ne &c, city an.nS "o .ss great
triumph for him. He took II little awkwArdy anu oia
seem to know how TO act while his friends p9intea
with sxultation 70 the faot that no had Jumpeo not
dropped, at a point twenty-five fcet higher than
steve" Brodie.
STARRED IN FOURTEEN PLACES