Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-24
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.


the police station, apparently unhurt.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Stephen Brodie jumped from the Brooklyn
bridge this afternoon into the East river.
Shortly after o'clock lumber wagon was
noticed passing over the bridge with two men
riding on II. Something in the air of one of
the men attracted the notice OF Police ma n
Lally of the bridge squad, and -he watched
the team as IL went on. When about one
hundred feet east of the New York tower one
of the men stood up and took his coat off. He
looked around carelessly and said TO the
driver, "Well, here goes for luck" He stepp-
ed from the wagon to the rail and, without
hesitating second, jumped Oft. Less than
twenty people were near at the time. The
man shot downward to the water, l20 feet
below, striking in bunch, but with his feet
hrst. He sank from sight and reappeared
with both hands at his chest, as if in pain.
skih, which was near, took the man in and
pulled TO the foot of Dover street, where
three police officers arrested Brodie and took
him to the Oak street station. He didn't
seem TO be injured and walked along without
any assistance, followed by mob of cheering
boys and men.
AT the station house Brodie was stripped OF
his wet clothes and some dry ones gwen him.
lie refused TO answer any questions, but gave
his name. He began to shiver and COM
planned ot being cold, and asked for liquor
which was given MIN. After this several
sporting men came in and shook hands with
him. To one OF them he said Didn't do
1t nicely, though. | said could do it and |
did"
To the question to how he felt he said,
90, | am all right" He said he struck the
| g. 4 A..
tance. He was "a little exhausted at first
but all right now" He was then taken to an
inner room in the ststion house. 1t was
learned that Brodie was a bootblack in the
Mills building and for some years he was a
newsboy; lately he has been selling fruit 1t
is said that the leap was the result of wager
| OF 500 with some prominent sports. He
~agered he could do it without iujury and
they bet he would not accomplish it. All the
forenoon party of sports were noticed on
the pier seemingly looking out for somebody
on the river. A boat WAS also noticed, and
one of the men rtcogiZed a man
named Whalen.
Brodie is a young man, % years old, dark
complexion, and about feet 6 inches in
height. He is well known as a successful
competitor in walking matches, and bears
the nickname of ''the newshoy pedestrian. "
He is elated at his successful leap. The time
from the moment he left the rail till he reach.
ed the water was just three seconds. There
was not a bruise on his body. Brodie was
arrested by the bridge policemen and taken
to the Tombs police court. Tim Brennan
who awaited in a rowbost for Brodie to jump
and afterward picked the reckless young man
| from the water, was also arrested. Brode
was much intoxicated when taken to the
! rTonhs Iutup kilhrpth decided n Wait iii
tomorrow for examination on account OF
| Brodie's condition. Brodie was locked up
and Brennan released on bail Bridge officer
Michael Lally, who made the complaint
swore that Brodie and Brennan, "while in a
drunken condition, did commit acts to en-
danger their lives"
| Broodie, as well as he could, described
| himself as bookmaker, % years old, living
at No So Christie street. He is married and
has three children. Brennan said, after being
bailed out, that Brodie bad trained for the
Jump and was not drunk when he made it.
Brennan added, 'Brodie mad drank brandy at
| ii A. NJ, but nothing else till he came out
of the water. | was prepared to go to his
rescue, but that was not necessary. Brodie
sank about eight feet, arose in two or three
seconds, shook his head to rid his hair of the
water, and then struck out shouting Chow
was lidt. AItSi Slf ing nun a utiuN VI DEdHuN
and rubbing him down with some of the same
liquor we rowed to the New York shore. His
only complaint was sore feeling on his right
side, which struck the water obliquely. 1t
WAS not till he had drank several portions of
brandy that he commenced to get full When
he reached the new pier at the Bridge tower,
Brodie dove into the water again and swan
to the Dover street pier, where he was ar
rested" The young man was unlucky in his
betting, and his friends say his principle
reason tor making the jump today was to win
bet of 5000, as he in desperate need
of money