Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-11-16
JUMPING SAM PATCH.
The Interesting "Reminiscences of an Old
Patterson Farmer.

I
| Patterson Farmer.
| Agrizzled old farmor named William
T. Brown was in Mlddletown, n. Y,
the other day, and fell to giving rem
iniscenses OF Paterson as he rcmem-
berod the place sixty years age. II
was born ON Manhattan Islan,I," he
said, when all the upper part was
nothing but farm lands, and went to
work in cotton-spinning factory in
Paterson as sweeper and errand boy
when was eleven years old. Pater-
son was a small place then, and the
factory was small affair, too, but one
of the owners was Sam Patch, who aft.
erward became famous as high jump
or. saw him make his first big Jump
at Passaic falls.
"Thc story of the jump Is this: Sam
Patch and man named Brannigan
were partners in the factory and th1y
failed in business. Sam was Il Cape
Cod man by birth, and had been
sailor from boy up till he came to
Paterson. He was daring and reck-
less fellow and could swim like duck
1t Is said that while he was n sailor he
often exhibited his skill and daring by
jumping from the high masts of ships
into the sea. After the failure Sam
Patch hung around Paterson with
nothing to do until he got pretty hard
up. Then, | suppose, the thought oc-
CURED TO him that he could make
raise by jumping off the rocks at
Passaic falls. So notice was given
that ut certain day and hour Sam
Patch would jump off the cliff
at the falls into the river below, dis
tance OF about eighty feet, for purse
of fifty dollars, made up by some of the
sports of the town. Few people be-
lieved that he would make the jump,
but there was big crowd on hand to
sec it all the Same.
"Sam came to the falls stripped to
his undershirt and drawers. He showed
no fear or nervousness, but his face
was flushed, as | thought, by drink
He took couple OF small stones in his
cliff and dropped them off one after
the other, and watched where they
struck the water down below. Then
he walked back a few yards and turned
and took little run to the brink of
the cliff and jumped off, clearing the
rocks about ten feet. He went down
feet first, but with his body inclining
considerably to one side, and in this
shape he struck tho water and disap-
poared. A few seconds later his head
bobbed up at point down stream, and
he began padding for the shore. Then
the crowd gave him big cheer
"Sam's jump at the Passaic falls
was considered marvellous feat in
those days, and made him famous the
country over So he took TO Jump
ine for money from the masts OF ships |
and from bridges and other high places,
and went about the country giving |
exhibitions Unfortunately for him,
too, he took up another practice that
soon cut his career short. l didn't |
see him make his last jump at the
Gencssee falls at Rochester, Novem-
Der 13, 1929, but those who did see the
tragedy tell me that when he APP
preached the brink to make the leap
OF 125 feet into the seething pool be-
low he was dazed and unsteady from
drink. He made the jump so bun
glingly that he struck the water flatwise
instead of feet first, the concussion
crushing in his breast and sending his
dead body to the bottom like u stone"
NJ Y. Times.