The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-08-16
DONOVAN'S LEAP TO DEATH.
THE FAMOUS BRIDGE JUMPER MEETS
HIS FATE IN ENGLAND.
he Sprang from Hungerford Bridge, Lon
dom, Only to Terminate Bis Reckless
Career-He Eclipsed ALI Until Matthew
Evrne Beat His Record Last Friday.

~O~H>~~-~'~S
Career-He Echpsed All Until Matthew
Bune Beat His Record Last Friday.
(New York Star, Aug 81
Fearless Lawrence NJ. Donovan, the
bridge jumper, has made his last jump.
The following cablegram, received at the
Police Gazette Office yesterday, tells the sad
story of his death:
LONDON, Aug. Larry Donovan this
morning jumped from Hungerford Bridge
and was drowned. G. W. ATKINSON.
Lawrence Donovon, OF Larry" as he
was familiarly called by his friends, seemed
to know no fear. He first gained notorlety
by jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge on
august IS. 1885, eclipsing Steve Brodie's
famous drop by about fifteen feet. Larry
was born at No. 55 Frankfort street, New
York, twenty-six years ago. His parents,
who were natives of the Green Isle, gave
him 8 fair education. The young man,
while dutiful, managed to have his own
way 8 good deal. His father, Lswrence
Donovan, saved a little money by hard
work, but just as Larry had arrived at the
age when he could enter college the old
gentleman wrote book, entitled Com
mon Sense Facts:
BE was unable to find firm willing to
put it on the market. and published it him
self. Itwas almost 8 complete failure, and
the old gentleman sank ali his ready money
In it. It was then that Larry was sent to
work to help support the family. After
knocking about from place to place for a
few years he joined the regular army, but
the military routine did not suit his rowing
disposition, and when his enlistment time
was up he came back to this city. He Sc
cured position in a downtown printing
Office, and in short time found himself 8
full aedged pressmsn.
(. The death of Professor Odlum, who was
killed in jumping from the Brooklyn
Bridge on May "a, 1885,, created good
deal of excitement throughout the city. 1t
was thought that his sad end would pre-
vent others from undertaking the feat, but
in July of the following year Steve Brodle
dropped from the trestle-work Of the bridge
safely into the river, and electrified the
residents of this city. he was the first
man who had made the leap in safety, and
It was thought he had done it more by
good luck than anything else.
No one dreamed that anybody would
ever sttempt the jump again, considering
Brodieas miraculous escape from death, but
on August IS, month later, Donovan
made, the leap in safety from point fifteen
feet higher than where Brodie had dropped.
Justice Duffy in the Tombs Police Court
fined Larry SO, which was paid by Rich.
ard Z. Fox. The young man said he had
made the jump for wager Of $500. he
refused to say with whom the wager, bu,
twas said that Richard z. Fox was the
man. Shortly after this Larry told his
friends thst he was going to dive head fore
most OFF the bridge. This was communi
Gated to the police, and when he attempted
to perform the feat he was arrested by 8
bridge policeman who had been waiting
for him and again srraigned before Judge
Duffy. The latter committed him to the
Tombs, and only released him after he had
promised TO do no more jumping about the
city.
Larry had been in prison for sewers
weeks, and when discharged Immediately
left the city. He was next heard Of at Nj
agara Falls, where he jumped from the
Suspension Bridge, distance OF 1876 feet
without even sustaining scratch. He
then journeyed through the country, max
J ing high jumps wherever the opportunity
offered, and before coming to this city
lesped from the Chestnut street bridge in
Philadelphia into the Schuylkill.
Here for time he exhibited himself in 8
dime museum, and, growing tired of this,
heoreanized variety company and stared
on tour Of the Sss.es szsaasfzr as
Je-:ssSs ssssYef, Hhen the company went
Sc pieces through lack Of patronage, and
once more Larry returned to his native city.
For 8 time he remained quiet; then sud
denly he went to London to astonish the
British with with his wonderful jumps.
He Jumped off the London Bridge, and
Eas again arrested and released on his
promise not to do it again. From London
he went to Scotland, and after leaping from
several high bridges in that country re
turned to the English metropolis. There
he wrote to his friends that he had been in,
troduced to the Prince Of Wales and eeversl
other djgnitaries.
In January last he announced that he
had given up bridge jumping and was
sbout to bring q pugihstic combination to
this country. But this fell through, and
nothing more was heard Of him until the
csblegrsm announcing his death was re-
ceived yesterday. It was signed by George
W. Atkinson, editor Of the London Sport,
ingsLife, and there is hardly any doubt OF
its truth.
HupgerfoSd Bridge spans the Thames il
London near the Chsring Cross station. It
Is ssnEiron suspension structure, about 100
feet high, and is between the Waterloo and
Westminster bridges. Donovan probably
jumped st low tide, and as the river is very
shallow became wedged in the mud and
was drowned.
As soon es the news Of his death was re-
eeived 9 reporter Of the Star called at Don
oyan's mothers home q. No. IS New
Chambers street, and not wishing to shock
the old lady, told her that Larry had
Jumped In London and was badly injured.
The weman's grief wss SO pitiful that he
did not dare to tell her he was dead. Her
two daughters, Mary and Tassie, who are
both younger than Larry, were soon in
tears, aud he was compelled to beat hasty
retreat. For several years Larry's father
has been slightly deranged. His sisters,
who are employed as feather curriers', man
age, with the money sent by Larry now
snd then, to support the little household.
The Greatest American Gun.
The successful Trial Of the new ten
inched riaed breech-loading gun, the
largest ever constructed in this country,