The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-20
JUMPED NIAGARA FALLS.
STEVE BRoD1E WENT OVER AND
LIVES.

LIVES.
Steve Brodie the Brookly n bridge
jumper, went over Niagara Falls in a
rubber suit, and still survives. The
following is his account Of il
Steve Brodie sat in the little room
above his Bowery saloon and received
the congratulations of his friends upon
his safe return. Steve explained the
whole situation over and over again.
The thing which impressed him
more strongly even than Niagara Falls
was the Canadian Court where he
was tried.
"I've been thinking about imagery
Falls for years. said Steve, "an' if |
hadn't gone over when | did I'd a
died crazy man. You see that pic
ture of Niageryi It's all marked uLder
it in black where it's been handled so
much. Many a night I've looked at it
and say to me ole woman. III
jump imagery or I'll die and / did
jump it, aud de man dat says l didu't
is paralyzed liar"
Steve then went on to tell about the
trip to Niagara. At Clifton cnstom
inspector who was posted TO watch
him, was seen at Que end of the train,
and Steve avoided him by getting out
of the car at the other end.
81 was rugged up 50 me own brother
wouldn't know me-" said Steve. 81
had blue specs on, blue clothes an
duster. wasn't around long till |
started out to look for place to start
from. A nigger driver took inc up de
bank to place called Cedar Island,
on de Canada shore. l took bits of
wood and flung 'em into the waer an
saw by de way de current went that it
was de best place to start from. We
spent de night at de hotel. never
slept wink all night.
"De hotel proprietor was told we
was crooks from New York, pick
pockets bound for de Toronto fair,
and he kept men watching US all de
time we staid with him. 1t was three
o'clock Saturday morning when got
up. 4 can't sleep no longer, Bill, says
| to Harding an I'm goin' to have
dis thing over once an for all We
had about two miles to go to Cedar
Island. Harding an Ledger went
below to fish me body out when Invent
over, an Jerrold an Mccarthy went
along wild me.
81 was tired when l got there an
laid down.
"Are you weakening, Steve? says
Mccarthy. No says 1. Give me a
drink, an took drink. Then they
put dis suit on me. First of all he
wrapped me around with cotton an
inch an half thick. An then they
put this over me. / got in at $50 an
started out for. the trip.
"Me neck was bound too tight an ]
started to come back. Hes afeared
says Jerrold. Well the word nerved
me an l began to paddle out /
couldn't come back, anyhow. There
was too much current.
"How did you feel going over the
Fallsi' asked one of the crowd.
"Feel" replied Brodie 81 can't be
gin to tell you. l remembered every
sin ever done, and me hair got cold
and me scalp felt like ice water was
drippin' down on it. / felt kind ot
plunge when l hit the top of tht
Falls, then second plunge when
landed on mist. guess it was about
then l lost me senses. for l don't re
member rightly just how it was I go
out. 1t seemed to me l was a montl
in de water before | was hauled out.
81 was brought TO de Wavcrly, an
a doctor came l felt like all nj
bones were broke. tried to get VI
at twelve o'clock, but began heaviu
up an had to go to bed agin. WheI
was arrested Dc Judge says:
"It you'll say you didn't go owe
de Falls III let you GO
'Well, says !, 4 didn't 60 owe
den.
You'll swear to dis paper, says he
an lie ha DIS big long paper certify
in that me Steve Brodie, fixed up
job on de public An never went nea
TO de Falls Hold up your hand ant
-wear to de statements, so help m
God, says he
Judge says |, i am at your mercy
You got me here an you can do wha
you want to wild me. But, Judge, II
lay and rot for fifty years before II
swear to lie. | went over NiagerN
Al am proud of it. Now you cal
hang me if you want to- Now Will
| was talking me lawyer never said {
word. After it was all over / founc
out dat all de time he was standin' il
wi de Judge.
What are you going to do now
some one asked.
81 am goin' over imagery agln, re
sponded Steve promptly. "Th4y have
put up 81 900 for me- an a, me bal
was only $500 I'll give this sucker
$500 an 90 on about me business
Paul Boynton, hear, say he's go
in over himself soon.
IL will take an oath and hope | may
lrop dead aud may my arms rot of
me if | didn't see Steve Broli, 60 over
the Falls said Levi Ledge yesterday
"IIo was thrown out about ten feet
maybe more, by the water and saw
nim az plain as | see you now. | pm
200-foot rope around me aud | swan
,yer to him. Harding stood on tn,