The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-09-08
The Daring Bridge Jumper Performs
Feat Which Has Previously
Cost Many Lives.
He Goes Safely Over the Horseshoe
Falls, Niagara. in a Rubber
Suit Without Hurt.
Unconscious for Twenty Minutes Afser
Being Taken From the Water-Ar-
rested by the Police.

CLIFTON, Ont, Sept 7.-Steve Brodie
went over Horseshoe falls this morning in
a rubber suit. He was picked up below the
falls in an unconscious condition and taken
to Clifton. he soon recovered conscious
ness. and an examination showed he was
not seriously injured.
Brodie, with several friends and news
paper correspondents, arrived last night.
They left the hotel at O'Clock this morn
ing and went 10 point 2O6 feet above the
falls. Brodie then stripped and had his
body padded with cotton batting. Then he
put on rubber suit, which was inflated
tfty-two inches around the waist and
seventy-hve inches around the chest, while
the head gear was also inflated, and two
steel bands protected the body. At $50
Brodie with a paddle entered the water,
was caught by the current. waived his
paddle, and few seconds later was shot
over the center OF Horseshoe falls, and luck
lily was shot with lightning rapidity over
the outside OF one of the falling volumes
OF water, and was quickly lost in mist and
foam. He was buried from view nearly
two minutes. When he appeared on the
surface he was carried toward the Ameri-
can shore, then suddenly hurried toward
the Canadian shore, where his friend, John
Ledger, had ropes ready to draw him from
out 200 feet with a rope fastened to his
waist, while w. T. Harding held the other
end on shore. Ledger, after several at
tempts reached Brodie, fastened the rope
10 an iron band around his waist. and then
swan ashore and assisted in pulling the
daring swimmer ashore On Brodie's be-
ing lifted on the rocky shore he was quick
ly stripped aud brandy poured in small
quantities on his temples, while he was
rubbed and chafei; but he was insensible,
hlODd tlOZan
probably from the shock OF conclusion. For
twenty minutes Brodie lay until am
mOnia was applied % his nostrilg, and he
began to shiyer and gesticuIats with his
hands. He gradually recovered conscious
ness and then found his injuries were not
serious. he expects 10 be able TO go to
New York Tomorrow.
In describing his experience Brodie says
that after he entered the river he weak
ened and would have given anything in
the world If be could have reached shore.
He attempted to get ashore by using his
paddle when the swift current swept him
back and turned his feet towards the brink
Of the cataract. When he saw that il was
impossible to get cut he felt the same as a
man that was TO meet death. just RS be
came To the brink of the falls he .ecame
unconscious through fright and remained
so until he struck the water, when he was
tempOrariarily brought 20 by the force
with which he struck the water. Then be
again lest consciousness and knew no more
until be found htmself lying on his rubber
suit at the waters edge There is no
doubt that Brodie successfully went over
the falls.
Chief Mcdonnell, of the Ontario police,
arrest Brodie at the Grand Trunk station
this afternoon as he was about TO take the
p M train for New York. He is charged
with attempting suicide by going over the
falls this morning.
Brodie was brought before police msg-
istrate this evening, who read the charges
against him. In defense BrOdie said he did
not attempt to suicide by going over the
fails, but 10 show the world the trip could
be made. The police magistrate said he
did not believe Brodie went over the falls
at all; that the whole thing was a humbug.
If he did not go over TO say so, and he
would discharge him. BrOdie said
in that case he would say
he did not go over, but
declined to make en affidavit to that effect,
saying he was Catholic and could not
perjure himself. The magistrate then
bound him over in bonds of $500 to keen
the laws of the dominion for one year and
especially that relating to attempts TO 60
over the falls. Brodie signed the docu-
ment on his own recogniZ ance and left i'm
mediately for the American side