Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-08

Steve Brodie Goes Over the Falls in
Rubber Suit.
CLIFTON (Ont), September 7th.-Steve
Brodie went over Horseshoe falls this
morning in rubber suit He was picked
up below the falls in an unconscious con-
dition and taken to Clifton. He recovered
consciousness not long after, and an exam
ination showed that he was not seriously
injured.
Brodie, with several friends and news
paper correspondents, arrived last night.
They left the hotel at 4 o'clock this morn
ing and went to point 200 feet above the
falls.
Brodie then stripped and had his body
padded with cotton batting and then put
on the rubber suit, which was inflated 1t
was fifty-two inches around the waist and
seventy five inches around the chest. The
head gear was also inflated, while two
steel bands protected the body.
At $50 Brodie, with paddle, entered the
water, caught current, waved his paddle
and few seconds later was shot over the
center of Horseshoe falls, and luckily was
shot with lightning rapidity over the out
side of one of the falling volumes of water
and was quickly lost in the mist and foam
He was buried from view nearly two
minutes, when be appeared on the surface
duu WINS tOW ihC omtIlGdu
shore, and then suddenly hurried toward
the Canadian shore, where his friend, John
Ledger, had ropes ready to drag him from
the water.
Ledger was stripped and swan out 200
feet with the rope fastened to his waist
while w. E. Harding held the other end
on the shore. Ledger, after several at
tempts, reached Brodie and fastened the
rope 10 the iron bands around the waist
He then swan ashore and assisted in pull
ing the daring swimmer ashore.
On Brodie being lifted on the rocky shore
he was quickly stripped and brandy poured
in small quantities on the temple, while he
was rubbed and chafed, but he was insen-
and ears, probably from the shock or con-
cussion.
For twenty minutes Brodie lay, until
ammonia was applied to his nostrils, and
then he began to shiver and gesticulate
with his hands. He gradually recovered
consciousness and then found his injuries
not serious. He expects to be able to go to
New York on tomorrow.
In describing his experience, Brodie
says that after he entered the river he
weakened, and would have given anything
in the world if he could have reached
shore. He attempted to get ashore by
ucillS pduulcS, Wucll lue SWllL current
swept him back and turned his feet to-
wards the brink of the cataract When he
saw that it was impossible to get out he
felt the same as a man that was to meet
his death.
Just as he came to the brink of the falls
he became unconscious through fright, and
remained so until he struck the water and
churned into the foam at the base of the
falls. He was then possibly brought to by
the force with which he struck the water
Then he again lost Inconsistencies and
knew no more until he found himself lying
on his rubber suit at the waters edge.
There is no doubt that Brodie successfully
went over the falls.
Chief McDougall of the Ontario police
arrested Brodie at the Grand Trunk station
this afternoon as he was about to take the
P. NJ. train for New York. He was
charged with attempting suicide by going
over the falls this morning
Brodie was brought before the police
magistrate this evening, who read the
charges made against him.
In defense Brodie said he did not at
tempt to commit suicide by going over the
falls, but to 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 an affidavit to that effect
saying he was a Catholic and could not
perjure himself.
The magistrate then bound him over in
bonds of $500 to keep the laws of the Do
minion for one year, and especially that
relating to attempts to go over the fall.
Brodie signed the document on his own
recoguiZance, and Immediately made for
the American side