The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-11
WENT OVER NIAGARAFA
STEVE sRoDIE's PeRlLous FEAT.
Incased In His Rubber Suit, the Daring
Bridge Jumper Successfully Makes
the Dangerous Journey-Uncon-
scious When Picked Up.

NIAGARA FALLS, Sept. Steve Brodie
accomplished the perilous feat to-day of
going over Niagara Falls in a rubber suit.
Brodie and his party arrived at Clifton
last night. There were Ernest Gerold,
John Ledger, John Mccarthy and WILL
lam E. Harding and several newspaper
correspondents. They put up at the
Waverly hotel and registered under
fictitious names in order to avoid
suspicion. Brodie's suit was placed
200 feet above the Canadian
falls last night, ready for use. Inflated
rubber tubes, ETC., were also placed near
the Maid of the Mist landing. Brodie left
the hotel with the party at o'clock this
morning. John Mccarthy, Ernest Gerold
and Brodie went to point 200 feet above
the falls. He then stripped and had his
body padded with cotton batting, then put
on the rubber suit, which was inflated
fifty-two inches around the waist and
seventy-fve inches around the chest, the
head gear being also inflated, while two
steel bands protected his body.
At $50 o'clock Brodie with his paddle
entered the water. He caught the cur
rent, waved his paddle to Gerold and Nc
Carthv, and few seconds later was shot
over the center of the Horse Shoe falls,
and luckily he was shot with lightning
rapidity over the outside of one of the
falling volumes of water and was quickly
lost in the mist and foam. He was buried
from view for nearly two minutes, when a
back speck covered with a thick, white
coating, was seen bobbing and Jump
ing to and fro in the boil
ing cauldron of rushing. gurgling waters.
In a short time Brodie was caught in
the rushing waters and carried at brisk
pace toward the American shore, andthen
all OF a sudden he was hurried toward the
Canadian shore, where John Ledger had
ropes ready to drag him from the water.
Ledger was stripped and swan out 200
feet with a rope fastened to his waist,
while We. Harding held the other end on
shore. Ledger, after several attempts,
reached Brodie, fastened the rope to the
iron bands round his waist and then swan
ashore and assisted in pulling the daring
swimmer ashore.
On Brodie being lifted on the rocky
shore he was quickly stripped, brandy
poured in small quantities on his temples,
while he was rubbed and chaffed, bYt he
was insensible and blood oozed from his
mouth, nose and ears, probably from the
shock or conclusion. For twenty minutes
Brodie lay until ammonia was applied to
to his nostrils, and then ne began TO shiver
and gesticulate with his hands. He grad
ually recovered consciousness and it was
then found that his injuries were not seri-
Gus. He expects to be able to go to New
York tomorrow.
In describing bis experience, Bypdie
SAYS that after he entered the river he
weakened, and would have given any
thing in the world if he could have
reached terra tirma once more. He at
tempted to get ashore by using his pad
dies, when the swift current swept him
back and turned his feet toward the brink
of the cataract. When he saw that it was
impossible to get out, he felt the same as
q man who was to meet death, and prayed
for dear life. Just as he came to the brink
OF the falls he became unconscious through
fright and remained so until he struck the
water. Then he again lost consciousness,
and knew no more until he found himself
lying on his rubber suit at the waters
edge. There is no doubt that Brodie sue
cessfully went over the falls.
Chief McDougall of the Ontario police
arrested BrOdie at the Grand Trunk sta
ton this afternoon as he was about to take
the o'clock train for New York. He is
charged with attempting suicide by going
over the falls this morning.
Brodie was bought before Police Magis-
trate Hill this evening, who read the
charge made against him. In defense,
Brodie said he did not attempt to commit
suicide by going over the falls, but to
show the world that 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 gotten up to
humbug people, and if he did not 90 over
the fails to say so, and he would discharge
him; but if he persisted in saying he went
over, the case against him would go on.
Brodie said: "If | tell you | did not
go over will you let me go?"
EYES," said the magistrate.
"Well. then" said Brodie, 81 did not
go over, and l am off"
The magistrate said that was not enough,
and wrote out an affidavit declaring that
Brodie did not go over the falls, and asked
him to sign it. Brodie refused, saw
ing he was a catholic, and could
not periure himself. The magis-
trate then went on with the prosecution
Several witnesses were called who cor
roborated the story they were told by
Brodie and party. Magistrate Hill summed
up the evidence and bound over the pris-
oner in $500 on his own recognizance to
keep the laws OF the dominion for one
year, especially that relating to attempts
to 90 over the falls. Brodie signed the
document and Immediately made for the
American side. He seemed very nervous
and frightened throughout the proceed
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