The Press., 1894-07-26
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ELLINGTON.
 Tragic Death of Collins RichardsOn-the
 noted jumper of Crystal Lake. His last
 plunge at shaker Station. in Enfield, on
 Saturday. ss
 Posters distributed last week, announc- ing the purpose of Collins Richardson to do feat at Shaker Station, in Enfield, on Saturday,, generally awakened curiosi- ty is to whether this was to be the fatal winding up of his career considered as certain to come. We copy from the Courant's account:
 Collie R Richardson. of Crystal Lake, who has gained reputation in this state as high jumper and diver, jumped from a tower 1e0 feet high at Point of Pines Hrove, Shaker Station, Saturday afternoon, and was instantly killed. Rich ardson dove 100 feet July 9th into 12 feet of water. Ills success in safely accomplish ing this fiat influenced him in attempting the far n ore difficult and dangerous act of jumpi,g from the same tower raised twenty fAt higher. The jump was ad- vertised, ind about 700 people assembled Saturday afternoon to see the jump. At 4:15 Richardson ran up to the dizzy height witk theAeility of a monkey. When he reached he top he addressed the crowd, saying hs had no fear, and that he was as willing tidiye as jump. In fact, he made a Haove sas@n to go head-first, and when the crowd gave a gasp of horror he laugh ed harlessly, pulled himself togethae and jumped boldly out to his death. When coming down in his jump it was Richard soes 6ste1a to keep his hands and legs going fsA he struck water. This he did Saturday until about ten feet from the water. Then. rapid as the descent was, theserowd could see Richardson collapse apdstsike the water lifeless. He was out of eight in flash, and boats that were waiting pulled to the spot, and waited for his reappearance. But he did not come up, and in few moments the small lake was alive with boats, and ten or twelve men began diving for the body. But the place where he went under was so deep that the divers could not reach bottom. Hooks were then used in dragging, but it was o'clock before the body was recov- cred. Dr. Parsons, of Thompsonville, the coroner, gave as his verdict that he came to his death by his own act and that he was dead before he struck the wa ter, which at that place is eighteen feet deep There were no marks on the body, and no bones broken. The only sign or anything like an unnatural death was a little blood about the nostrils.
 Richardson has been jumping from ele- vatipns into the water for about four yeas, and has gained the reputation of beirg fearless almost to foolhardiness. He lad jumped and dived from all heights betaeen forty feet and his fatal jump of 12O feet. His ambition was to jump from 8 hkller place than the Brooklyn bridge, whish is 135 feet above the water, and if Proprietor Terry of the grove would have conEented to build tower to that height, Richardson would have unhesitatingly made the attempt. It is said that Rich ardson made wager of a box of cigars that he wouldn't be killed with friend who tried to tlissuade him from attempt ing the dangerous act. The news of his deash was no surprise to those here who knAg him, as there were many who be- iieysd 1t Impossible to jump that distance andsliye. The small regard he had for his life was something marvellous. He wasE absolutely without fear in other ,. .tysss'sgs as well as jumping. He was 24 yeaks old. His parents and several broth. 1 CTS Alnd sisters survive him. Crystal Lals was his home, where the funeral topk place on Monday s
 caSfuerarle m1ignation sis being ex. prsased that Mr. Terry, the proprietor oi the Srove, should allow such a foolhardy act fo be committed on his grounds. MT Terry was interviewed by ''rhe Courant' reporter, and said that he felt in no way responsible, as he did not employ Rich ardaBn to jump, but allowed him the use of the grounds for share of the gate re- ceipss. He had no reason to believe, he said that it would be a fatal jump, as Richardson had successfully performed al the arious resorts in the vicinity. There was mo more danger than was occupied with other legitimate feats, such as rope walRang aud other circus performing. A Ihrgther of Richardson said that the fami Ily held no one to blame for his brothers Ideath.
 | Richardson comes of family of swim. merss two of his sisters having gained considerable fame as fancy swimmers
 His 1Syears-old sister, Bessie, was witt Collie at the time of his death, and was to give an exhibition after his jump When she heard of her brothers deatl the little one went into convulsions. Pro prsetaT Terry believes that the tower was only lu6 feet, and not 12O as billed. This IS certainly the last exhibition of the kinC that will be ever given at any of the nu I merOns lakes in this vicinity, and no lit tie feeling has been worked up over ths taecidsnt Saturday."
 ] AA0 AOiloWAHS IS rom the HartfOrC
 Times: "His parents, relatives and friend. at Crystal Lake were all convinced tha
 he would eventually kin himself, but h, appeared to have mania for the strang, business, and all the efforts possible to bt
 made by his friends to stop him were un availing. He appeared to have no fear al
 any time, and made an appointment witt a friea6 to be back at Crystal Lake, Sat
 urday yFhight, and attend dance with him
 His friend told him he would be killed
 and Collie wanted to deposit $5 as a be-
 that he would be there, but his friend
 would not agree to the proposal. One O
 the pathetic incidents of the sad affail
 was the presence of his young sister, { Il ~-4r xxr.s,,N .R L n