The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-14
A MARVELLOUS FEAT.
A Daring English Athlete Dives From
Speeding Trains Into Rivers.

A Daring English Athlete Dives From
Speeding Trains Into Rivers.
A greater than Steve Brodie, OF bridge
jumping fame, has arisen in the person
OF Tommy" Burns, a diver OF Liverpool,
England, who has just put startling
new twist to the rather overdone business
of jumping into rivers from dizzy
heights. Burns has been treating as
many of the British public as happened
to be on hand when he performed his
teats TO dive from the top OF a swiftly
moving train over the parapet OF
bridge AMI into river the waters OF
which were blood curdling depth below.
Burns made several attempts to perform
the feat, but was prevented by the rail-
road officials. He succeeded at last, how
ever. in hiding himself on the bumpers of
a passenger train as 1t wss pulling out of
Charipg Cross station toscross the rail-
road bridge over the Thames en- route for
Dover.
A few friends had been notified to be on
hsnd, and they gat hered on these narrow
foot psth for pedestrians that runs by
the train had almost reached the center
of the bridge Burns elm bed quickly from
his hiding place in the rear of The car
riage, mounted the roof, ana throwing of
a long overcost that he wore, stood W
dressed in q close fitting gymnasium suit.
At the spot selected by the diver for his
daring feat there Is between the trains
aud the parapet of the bridge a foot path
about three feet wide. Stsnding up,
Burns steadied himself on the moving
train, and then plunged headloug over
the rail. He cleared the parapet by so
narrow margin that the spectators
shivered, and struck the water head down
making a very clean and graceful dive.
He was pulled aboard boat that WAS
In waiting and taken ssnore, showing no
Ill effects from mis- daring feat.
The success of this 6rst attempt con-
vinced Burns that the royal road to
wealth was by way of the moving train
bridge jump, and he speedily made ar
rangements to repest the dive, in con.
sideration of a purse gotten up by n se-
lect few who, IN return for their coin,
were to be present at the performance.
Ihisi time Burns chose the Chelsea
Batersea Bridge as the scene of his ex-
plot. This bridge Ia not as difficult to
Jump from as the Charing Cross bridge,
for the reas on that tho trains run close
to the parauet, but the bridge is higb her,
and the trains, having been moving for
some distance when they reach the
bridge, have considerably more speed.
The second attempt was a. successful
| as the first, The time was chosen so rs
to insure tho tide being on the ebb. and
at tbe agreed moment Burns appeared on
the top of train that was crossing the
bridge from the Chelsea station. Once
the train was fairly on the bridge Burns
stood up and took a clean header for the
water. IL was a splenuio dive, and the
spectators cheered the daring diver TO the
echo. He was rowed ashore particularly
juhilsnt man.
Burns Is now out with challenge to
any bridge jumper in the world to equal
bis feat, and so far no one has appeared
who is willing to take the risk. Burns
has expressed his intention of coming to
America and repeating the feat here, IL
he cannot tiDd anyone In England with
nerve enough to accept this challenge. lie
will probably learn lesson on he differ
| ence in speed between English and
American trains should he keep his WORD.