New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-11
DONALDSON THE DIVER DEAD.
FBvERE CRITICISM BECAUSE Hh WAS
ALLOWED TO MAKE THE
FATAL PLUNGE.
OFFICERS OF THE sPoRTsMEN's SHOW SAY THAI
OUTSIDERS ARE Observation-Disclosures
,.rrON MELTED

LATION NEEDED.
Thomas P Donaldson the expert diver and
xwInmer who had been making the hazardous
lean into the water tank at the Sportsmens Sho"
at Madison Square Garden died at the New-hoIk
Hospital yesterday morning at o'clock Donald
son did not regain consciousness after his skuAi
struck the bottom Of the tank on WEDNESDAY
afternoon 1t Is said that he received the MODEST
sum OF S5 each day for his dangerous perform
ance He was engaged by Harry $. Cornish VINO
had charge Of the water sports at the eNhi"i''o''
donaldson was an engraver by trade but he de-
voted much OF his time for the last few years u"
swimming and diving. lie was always one OF the
Marty Of men with whom 1t has been haoit 10
10 in swimming in the Bay In the middle OF WIN
Ter. and generally when the weather Is particularly
cold lie employed at Manhattan Beach III
a diving specially last summer. Donaldson was
1orty-two years old. and although below the
medium height. ne weighed in the neighborhood Of
200 pounds He leaves 2 widow and two children
lie had made his home az Bath Beach, Long ISL
and. for several years.
The high dive Mt Madison Square Garden was
one Of the features which sensitive visitors 10 the
sportsmen's Snow objected to- and as II was maze
In the afternoon. when the attendance OF women
and children was the biggest many criticised the
,panagement for permitting such a performance
The diver had a hard time ot II on the opening
dav Of the exhibition. striking the water with his
side He was dragged from the pool bleeding pro-
fusely from the cars ana nose ana II N"H me-
mated at that time that the high dive would be
discontinued.
The diver however. turned up apparently all
right the next day and he continued TO sail through
the air from the rafters into the water which was
from sixty TO seventy feet below on WEDNESDAY
afternoon when the fatal leap was made. the other
part OF the performance scheduled 10 take
place at O'Clock in the afternoon after the ordi-
nary exhibition Of swimming and diving. Az =
o'clock Prunty and Harvey, the announcers. caIeu
for Donaldson. but he not in the building ana
the officers moved away from the tank lhere
were probably about two thousand people around
the tank waiting for Donaldson to make his leap
but tney moved away to other parts OF the Ouild-
ing when the announcement was made that Don
ALLISON had failed to turn up, and that the high
dive would not be maze una Afternoon, 49,. ,ho
b1fIdjnr and said that he would disrobe and be
ready 10 make his dive in few minutes. he hur
american colors and then made his way aionS
the rafters to his wooden perch at me TOP OF tIe
building He was apparently nervous, anu ~
cited but according 10 those who saw MN ne was
sober. Cornish did not fire the pistol ror nm 10
60 much nOtoricty in connection with the ADAMS
Whon II was seen that Donaldson was ON his
little wooden perch the spectators came uaCA ~
Souncer Harvey looked up and chided the diver
good-naturedy for being late. Then asking Don 1D
Tistol was not fired AT all. according to Harvey.
For an instant Donaldson leaned over shsht!
ing his hand ~" shaped above his head he leaped
into the air and his body started straight for the
water He came down Ike q shOt. ana struch O"'s
water perfecty straight to the horror OF some. OF
The eX bert swimmers present, who reaIlzed that
particularly fOOhardy dive had been naue.
donaldson went straight TO the bottom, striking
Ills head and fracturing his skull. He was dragged
ont of The water unconscious by two swimmers
who jumped into the pool in ordinary clothes.
George Ellis an emplOye Of New Eng ana rOau,
made the dive once. but he was not allowed 10 u
n again. although he insisted on DONG so on
Thursday night He told by the management
that II he did he would be arrested.
Donaldson made the mistake or not turhls
ouicklV when he struck the water. ana had ne
done This even the six feet of water would nave
been deem enough for him TO make the dive IN
safety Had il been eight feet deep. as announce H.
The chances are that he woudinot nave Deeh KlIeq'
Many people think that those " no were response
ble for Donaldson's exhibition should be called 10
account in no gentle manner. such dangerous ana
perilous feats have place I'm sport at Inc DeS
md they disgust the better element among the
nCope OF the city The officers OF the snow say
mai they leased the contract 10 outside persons
t1he water exhibitions But II the management hau
made positive objection 10 DonaldsOns reap II
couid have been stopped. Such exhibitions. IKE
six-cav contests Of various kinds, are disgustns
and hrufal and the sooner the police ana the
legislature take precautions 10 stop such thhgs
the better IL will he for legitimate sport ana lol
tho families Of the poor devils VINO gel Il IL"
dollars for these dangerous performances.
Donaldson's funeral win be held at $50 oclocl
.hie morning iu The rooms OF the stephen Merrlt
Rural Company. Nos. 2n and 2B West twenty
fhird-st The Rev. Dr. q. :. Roche, or ST Pcter
FnjscOpal Church. win conduct the service. INT
burial will be in KCnscO Cemetery.