Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-04
JUMPS OFF BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
Henna Hauser, a BOoze-Inspired Aero
bat, Performs the Feat.

Henna Hauser, treasurer of the Herald
Square Theater in New York, jumped from
the middle span of the Brooklyn bridge at 5
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. He was rescued
from the water and will recover. Hauser was
passenger on an electric car bound from
Brooklyn to New York. He sat calmly
reading a newspaper until about the mid
die of the bridge was reached, when he
jumped off the car. Throwing off his coat
Hauser climbed upon the outer railing to
leap The bridge policeman, passengers on
the cars and the car men themselves
made rush for the man. He regarded
their approach coolly, hesitated a moment
and then leaped clear of the structure
He struck the water just astern of a ferry
boat. passenger sprang overheard and
seized Hauser when he came to the surface
He was lifted aboard, taken to shore and
sent to the hospital.
Hauser is about thirty years old and is
very well known to the theatrical fraterni-
ty. He started as an usher at Hooey s
Theater, in Chicago. Then he became as
siStant treasurer and later treasurer. He
was connected with Hooley's Theater for
ten years. He came to New York in 1896
One story, which Hauser confirmed last
night, was to the effect that little girl
on her way back from Coney Island on a
Sd avenue car, commenced to interrogate
her father concerning the big bridge just
about the time they reached the Brooklyn
end. Hhis child, perhaps seven or eight
years of age, finally inquired whether any
one had ever jumped from the bridge. The
parent replied in the affirmative and at
tempted to induce his daughter to keep
still. Seated just back of the man and the
little girl so the story runs, was Mr.. Hau-
ser. Suddenly and without warning the
child began again and broke out with the
remark
Say, papa, would like to see somebody
jump off,
Wei, L am afraid you won't get your
wish today, replied her father.
jump for the little girl"
This much is certain, that Mr. Hauser
did spring up from his seat and dropped
from the car into the roadway with an
agility that surprised the spectators So
sudden were his movements that the con-
ductor had no lime to pull the rope to stop
the car, and hundred feet had been trav-
eied before the motorman finally succeeded
in bringing things to pause BY this time
Mr.. Hauser was high upon the rail.
Pausing for a second, he waved his hand
toward the people on the car, then sprang
into the air, and went down like a shot,
turning over and over as he fell He
struck the water with a splash which was
heard at both ends of the bridge and on the
shore.
Then followed the usual scenes incident
to an event of this kind. The passengers
deserted the car and attempted to see what
was gong on from over the rail. In few
minutes Inc entire traffic on the bridge
was suspended There was the usual quota
or excited men and hysterica1 women and
Tor half an hour the policemen and trolley
car employees had their hands full trvins, n
straighten out the tangle.
when asked why he made the jump Hau-
ser said 1t was because he was a drunken
fool He insisted that he had had no trou-
BILE of any sort, either in his family or
financially. Finally he jokingly remarked:
That's what Coney Island booze does for
| fellow"