New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CRACKED SKULL FROM A DIVE
DONALDSON AT DEATHS DOOR AS RE-
SUIT OF AN EIGHTY-FOOT DROP
LARGE CROWD AT THE GARDEH SEES THE 40
crpExr-pIvER LOSES HIS WITS AS HE
STRIKES THE WATER N THE
SHALLOW TANK.

Thomas p. Donaldson. forty-two years ola, 0
Bath Beach. who is well known as a high DIVER
dived yesterday from the roof in Madison
Square Garden into tank, eighty feet below.
His head struck the bottom OF the tank.
His skull was fractured, but IL is thought ne
may recover
Donaldson has been one of the attractions al
the Sportsmens Show, and has made TWO dives
daily, one in the afternoon and one In the even
ing The tank is only eight feet deep. and con-
tains six and half feet Of water. On two or
three former occasions Donaldson did not have
the success expected and came out of the water
with hemorrhages OF the nose and ears. 1t Is
said that Harry s. Cornish planned the tank
and has arranged all the contests in II. Ths
water was believed to be deep enough for the
dive. and Donaldson is said to have frequently
declared that he could make the drop with two
feet Of water less in the tank. II necessary.
When the time for the exhibition arrived yes
terday. 4:3O D. m. there were about three thou
sand people in the Garden. Donaldson appeared
on the glrders punctually. and carefully climbed
out TO the platform built for him. He wore tne
American colors draped about him over his
tights He stood poised for a second Wills
the onlookers waited in silence
Donaldson. are you ready" called out ths
announcer.
The diver waved an American flag TO signal
that he was ready. and a pistol was hred. A.
rigid as a statue Donaldson leaned over ana
began to fall Slowly it seemed for second.
until he got the position he desired. and then
he shot downward like an arrow
There was murnur Of admiration at wnss
seemed To be a perfect dive. and the spectators
we're starting 10 leave the Garden. when they
were restrained by excitement around the tank
At first It said that the man had been
killed Women became hysterical and men made
a rush FOR the edge OF the tank. Frank spohn.
an attache Of the Garden. and Harry Reedsr.
the swimmer were at the edge OF the pool az
Donaldson struck They waited for him to come
up and supposed at first that he purposely
STAYED under water. as divers often do. Then
Reeder noticed that the water was discolored
where Donaldson had entered It. and without
waiting longer ne dved into the pool with his
clothes on He was followed by Spohn.
Reeder and Spohn swan around the pool, DIV
ing repeatedly but in the blood-discolored water
could not see the body Finally Reeder brought
the diver up. He appeared 20 be dead. DR..
Heber Bishop. OF Boston and Dr. Hamilton
Vreeland. Of Jersey City, worked on the BODY In
the dressing room. but at first the case seemed
! hopeless. The injured man was taken 10 the
! New York Hospital
II is said that as Donaldson began his dive
the colors wrapped about him became loose. His
attention was diverted by this. and he did NOT
have his wits about him he hit the water.
He struck the bottom Of the tank on the left side
OF his face with terrific force. His face Ia
| crushed in, and he has fractured skull. The
! surgeons at the hospital said that he had a
| chance TO recover however.
| Donaldson weighs more than two hundred
| pounds He travelled with Barnums circus for
! several seasons. Just before making the dive
he had said he intended 10 challenge Kearney
T. Speedy, the champion high diver OF the
world Donaldson Is married and has family
at Bath Beach.