The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-21
SAM PATCH'S LAST JUMP.

The 18Th of the present month was
IN, '0th anniversary Of one Of the most
noteworthy events in the early history
ut Rochester; in the days when Roch-
ester was a slumbering village on the
banks of the Genesee Although but
one man. Sam Patch. lost his life, the
valley of the Genesee was stirred As il
had never been stirred since the days
of Indian massacres, says The Roches-
ter Herald.
Nov. -, 1929 sam Patch lost his life
i'm jumping from scanold twenty-five
feet above the brink OF the Genesee
Falls into the abyss below lie under
took 20 jump in an a distance of 10
feet OF course The whole population
! OF Rochester as well as the farmers
/ from neighbOring villages were upon
the scene. The fame OF Patch had for
several weeks been a topic OF Conyersa-
ton among the settlers around home
! fireplace, as well as the big fireplace
IN the tavern. While the settlers slipped
their cider, they talked OF the WONDERS
! of the man from Jersey
Patch was born In Rhode Island IN
! 1897. soon after he removed 10 pater-
! son, y. j.. at which place in 1927. he
| was seized with the jumping mama.
| After giving several daring exhibitions
IN New Jersey. ne decided 20 try his
luck at Niagara Fails two years Iatts
IN october lozd he jumped from a
shelNlnE rock between Goat island and
the gurglng waters many feet below
a rev DAYS later he startled the ma
tiNes by jumping from the Old Fitzhugh
street bridge at dawn. he swan under
tr1V Witt u T CUTvFWEHT nTdIng p1aCg.
where he had much amusement in
watching several boats crowded with
people dragging fNr his body Tney
were startled when ne called merrily to
them, joking them for their wasted ef-
forts in his behalf.
On another morning he startled "a
Rochester lad by jumping from the
brink of the falls TO the rapids below.
III Patch had not reassured the boy he
would have had half OF the population
~ Rochester dragging the water for his
dead body.
with SUCH a record Il is no wonder
that on the morning OF Nov I3 All the
muddy roads leading to Rochester were
thfunged with people desirous Of seeing
the won plerfui jumper. Even IL farm
cts were unusually busy I'm securing
the last Of their harvest. they found
time 70 take day or two i'm order To
witness the feats Of Sam Patch. Sev-
urs in holiday attire from Canada, Os-
wego and Lewiston. Buffalo. Canandai
qua and Batavia We're almost depopu-
lated on account uf the exodus to Roch
ester. The few taverns in the CITY
turned guests away and many had to
camp out over night
Notwithstanding the raw cold wealth
er throrgs OF settlers lined the banks
below the falls. Although Sam said ne
ana not teel the cold weather. he was
pleased 90 fprtifv himself with a drink
or brandy rendered 90 him by his friend
william tochrane. Several Of the spec
{ators contributed unique uniform.
Dressed In white trousers decorated
with black handkerchief tied arotTr-~
his body surmouuted by "A light woolen
Jacket ana skull cap. Sam must have
presented grotosuue appearance.
AFTER taking another drink from the
mask sam made the following speech to
me thousands of brmthless spectators:
Napoleon was great man and a
great general lie CONQUERED armies.
ana ne CONQUERED nations. But he could |
not lulnp the Genesee falls. Wellington |
was great man. and great soldier. |
tie CONQUERED armies and ne CONQUERED |
nations. ana he conquered Napoleon |
uut ne could not iump the Genesee falls. !
do IL and Will"
Although Sam Patch could iimp the
tennessee falls when he was sober he
'oulu no, do u when he felt the effects
"l 'n' blahd} owing t0 this fact ne
int nus dath when he took the Jump.
Nhen me thousands OF silent and hor-
lof-strirNn spectators saw sam strike
the water they did not see him come
- the surface. His descent was SO un-
Ike ms previous efforts. when he shot
thc an arrow from bow, that the !
sp''tat"iS We're certain hat he met hi |
u"ou Nh'u he reached The water and
the Jagged piercing rocks beneath.
nc sprttdlnrS searched i'm vain for
The jumper The t,r,ho, Of I'm srarrh
ers along lhn river bank ana those of
the searchers who dragged the rive,. i'm
boats llt up he riytT durng The lone
night hours. Amid the roar of he cat
aratt the soT0Niuw multitude .b.d
tears FOR the Jolly good fellow, who
Ike many others. loved his bottle on
occasions.
Notwithstaudnc On, rnp .rs tbet
sam Patch had been SEEN alive ir
rochester. nothing WAS hplr,l nf him |
intil 81. latlivks day Whom mis- hody /
was Found In 60 cake of .c. pear tbc !
mouth ~ the Gcu,~o- ge tr,patus
we're buried M tine cemetery at char
ottc Although it had b.op ia. nm
,itiou OF h.s life tn iump London brldge
lc met his death iu th. Gepcssa Thc
eats OF sam Patch filled the ncwspa.
'ers FOR weeks and a'fh h.ugb sucb po,.fs
s Mrs Sigourucy wrote poems dedl-
ated 20 his memory nu monument hns
'een erected in commtm0ration or HE
eats
Indeed the event produced A profound
upon the people ~ Those ,
avs. ON the following sunday. thu
rcachcrs IN Roche stor aud ueighbor- ,
* towns could not sty enough against
he evils 90 iumu'1C ime even went !
s far as dOFigh l.lsoll. who told an. =
ll.--lA- af- -IhLrl- LlllLlL Sls..l.4- ~ LII
nat because ih'v saN thc. fatal lrnp 'r
lcN were acccaseri, 10 his death AMI
ere murderers m hr sight az God 4
John " stone. % Glenwood. Ia. hasi
hat is believed to b. On. higg en- ar.
N orchard in jhe world. Il embraces q
. acres. upon which are growing fas- i,