The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-19
SAM PATCH AND HIS JUMP.
HIS THRILLING LEAP OF Is5 FEET
AT GENEsEE FALLS.
the Cost OF the Reckless Mans
Life - Thousands of Spectators
Witnessed His Plunge to Death.

Witnessed His Plunge to Death.
November Is was the anniversary OF one
Of the most noteworthy events IN the
early history of Rochester. In the days
when Rochester WAS slumhering village
on the banks of the Genesee. Although
but one man. Sam Patch. lost his hfe. the
valley of the Genesee was stirred as Il
had never been stirred since the days OF
Indian massacreS. November q lSs9.
Sam Patch lost his life in jumping from
a scaffold twenty-five feet above the brink
OF the Genesee falls into the abyss below.
He undertook 10 jump in all distance
OF LIS feet or course the whole popula
ton of Rochester. as well the farmers
from neighboring villages, were upon tho
scene. The fame OF Patch had for several
weeks been topic Of conversation among
the early settlers. Around the horne Are
place. as well as the big fireplace In the
tavern. they talked o. the wonders OF tie
man from Jersey.
Patch was horn In Rhode Island In iST.
Soon after he removed 20 Paterson. n. j.,
at which place. in iSa7. he was seized with
the jumping mania. After giving several
daring exhibitions in New Jersey he decsd-
ed to try his luck at Niagara fails. two
years later, In October. iS2T. he jumped
from shelving rock between Goat island
and the gursling waters many feet below.
by jumping from the old fftxhugh stree.
bridge at dawn He swan under tho
water TO convenient hiding place, where
he had much amusement Ia watching sew
eral boats crowded with people dragging
for his body. They were startled whea
he called merrtly TO them. joking them
for their wasted efforts In HIS behalf. On
another morning he startled a Rochester
lad'by jumping from the hFink Of the falls
to the rapids below. u Patch had not re-
assured the hoy he would have bad hair
OF the population Of Rochester dragging
the water for his dead body.
Many Hundred. Csme 90 See.
With such a record q Is no wonder that
on the morning of February is all tho
muddy roads leading 90 Rochester were
throngcd with people DESTROYS OF seein.
the wonderful bridge jumper, Even IL
farmers were unusually busy In securing
the last OF their harvests they fon.si time
to take a day or two or To witness the
feats OF Sam Patch Several boats
brought hundreds OF visitors in holiday
attire from Canada. oswego and Lewis
ton. Buffalo. GanandaiEun and Batavia
were almost depopulated on account of tho
exodus 10 Rochester. The few .averns
IA the city turned guests away and many
had to camp out tn their wagons over
night.
Notwithstanding the raw, cold weather
throngs OF settlers lined the hanks below
lHe latts AthouSh sam SAID ne uld nor
teel the cold weather he was pleased 10
forilfy himself with glass OF whisky
rendered TO him hy his friend William
cochrane. Several OF his friends contrib
uted UNIQUE uniform. Dressed In white
trousers decorated with black silk hand.
kerchief tied around his body. surmnnntel
by n light wooden jacket and sknll cap.
sam must have presented Rrctssauc APP
pearance.
After taking another drink from tho
flask sam MADE the following speech 10
the thousands OF GREATNESS spectators;
Napoleon was a great man and a great
general He couauer-d armies and he
conanered nations But he couldn't jump
the Genesee fails Wellington was q
great man and a great soldier. lie con-
quered armies and he conquered nations
and he conquered Napoleon. but he eouidnt
jump the 5eues-s fails That was lcf.
Hedy Founa M0nths Later.
AIthoush Sam patch coula t,,,ua tbs
Genesee fails when he VA. aoh., r. ,,.s,l.t
not do ii when he felt me meets "a
brandy owing TO This fart ba mct Ma
death when he took Inc iama when ~,
thousands AZ silent ana horror.s,yick.p
spectators saw sam strike ~, water they
did NOT see rim come "a IN. snrfat. IA,
d.sc.u, was 30 nntIk. ~ ,ro,,n,s a,,,,r,s
when h. shot llke an asfew from 4 baw
thai the pp.ctatcfa uere rsrtain INA, N.
met his doom when he reached tho n at.y
ana the tagged. pl.rc,p9 rneks benraih
The spectators seareh.d n win Tor ~.
Jumper The torches 81 the rssrenes.
aionr th. rfv.v ta,k .na ,hn1.. ~ a..