Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-02-06
A PLUNGE TO DEATH.
SAN pATChS FAMOUS JUMP OVER
The GENESEE FALLS

The Last Of . Sensational series Of
Dartax E~at. which Might Have
Resulted Differently hut For . Bot
tie of Braady.
Nov. Is. 1929. Sam Patch lost his life
in jumping from a scanold 2o feet
into the abyss below. He undertook
70 jump In all a distance OF ia5 feet
OF course the whole population of
Rochester as well as the farmers from
ueighboring villages were upon the
scene. The fame Of Patch had for
several weeks been a topic Of CONVEX
sation among the early settlers.
Patch was born in Rhode Island In
1907. Soon after he removed to Pater-
son. n J.. at which place In 5 he
was seized with the jumping mania
After giving several daring exhibitions
luck at Niagara falls two years later.
In October. 1927. he jumped from a
shelving rock between Goat island and
he urgling waters many feet below.
A few days later he startled the na
tives by jumping from the old Fitz
hugh street bridge at dawn He swan
under the water to n convenient hiding
place. where he had much amusement
in watching several boats crowded
with people dragging for his body.
They were startled when he called
merrily TO them. joking them far their
wasted Efforts In his behalf.
On another morning he startled a
Rochester lad by jumping from the
brink Of the falls TO the rapids below.
II Patch had not reassured the boy, be
would have had half of the population
of Rochester dragging the water for
his dead body.
With such a record II Is no wonder
that on the morning of Nov. Is all the
muddy roads leading TO Rochester
were thronged with people DESTROYS of
seeing the wonderful jumper. Even II
farmers We're unusually busy In secur-
ing the last of their harvests they
found time TO take a day or two of in
order to witness the feats OF Sam
Patch. Several boats brought hundreds
of visitors in holiday attire from Can
ada. Oswego and Lewiston Buffalo
Canandaigua and Batavia were almost
depopulated on ccoun of the exodus
TO Rochester. The few taverns in the
city turned guests away. and many
had to camp out overnight.
Notwithstanding the raw. cold wealth
er throngs of settlers ned the banks
below the falls. Although San said he
did not feel the cold weather. he was
pleased TO fortify himself with a drink
Of brandy rendered 10 him by his
frsnnJ Ayiliia,p Cochin, ~ Sayornl OF
the spectators contributed a unique
uniform. Dressed in white trousers
decorated with a black silk handker-
chief tied o his body. ~surmounted
by a light wooden jacket and skullcap.
Sam must have presented a grotesque
appearance.
After taking another drink from the
flask Sam made the following speech
to the thousands OF breathless specta-
tors: Napoleon was a great man and
a great general He conquered armies.
and he conquered nations But he
couldn't jump the Genese falls. We
lington was a great man and a great
soldier He conquered armies, and he
conquered nations. aud he conquered
Napoleon. but he couldn't jump the
Genesee falls That was left for me to
W.. II IVAN no II dHu Will
Although Sam Patch could jump the
Gencsee falls when he was sober. he
could not do il when he felt the effects
Of the brandy. Owing to this fact he
met his death when he tool the jump
When The thousands of silent inc hor
ror stricken spectators saw Sam strike
he water. they did not see him come
TO the surface. His descent was so IN
like his previous efforts. when he shot
like an arrow from a bow. that the
spectators were certain that he met his
doom when he reached the water and
the jagged. piercing rocks beneath.
The spectators searched in vain for
the jumper. The torches of the search
ers along the river bank and those OF
the searchers who dragged the river In
boats lit up the river during the long
night hours. Amid the roar of the
cataract the sorrowing multitude he'd
tears for the jolly good fellow who.
like many others. loved his bottle on
occasions.
Notwithstanding the rumor that
Sam Patch had been seen alive in
Rochester nothing was heard OF him
until st. Patrick's day. when his body
was found In a cake of ice near the
mouth OF the Genesee. His remains
were buried In the cemetery at Char
lotte- Although II had been the ambi
ton OF bis life to jump London bridge.
he met his death In the Genesee. The
feats Of Sam Patch filled the newspa
pers for weeks. and although such
poets as Mrs. ~Sigourney wrote poems
dedicated to his memory no monument
hos haon orontoJ IN nan, N r., > a tj1p -
his feats.
Indeed. the event produced a pro
found impression Upon the people of
those days On the following Sunday
the preachers In Rochester and neigh
boring towns could not say enough
against the evils of jump.lg. Some
ven rel as far as Josiah BisseIl. who
told the pupils OF the Third church
Sunday school hat because they saw
the fatal leap they were accessories to