The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-04-04
A PLUME TO DEATH.
SAM PATCH'S FAMOUS JUMP OVER
THE GENESEE FALLS.

Daring Feuts Which Might Have
Resulted Differently but For a Bot
tie of Brandy.
Nov. Is. 1920. Sam Patch lost his life
in jumping from n scaffold 25 feet
Nhove the brink Of the Genesee falls
10 the abyss below. He undertook
~ jump in all a distance of 125 feet.
OF course the whole population of
Rochester as we'll as the farmers from
neighboring villages were upon the
scene. The fame Of Patch had for
several weeks been a topic of conver-
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 1927 he
was seized with the jumping mania.
After giving several daring exhibitions
in New Jersey he decided to try his
luck at Niagara falls two years later.
In October. 1927. he jumped from a
shelving rock between Goat island and
the gurgling 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 a 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 for 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.
If Patch had not treasured the boy. he
would have had half Of the population
of Rochester dragging the water for
his dead body.
With such a record it is no wonder
that on the morning of Nov. Is oil the
muddy roads leading to Rochester
were thronged with people DESTROYS of
seeing the wonderful jumper. Even if
farmers were unusually busy in secur-
ing the last OF their harvests they
found time to take a day or two off 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 account Of the exodus
to Rochester. The few taverns in the
city turned guests away. and many
had to camp out overnight.
Notwithstanding the ra w. cold wealth
er throngs of settlers lined the banks
below the falls. Although Sam said he
did not feel the cold weather. he was
pleased to fortify himself with a drink
of brandy rendered to him by his
friend. William Cochrane. Several Of
the spectators contributed a unique
uniform. Dressed in white trousers
decorated with a black silk handker-
chief tied around his body. surmounted
by a light wooden jacket and skullcap.
Sam nus have presented a grotesque
appearance.
After taking another drink from the
flask Sam made the following speech
to the thousands Of GREATNESS specta-
tors: Napoleon was a great man and
a great general. He conquered armies.
and he conquered nations. But he
couldn't jump the Genesee falls. We'll
lington was a great man and a great
soldier. He conquered armies. and he
conquered nations. and he conquered
Napoleon. but he couldn't jump the
Genesee falls. That was left for me tc
do. and can do it and will"
Although Sam Patch could jump the
Genesee falls when he was sober. he
could moi do it when he felt the effects
Of the brandy. Owing to this fact he
me his death when he took the jump.
When the thousands OF silent and hor-
ror stricken spectators saw Sam strike
the water. they did not see him come
to the surface. His descent was so un-
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 shed
tears for the jolly good fellow who,
like many others, loved his bottle on
occasions.
Notwithstanding the rumoys 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 it had been the ambi-
ton OF his life to jump London bridge,
he met his death in the Genesee. The
feats OF Sam Patch filed the newspa. |
pers for weeks. and although such
poets as Mrs. S%igourney wrote poems /
dedicated to his memory no monument |
has been erected in commemoration Of |
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 jumping. Some
went as far as Josiah Bissell, who |
told the pupils Of the Third church
Sunday school that because they saw |
Tho fnfo1 1n0n fhov u,oro oooocco,;oc - |