The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900, 1900-04-19
A PLUNGE TO DEATH.
SAM PATCH'S FAMOUS JUMP OVER
Tpe GENE5eE FALLS.
The Last at Sensational Series of
Daring Ecnts which Might Have
Resuitcd Differently but For n Bot
tie of brandy.

tie of brandy.
Nov. l3, 1920, Sam Patch lost his life
In jnmplng from scnTold % feet
above the brink of the Gcncscc falls
to jump in all distance OF 125 feet.
or course the whole population OF
Rochester as well rs the farmers from
ncighboring villages were upon the
scene. The fame of Patch had for
several weeks been a topic Of convcr-
sntion among the early settlers.
Patch was born in Rhode Island In
1907. Soon after he removed to Pater-
son. N. j., mt 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 Mt Niagara falls two years later.
In october, 1927, he jumped from a
shelving rock between Cont island and
the gurgling waters many feet below.
A few days later he startled the ma
tives by Jumping from the old Fitz.
hugh street bridge ut dawn. He swan
under the water to 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
mcrrily 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.
II Patch had not reassured 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. 13 all the
muddy roads leading to Rochester
were throngcd with people deslrous OF
seeing the wonderful jumper Even If
farmers were unusually busy in secur-
ing the last of their harvcsts they
found time to take day or two off in
order to witness the fcats of Sam
Patch. Several boats brought hundreds
of visitors In holiday attire from Can
ada, Oswcgo and Lewiston. Buffalo,
Canandnigua and Batavia were almost
dcpopulated 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 raw, 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 drink
Of brandy rendered to him by his
friend, William Cochrane. Several of
the spectators contributed unique
uniform. Dressed in white trousers
decorated with black silk handker-
chief tied around his body, surmOunted
by light woolen jacket and skullcap
Sam must have presented grotesque
appearance.
After taking another drink from the
flask Sam made the following speech
| to the thousands OF breathlcss specta-
tors: Napoleon was great man and
| n great general. He conquered armies
| and he conquered nations. But hc
| couldn't jump the Gcncscc falls. Wei
| llnEton was Il great man ana grcat
soldier. He conquered armies, and hs
conquered nations. and he conquered
Napoleon, but he couldn't jump Tho
Gcnesce falls. That was left for me tC
do, and | can do it and Will"
Although Sam Patch could jump tn,
Genesee falls when he was sober, h
could not do it when he felt the effect.
of the brandy. Owing to this fact h,
met his death when he took the jump
When the thousands Of silent and hOr
ror stricken spectators saw Sam strik,
the water. they did not see him COM
to the surface. His descent was so un
like his previous efforts, when he sho
like an arrow from bow, that tn
spectators We're certain that he met hi
doom when he reached the water an,
the jagged, piercing rocks beneath.
The spectators searched in vain 70
the jumper. The torches Of the search
ers along the river bank and those o
the searchers who dragged the river 4
boats lit up the river during the Ion
J night hours. Amid the roar of tn
cataract the sorrowing multitude she
tears for the jolly good fellow who
like many others, loved his bottle o
occasions.
Notwithstanding the rumors tina
Sam Patch had been seen alive |
Rochester nothing was heard of hiI
until st. Patrick's day. when his bod
was found in cake Of ice near til
/ mouth of the Genesee. His remain
were buried in the cemetery at Cha
; lotte. Although II had been the amb
, tion of his life to jump London bridg
he met his death in the Genesee. III
feats Of Sam Patch filled the newsp;
pers for weeks, and although sue
poets as Mrs Sigourney wrote poem
dedicated to his memory no monumeI
: has been erected in commemoration {
his feats.
Indeed. the event produced a pr
found impression upon the people (
I those days. On the following Sunda
i the preachers in Rochester and neig
L boring towns could not say enoug
Y against the evils of jumping. Son
i, even went as far as Josiah Bissell, wi
told the pupils of the Third churt
Sunday school that because they sa