New-York tribune., 1900-05-17
BRIDGE JUMPER DROWNED.
MAN WHO LOSES HIS LIFE IN THE EAST
RIVER MAY BE AUGUST H. PLESS.
AND FLOAT PASSED OVER THE
SPOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER.

SPOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER
Several small boys and two or three who
were standing the strngpece of open Pier
No ". East River. at 2:1J o'clock yesterday,
were startled to see a man jump to the cables
on the side of the Bridge nearly the middle
Of the span between the towers. and leap out
and shoot down TO the water. The in
his shirtsleeves, and when first seen jumped
up to board fastened between two cables, and
standing a moment if to balance himself.
leaped out standing erect into space. He came
down like shot feet first. and struck the water
in that position without losing his equilibrium
for a moment A great splash resulted from
his entrance.
About moment after the body had struck the
water and gone under. float said to belong to
the New-York New-Haven and Hartford Rail-
roed, coming down stream at a rapid rate
OF speed. It passed directly over the spot where
the struck the water, and after II had
passed there sign of the man
Joseph Degnan member Of the Volunteer Life
Saving Corps, was among those on Pier No 2S
at the time Degnan, who lives at No. 3431A
Water-st.. said that he saw the jumper from the
time the man leaped to the cable rail to the
time he struck the water. He didn't turn a
hairs breadth" he said. He came down as
straight as an arrow, and cut the water with his
feet squarey as if he had knife. If he
had waited a moment longer before jumping he
wou6 have landed the float that passed. As
it was, the float passed over the spot a moment
after he entered the water and after the swirl
had disappeared there was no sign of the man.
l did not notice for sure what float it was; I
too interested in watching the man; but 1
think it was one of the New-York. Haven
and Hartford Railroad Company. The boys on
the pier set up shout, and in a few moments
there a crowd around. Two three boats
put out into the river. but could not find any
trace of the body
II was learned later that ABOUT o'clock a
young man. about twenty-five years old, of
medium height and dark complexion, boarded
truck at the Park Row entrance of the Bridge
to go to Brooklyn. When past the Manhattan
tower he silently took off his coat and waited
until nearly nidstream when he jumped off the
truck, ran to the side of the Bridge and leaped
out. The driver of the truck was w. ]. Gleason.
Of No. 30 Vestry-st. The jumper left his coat on
the truck. and in the pockets found num-
ber Of letters and papers. One was n letter of
recommendation signed by G. D. Mackey, man
ager Of the American White Metal Works No.
CT Beekman-st. The letter bore the date Of May
,. On the envelope was the name and address.
August H. Pless, No 40 Vandewater-st.. New
York" Several other papers gave the same
name. and it is thought certain that Plsss was
the jumper.
AT No. 40 Vandewater-St., the address given,
Mrs. Elizabeth Ples5 keeps a small grocery and
candy store. She lives in the rear of the store.
When seen she had already heard rumors of the
jump from children in the neighborhood. and
said that she would not be surprised if it was
her SON. August twenty-five years old. She
said that August had been working a stereo-
typer for some time but had not worked since
last Friday. On Saturday August stayed around
the house, he did Monday. Mrs. Pless said
that she called him yesterday morning at I
o'clock, and that he answered but went to sleep
again. She said that she again called him at 5
o'clock, and that he got up and went out.
August has been very bad IN the head for
three weeks said Mrs. Pless. About three
weeks ago his girl. whom he going to
marry, forsooR him for a policeman. He was
broken hearted and despondent, and cared for
nothing
August had a brother Robert, who is attached
to the Oak-st police station, and a sister
Maria, who is a trained nurse in the German
Hospital. It seems that Mrs. Pless had expected
10 leave her home in Vandewater-st. some few
weeks ago and move to pretentious quar-
ters uptown Mrs Pless however unable
10 move, she broke her right about six
weeks ago, and it has just mended sufficiently
for her to use II.
RumOrs were current an hour after the
jump that the body had been picked up. The
police of all the downtown districts and the
Bridge deny the rumOr. and say that nothing
has been of the body. It rumored
that passing tug took the body to Jersey, but
confirmation could not be made. The police are
positive that the drowned by coming
up under the float as it passed over him, and
that his body then sank.