Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-07
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAS
 HISTORY
aAs CRAZY AS SAM PATCH"

1OWaIQ the 1p1QO1e Ol Ine uAlctCCAAtte~Att | century, the name of Sam Patch was on the lips of every one. He>had made ] it familiar from one end Of the coah- try to the other through his dare devil feats, and he became subject of general interest, and all his won derful leaps were widely commented upon, until the phrase "As crazy as Sam Patch" became, a common ex- pression. In fast his name became sort of symbol or synonym for reck- lessness or dare-deviltry.
 Shakespeare says Some are born great, others achieve greatness, and still others have greatness thrust upon them" sam Patch received his by establishing 8 national reputation as the boldest high jumper the world had known up to this time. He was born in Rhode Island about 1897.
 Sam Patch followed the sea in early life and afterward became a cotton spinner. His idiosyncrasy was fond ness for high jumps into water, and it amounted to a mania with him. In 1927, after several leaps from lower levels, he announced that he would jump from the bridge over the Passaic River at Paterson, N. J., which was about eighty feet in height. The police tried to prevent him, but he made the jump and became the hero of the hour. After this Sam visited different cities, jumping from the yard arms and top masts of YtAiSels and winning much renown among a certain class. His next famous jump was at Niagara Falls from a slanting rock midway be- tween the highest point on Geat Isl- and and the water, and he achieved l this successfully.
 1 After a, few more leaps of less | height he announced that on certain lo4> 5aa hA h ar,lr Iof | the Genesee River at Rochester. N. r., into the water below the falls, a dis tance of 125 feet. The arrangements were made by local managers who l took charge of the affair and at the I appointed time the high jumper was on hand. A great crowd had gathered | to witness the performance, many | having come a considerable distance, though that was before the days of railroads.
 Sam made the jump, but it was his last. In his previous leaps he had maintained a divers attitude and cleaved the water like an arrow, but on this occasion he seemed to lose I control of himself, doubled up and
 struck the water broadside. It is pro- bable that the impact killed him l though some said that in trying to swim ashore under the cataract he be- came ehtangied in the roots of a large tree and was drowned.
 1 Sam's body was found, after several months, near the mouth of the Gen. esee and he was buried there. The tragic ending of his last leap furnished a fruitful theme for newspaper com ment.
 Referring to Sam's first jump, Miles Register" a weekly paper published
 at Baltimore, said in it's issue of July
 2S, 1928: "A man named Sam Patch
 has publicly made known his intention
 to jump into the stream below Pas
 saic Falls, a distance of nearly 10f feet, for the last time, as an evidence
 that he is not ,erazed, but accomphshes
 the feat no philosophical principles"
 After his fatal jump at Rochester Niles Register" of November 2S, 1929
 said: Sam Patch, celebrated for his jump at the Falls of the Passiac, ane still more celebrated for his jump of
 the rock at the cataract of Niagara
 made his last jump at Rochester or
 the 18th inst. The Falls of the Genesee
 River are 100 feet high, and stage ! was raised twenty five feet above
 them. He sprang of, appeared to lost his balance before he reached the wa
 ter, and was seen no more. Many thoq-
 sand persons witnessed this fearful un dertaking and were horror -sticken al { its termination"
 
 and dignified old National Intelli
 gencer," published at Washington said in it's issue of November IS, 1929
 Sam Patch performed his feat ot jumping over the Falls of the Geaesee at Rochester, in the presence of iron 5000 to 5000 persons" The Rochester
 Daily Advertiser says that the point from which he jumped is about 1oi feet above the level of the water be-
 low. Sam was clad in a close white suit and the large audience was hele in breathless suspense at his perilou!
 feat"
 When Lieut.. Col A. M. Maxwell, O
 the British army. visited this coun. [ try in 1S4e. upon his return home h. . wrote a book on "A Run Through thu r United States in which he devetes al
 entire chapter to Sam Patch, Whicl
 would indicate that eleven years afte Patchs death enough fame was stil attached to his name to make tn
 scene of his different exploits poin
 of interest for travellers and foreign
 CTS.
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