Year: 1859

A correspondent Of the Pittsburgh Dis.
Patch, writing from Rochester, gives the fol.
owing reminiscence Of the world renowned
Sam Patch -f'


Thirty years ago happened to be on the
ground where the building now stands from
which send you this patience. exhsuster,
and saw Sam Patch take his last and fatal
leap off the Falls of Genesee. To-day
stood upon the brink of that fall, and saw
an equally fool.hardy but more deeply in
and beautiful performance by De-
Lave, the competitor of Blondn, for hemp.
en- Immortality.


stood upon the very spot from which
Sam made his third and fatal leap, and the
seeming pre.existence feeling came upon me
80 strongly that remarked to gentleman
near me, that almost fancied the sad drama
Of Sam Patch was being played over again.
He was within few weeks of being as old
as myself, and found in him not only an
old play fellow and schoolfellow, but one
who had been q baby companion of myself
on the same ground thirty years before.


While we were talking over the historical
events connected with the spot, an old citi
zen joined us, who threw new light on an
old story. He had been interested in get.
ting Sam to make the jump, and seemed
pretty familiar with the facts.


Sam had learned the jumping business in
the State of New Jersey, where he frequent
ly leaped the Passaic Falls for pustime. He
had been up the Lakes or out West, and had
secured pet bear which was us faithful a
follower as any dog could be. While in
"strapped" condition at Buffalo, during the
summer OF 1929, he had been induced by
spectators to participate in grand show at
Niagara Falls, the programme Of which was
sending bear in boat from above over the
fall Patch jumping from height of eighty
or ninety feet into the abyss below, and the
blasting off of a large portion of table rock,
which was considered dangerous and neces-
sary to be removed The bear didn't 90 at
the time expected, but the blast and Sans
jump were successfully and faithfully carried
out. He jumped from point on Goat Island
about third of the way up into the pool Of
foaming water beneath.


He shortly after jumped from the fals Of
the Genesee-ninetys six feet-into the wa.


ter below, coming out in few minutes safe


and sound. Climbing up he threw his pet


bear over, which being in danger Of drown


ing without his assistance, caused him tc


jump after him. He made these two de-


scents going down like an arrow, and strik


ing the water feet foremost. Neither his


bear nor himself were injured ; but Sam


thought "some things could be done as wei


as others" So he concluded he could bea


his own unapproached feat.


On the 18th day of November, 1929, he


attempted a more daring feat by jumping


from platform twenty-five feet higher thar


the Falls themselves, making one.hundre'


and twenty feet leap. This was intended t


"astonish the natives before he returned t.
the Jarseys," Gas his announcements wer
worded,) and was to have been his las
leap. His bear was to have followed him il
half an hour by leaping after his master.
: Ten thousand people R,cked to the Fal!
to see this daring act-many who could NO
have been induced, except for his successe
at the first trial, to have encouraged such
exhibition with their presence. He jumpe
at the time, but had drank so many time
within the half hour preceding the leap. thu
J he carelessIy and foolf,hIy jumped withor
D regarding the way he was to strike below
3 He fell into the water upon his side, and wa
]. not known to rise to the surface after tn
, water had once closed over him. Hissbod
!, was found the next spring near Lake Onts
Z. rio, and his name has become by-wofd fro
i Maine TO California.


n The gentleman who joined US expresse
i the firm conviction that Sam, half crazy wit
;. the liquor he had taken, really commtte
n suicide. Be this as it may, Falls jumpiu
Q has been interdicted from that day to thi
o although many have been willing to try Il
J. experiment.