A FOOLHARDY EXPLOIT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1220, 17 July 1885, Page 3

A FOOLHARDY EXPLOIT.

An exploit similar in rashness to that by -which Captain Webb, Ut ■. noted swimmer, lost his life, and similarly followed by a fatal result, was reported by the New Vork correspondent of the ‘ Standard,’ on May 21. He said “It has been announced fur several days that a teacher of swimming, or the name of Odium, meditated a dive into tho East River ftom Brooklyu-bridge. Tiie police accordingly took precautions which were deemed sufficient to prevent tho rash enterprise from being attempted, On Tuesday, however, Odium carried out h-s intention by a ruse. A decoy cab, in which a gaudily dressed person, who was a confederate of Odium was riding, drove upon the bridge and while the attention of the police was occupied by him, Odium himself alighted from a van which had passed mi no: iced, at the spot which he had fixed for his daring deed. The roadway is protected by an iron lattice-work, which the swimmer climbed with skill and speed. Having gained the top which is Oft from tbe path, ho poised himself for a moment, a perfect picture of manly strength and grace. The roadway of the bridge is 133 ft above the water. Odium stretched out his left arm at right angles, raised his right arm abo. e his head, as if he was balancing, and threw his head backwards. The m-xt moment he leapt off the bridge. He fell for 100 ft as straight as a plummet. Then the body, swerved a little, possibly from tho force of the wind, upon which Odium moved his right arm backwards, as if he was trying to regain his perpendicular attitude. It was a part of his plan, if the directness of his plan should bo modified, to assume the shape of a ball as he neared the water ; and accordingly he was noticed to draw up his legs, trying, as it were, to roll himself up. In this effort the unfortunate man failed, and when ho struck the water bis body was curved backwards. Although he scarcely went a dozen feet below the surface of the water, he was sumerged for about three minutes. He came to the surface face downwards, limp and helpless. Captain Boy ton was close by, in a boat, and when he saw his friend’s helpless condition lie plunged in in and supported Odium until further help came. When the rash diver was laid upon the deck of the the rescuing vessel he presented a fearful spectacle. He recovered consciousness sufficiciently to ask whether ho had made a good jump. The-arterial blood then oozed from his lips, and after about half an hour of intense agony, he died. A post mortem examination showed that every rib had been broken and all the principal internal organs were raptured. The motives for this fatal adventure were partly to advertise himself, and partly that having a great deal ot pride in his own skill, Odium wished to show how easy and safe suck feats were. Several men had been previously airested -while attempting a similar exploit; and there are men who now declare their intention of proving they can succeed where Odium failed."