COAT TAILS SAVED HIM

Shannon News, 28 May 1926, Page 4

COAT TAILS SAVED HIM

CAUGHT BY SPIKE. RESCUED BY FIRE BRIGADE. If Phillip Kopla, of Chicago, had removed his coat before -attempting to find peace and forgetfulness in the murky depths of the Chicago River on April 15th, his attempt to commit suicide would have been highly successful As it was his coat tails caught in a protruding spike after he had jumped from a 10-foot dock, and he was saved by a hook and ladder company. A night watchman saw Kopla slip over the edge of the dock and went to his rescue. But he could do nothing, and called the fire department. The firemen were as much "puzzled as the watchman had been, Channel conditions prevented the fire fug from coming close to the dock walj, and efforts to lassoo Kopla with ropes v dropped from the top of the wall were unavailing. Kopla begged the firemen-to close the canal gates at Lockport in order to raise the water level enough to drown him. But the firemen would set no precedent. They swung a ladder "; ; out from the crane aboard the tug, and from the ladder a hawser was slipped under the would-be suicide's arms. Asked why he didn't slip out of hia •coat and complete the job. Kopla said he never thought of it.