The below article is from the HAGERSTOWN MAIL newspaper dated November 27th 1829.
Sam Patch (1807-1829), known as "The Yankee Leaper," became the first famous U.S. daredevil after successfully jumping from a raised platform into the Niagara river near the base of Niagara Falls in 1829. On September 30, 1827, he jumped off the 70-foot Passaic Falls in New Jersey, pleasing a large crowd that had gathered. He repeated this jump at least two more times. On August 11, 1828 Patch jumped 100 feet at Hoboken, New Jersey. He became known in the press as "Patch the New Jersey Jumper". Patch continued his career jumping from bridges, factory walls, and ship's masts. In the fall of 1829, Patch gained fame by leaping into the Niagara river near the base of Niagara Falls.
Shortly after, Patch went to Rochester, New York, to challenge the 99-foot High Falls of the Genesee River. On Friday November 6, 1829, in front of an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 spectators, Patch went out onto a rock ledge in the middle of the falls. He first threw a pet bear cub over the falls and the cub managed to swim safely to shore. Patch then successfully jumped after the bear. His first jump into the Genesee River raised a disappointing amount of money, so he decided to repeat the stunt one week later on November 13, 1829 (Friday the 13th). This time, he increased the height of the jump to 125 feet by constructing a 25 foot stand. Accounts from the 8,000 present differ on whether he actually jumped or fell, but he did not achieve his normal feet-first vertical entry. A loud impact was heard and he never surfaced. Rumors were passed that he had hidden in a cave at the base of the falls, and was enjoying all the excitement he had created. But his frozen body was found in the ice in Charlotte (Rochester) early the next spring by Silas Hudson. Local ministers and newspapers were quick to blame the crowd for urging him to jump, and put the guilt of his death on them.
SAM PATCH'S DEATH. - A letter to the editor of the Albany Daily Advertiser, dated Rochester, Nov. 13th, says—"Sam Patch is no more! He made his last leap from a scaffold erected on the brink of the falls this afternoon. The staging was elevated twenty-five feet. He sprung fearlessly from it, and descended about one-third of the distance, as handsomely as he ever did. He then evidently began to drop, his arms were extended, and his legs separated; and in this condition lie struck the water and sunk forever! It was a fearful leap, and fearfully has it terminated.
The prevailing opinion is that he became lifeless before he reached the water, He had drunk freely in the morning, but was not apparently more overcome than he was on Friday last. It was truly a solemn scene, where so many thousands were witnesses to an immolation, which had its origin only in an effort to satisfy the craving appetite of human curiosity. Sam's last request, as I understand, was that the funds collected, should be sent to his mother, if his adventure should terminate fatally.
His body has not yet been found. The height of the Genesee Falls, down which he jumped, is 100 feet, the staging was 25 feet above the falls; the distance which he descended was therefore 125 feet. The following article on this subject from the Albany Argus, leaves no room to doubt the fact of the man's having thrown away his life foolishly.
SAM'S LAST JUMP: Thousands collected yesterday to witness sum Patch's-"last jump," as the bills expressed it — and an awful leap it was! He never rose with life! A stage, 20 feet high, had been erected on the edge of the falls, which made a descent of about 120 feet to the surface of the water in the chasm below. Sam apparently lost his balance —struck the water in a sidelong manner - and disappeared to rise no more! Such a shocking result had a strong, effect on the immense crowd. After waiting in breathless anxiety for some time, the multitude dispersed with feelings which can be better imagined than described. The corpse is not yet found.
Imagine watch the World Series by sitting in front of a illuminated board updated by telegraph!
A famous desperado hides in a swamp hoping not to be caught!
Horrible early slave owner rules dictating slaves to be kept at the lowest ignorance possible.
Sources:
Rosenberg-Naparsteck, Ruth (Summer 1991). "The Real Simon Pure Sam Patch" Rochester Public Library
Sam Patch (1807 - 1829) - Find A Grave Memorial
Thomas, W. Stehpen; Ruth Rosenberg-Naparsteck (October 1988). "Sleep City The Sesquicentenneial History of Mt. Hope Cemetery"
Johnson, Paul. Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper (New York: Hill and Wang, 2003) ISBN 0-8090-8388-4.
0 comments:
Post a Comment