Knowledge (XXG)

Larry Donovan (bridge jumper)

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212:, and other friends. At just after 5 AM, he took a carriage to the middle of the bridge, about 500 feet from the New York tower, and without encountering any resistance, clambered over the parapet and jumped, surviving impact without injury other than being "sore about the chest". Although the rescue boats were slow to get to him, he was soon ashore, where his mother and sisters greeted him. He was immediately arrested by police. Although the magistrate, Judge Duffy, noted that "there is no law to punish a man for jumping from a high place", he also said "this bridge-jumping business has got to be stopped...I supposed now somebody will dive off, or be sewed up in a bag and thrown off and come down with a bigger splash". Donovan was fined $ 10 for obstructing traffic, which was paid by the Gazette's proprietor, R. K. Fox, and threatened any future bridge jumpers with six months in prison: "If there is not a law, we will make one for the occasion". 421: 489: 257: 534: 575:(a rather low railway bridge with a footpath, then also known as Charing-Cross Bridge), that same night. Although he had made many previous bets to jump off bridges, it was unusual to make the jump at such short notice, and for such a small amount of money. There was no safety boat to rescue him; at around 4 AM on Tuesday August 7, he simply walked 30 yards along the bridge, removed his coat and leapt. He resurfaced, and was seen swimming a short distance before disappearing under the water, whereupon the crowd of people with him fled. His body was later recovered from Deptford. 17: 372: 180: 602:
surrendered to the promptings of vanity and a desire to lead what is termed 'a sporting life' From a worthy and reputable member of society he became transformed into an idle and shiftless fellow, whose ultimate aim appeared to be the exhibition of himself before inquisitive and unthinking people...Those who suffer death or mutilation by persistence in are not entitled to sympathy and will receive none from people capable of distinguishing the gasconading harlequinism of the hippodrome from genuine and reputable athletic sport.
304: 80: 383:, a height of 250 feet, and hopes to "make a name on both sides of the Atlantic". After arriving in London on the first of June 1887, he took up residence with some local boxers at the East London Athletic Club, and marked his arrival with a jump from the parapet of London Bridge a week later. On that occasion, he refused to take money from the crowd of 500 spectators on the basis that it was a "Jubilee jump", referring to the 548:, and was now publicly appealing for donations in order to reclaim it and to purchase passage back home. Whereas previously he had sent money home to support his mother and sisters (his "slightly deranged" father having been long unemployed), he now lived in "pitiful poverty", drinking heavily, sharing a room in a "common lodging-house" with a prize-fighter and relying on the support of friends. 67:. Slightly injured on a couple of occasions and frequently incarcerated following his attempts, he struggled to capitalise on his fame, making money only through bets and brief periods working as an emcee or exhibiting himself in novelty shows. In August 1888, disillusioned and desperately poor, he accepted a spontaneous two-pound wager (equal to £281 today) to jump from London's 228:, his employer, naturally lionized his effort, declaring "Brave Lawrence M. Donovan, the Police Gazette Champion, Eclipses all Previous Jumpers – Brodie outdone". The magazine's proprietor, R. K. Fox, awarded him a "magnificent" gold medal for the effort. The leap was replicated by accident a year later when a painter slipped and fell 120 feet into the river, without injury. 315:(88 feet) in Philadelphia into the Schuylkill River. He made the leap at 7 AM on February 18, 1887, inviting a "score of reporters and prominent sporting men" to watch him jump, wearing shoes with lead-lined soles. He was "badly winded, and a little stream of blood gushed from his mouth", but was otherwise uninjured. He was, however, arrested and spent three months at " 552: 517:
distracted by investigating a woman who might have been Donovan in disguise. Apart from the police force's denials that Donovan could possibly have slipped past them, there does not seem to be any strong evidence against the claim that Donovan made the leap as planned. It was reported as setting the record for the highest ever jump from a bridge at the time.
248:'s ill-fated 38m attempt nearly sixty years earlier. He was, however, denied permission, on October 20 by the Mayor of Rochester, telling a newspaper that he would join a circus and do a high jumping act. Three days later he attempted to jump from the bridge anyway, but was caught by police. He was imprisoned at the Tombs for several weeks. 437:
collector recognised him and alerted police, who argued that allowing him to make the leap would be akin to standing idly by as someone threw themselves in front of a tram-car. They then arrested him on a charge of attempted suicide. Although accompanied by friends willing to pay a bail, this was refused and he remained imprisoned in
269:. This double-decker rail and carriage bridge was completed earlier that year, completely replacing an earlier suspension bridge on the same site, with minimal traffic disruption, only to be itself replaced ten years later. That bridge had only seen one previous jump, by a Bellini in 1873, who performed a sort of bungee jump. 1646: 497:
go back without having done it. I might as well be dead." There is much uncertainty about whether or not he achieved that objective on the night of March 13, 1888. Several lengthy newspaper articles appeared, having interviewed him, friends, witnesses, the police, and hospital staff, but remained uncommitted either way.
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There was speculation that as the bridge was under repair, he might have struck a projecting timber. Conflicting news reports said the river was at "high water", "at flood and running under the bridge like a mill race", "near low water" or "very low" at the time. However, historical tide records show
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Late on the night in question, he was brought to Bristol Hospital, claiming to have made a successful leap of nearly 200 feet from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Certain staff at the hospital were said to have doubted the claim, on account of his dry undergarments, although in other accounts they are
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On September 21, a newspaper reported that he "was very unhappy", and on a £400 bond, expiring October 6, not to jump off anything. He had begun preparations to go over Horseshoe Falls with "an apparatus", and regretted "having been too proud to be a freak in a dime museum", and that he had not taken
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until the 30th, then "discharged ... upon furnishing sureties that he would make no further effort to jump from the bridge". Unable to raise both a £200 bail and two "sureties" of £100, he spent a month in prison and planned to attempt the bridge again after a six-month good behaviour bond expired in
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The claim was evidently believed by a local auctioneer named "Mr Kay", who on March 13 presented him with a "massive silver cup, as a mark of appreciation of his pluck". This was perhaps his only financial reward from the jump, having no bets laid, but hoping "that he might get something out of it".
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across the bridge at 7:30 PM, indicating that he would shortly be returning, then picked up Donovan, who hid under the seat. He then returned, was not stopped, and Donovan was able to quietly slip over the side of the bridge at about 8:10 or 8:20 PM, exactly at high tide. He hung on to the bottom of
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In early March 1888, he travelled to Bristol and began making preparations for a second attempt to jump from it, despite facing certain prison if caught. Several planned attempts were aborted, owing to bad weather or apparent police vigilance. He declared, "I came from America to do it, and I cannot
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Police at both ends of the bridge thus began searching every vehicle crossing, and discovered Donovan at 1:40 PM. He was subsequently remanded, pending bail of $ 1,000, by a judge who declared "You are a fool ... I am opposed to cranks of your stripe". His defense that he never intended to dive, and
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In early November 1886, he set his sights on Niagara Falls, apparently without immediate financial incentive, but with the hope of future returns. He visited Niagara Falls to find a site to jump from, rejecting the "old bridge" at Falls View, a wood and steel suspension bridge just below the rapids,
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Noting that Brodie and Odlum had had difficulty remaining perfectly vertical during the descent, he wore baseball shoes weighted with five pounds of zinc each. He tightly bandaged his legs, wore trousers padded with "coarse cotton waste", a red flannel outer shirt, and a brown Derby hat. He arranged
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He stood 5'8" and was described as "a handsome young fellow, about the medium height, loosely and somewhat clumsily built ... He has a frank and prepossessing face, clear eyes, and very thick dark eyebrows." Another article described him as "possessed of a well-knit, powerful frame, and his resolute
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Instead, this marked the start of a downward slide. He began working as an emcee and drinking heavily. On April 24, he entered a swimming competition in Bath, against a local swimming champion, a Mr Phillips. He was soundly beaten, having covered only 40 yards by the time his opponent had completed
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He was released with a caution, the judge remarking "You may jump over bridges if you don't cause disorder or disturbance in the streets. ... There are times in the morning when you may exhibit yourself, in the early morning; but in the daytime it is perfectly impossible for you to be allowed to do
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prison, where he was joined on April 28 by another young man, Emmanuel Defreitas, who had made a slightly higher jump from the same bridge. Defreitas's attempt was made without padded garments, and was nearly fatal, as he was knocked off balance by police as he prepared to jump, and hit his head on
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After a quiet couple of months, Donovan returned to New York in early April, with the intention of diving headfirst from the Brooklyn Bridge, claiming to have secured a wager of $ 1,000 for the attempt. He prepared for an attempt on April 18, 1887, wearing a "skull cap stuffed with cotton", as well
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Unfortunately, calling himself "the champion aerial jumper of the world" and "the champion of champions", the news of the forthcoming attempt had reached his mother. She sent an urgent telegram to police, only moments before the attempt was to be made: "Please prevent Larry Donovan from diving off
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In the company of a ferryman, a few members of the press, and his trainer, J. Haley, Donovan made the leap at 7 AM, wearing the same outfit he used for the Brooklyn Bridge jump. The height was calculated at 190 feet. After swimming to safety, he was spitting blood, and shaken by the experience,
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In any case, Donovan carefully prepared his August 28 attempt to become the first person to jump off the top of the bridge. He underwent medical examinations to ensure his health, and was promised $ 500 (equal to $ 16,956 today) by his employer, the Police Gazette, who also provided a wagon as
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in May 1885. He later declared "it was my great ambition to be introduced to after I jumped off Clifton Bridge in honour of her Jubilee". On the morning of June 21, he prepared to make the leap but was prevented by a toll collector on the bridge. The following evening, at 7 PM, the same toll
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Larry Donovan offers to dive any man in the world from any bridge. Should his challenge not be accepted, he says he will treat the Northumbrians to a sensation on the Northumberland Plate Day by diving off the High Level Bridge into the Tyne, providing he can get his fare paid from London to
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Steve Brodie, visiting Donovan with cigars and tobacco, urged both he and Defreitas to avoid jumping illegally and to follow his example instead. He had lined up a contract to make a leap of 120 feet in Ohio, for a fee of $ 250, with another bridge jump to follow in St Louis for the same fee.
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Before Donovan became afflicted with the bridge jumping craze he was an active and useful young working-man, equipped with an excellent mechanical trade and capable of caring for himself and those dependent on him. Tickled by the excitement consequent upon his adventure in the East River, he
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On Saturday, August 4, 1888, Donovan got into a drunken fight in which he was badly bruised. The drunken "spree" continued through to the late evening of Monday, August 6, 1888, drinking at "one of the German clubs in the neighbourhood of Leicester Square", apparently bragging about his past
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The police, however, "emphatically den" the leap had taken place and claimed to have had no fewer than three officers guarding the bridge (as many as seven in one report), plus another on lookout down at the river. However, one newspaper reported that during Baker's return trip, police were
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However, his feats generally "found but little favour, and were only looked upon as a species of foolhardiness," one commentator remarking "Simply and solely to court notoriety, he does what is tantamount to courting death in one of its worst forms. The thing is revolting, and should not be
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the rails then dropped. Baker then went down to collect him, but Donovan had swum to the opposite shore, where he was seen by another witness, identified only as "a young man who was with Mr Baker". A planned rescue boat was for some reason absent, but he was helped by another boat.
163:'s successful (if near-fatal) drop from the Brooklyn Bridge on July 24, 1886. Within two days of that jump, he told friends he planned to better it by jumping from the deck, rather than dropping from underneath. In preparation for his own attempt, on August 24 he made a 105-foot (32 280:", apparently envisaging more sophisticated ways of earning an income from his pursuit, such as a benefit dinner he held at Buffalo's Adelphi Theatre on November 17. He planned another attempt on Genesee Falls, in the summer of 1887, and to "swim the Niagara Rapids farther than 512:
A number of other witnesses contacted by newspapers also reported having seen the leap or being involved in helping Donovan afterwards, such as by fetching brandy from a nearby inn. Most of the witnesses interviewed did not identify themselves, apparently to avoid prosecution.
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Donovan was born to Irish immigrants at 55 Frankfort St, New York; he had two younger sisters, Mary and Tassie. He was given a "fair" education but when his father, Michael George Degnan, lost the family savings in an ill-fated venture to publish a book entitled
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3" (coming, as he did, after Odlum and Brodie), it pointed out that his 143-foot (44 m) leap was higher than Brodie's 120-foot (37 m) fall and was a jump, rather than a fall from the underside of the deck as in Brodie's case. The
135:(twelfth regiment), and a lieutenant in the New York Volunteer Life Saving Corps (in which capacity he was said to have rescued five persons), and was credited with saving two women endangered by runaway horses. He also dabbled in poetry. 530:
the 100 yard distance. He then offered to jump from "Clifton Bridge" for £25. Around this time he is reported to have spent a month in Paris. By about May 1888, he had professed to be retiring from bridge jumping and had taken up boxing.
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Calling himself "Champion Aerial Jumper of the World", he began attempting to make a living from the risky occupation, by exhibiting medals he had won and taking bets. A few days later he was arrested while trying to jump from
319:" jail. He had been intending to attempt to set a record of 500 miles in a "walking match" later in the month, and apparently still had his sights on the Genesee Falls. Soon after, he declared his intention to jump from the 480:. He also performed with a "travelling showman" but it is unclear exactly when or what that entailed. He is reported to have visited Scotland and " from several high bridges in that country" around this time. 231:
Having earned $ 200 in a wager for this success (another source says $ 500), he left the newspaper industry and began to seek other opportunities in the field, hoping to earn enough to open a whisky shop.
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was said to have successfully dropped from the bottom of the bridge and survived with injuries, but doubts about whether he actually made the jump surfaced years later and the matter remains unsettled.
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did". He also had a plan to go over the falls in a barrel with a woman, but was unable to find a willing companion. That feat was performed by George Hazlett with a female companion in late November.
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an influential weekly men's magazine featuring gossip, racy illustrations, and sensationalist news, and sponsoring record-setting feats of daring. He was a "popular member" of Typographical Union No.
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This pride apparently did not last long; in December, after having "returned to , without much money", he accepted a "specially tempting offer ... made by Messrs. Hickman & Burke ... at the
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described as "thoroughly drenched" or "his shirt appeared fairly dry", explained by having been wrapped in a dry coat. He was "exhausted" and had "slight internal pain" but otherwise uninjured.
291:, where he now forms a strong attraction". This dime museum had recently been investigated for gambling and child prostitution. He then reportedly issued a challenge to fight champion boxer 358:
Around this time he was exhibiting himself in a dime museum (despite earlier protestations), and travelling in a variety company organised by himself, which was not a success.
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Toff Wall and Tom Smith (Brother of the Champion), introduced by Larry Donovan, who jumped from Brooklyn Bridge and the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge ... Royal Aquarium.
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After the Brooklyn Bridge was completed on May 31, 1883, there was speculation about who would be the first to successfully leap from it. In May 1886, swimming instructor
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By August 1888 Donovan's situation was dire. His dreams of making a living from daredevil acts had been crushed. He had pawned his treasured gold medal given him by the
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on May 8, and to swim the Niagara Falls Rapids. Nothing seems to have come of these plans. In March, he was appointed lieutenant in the volunteer life saving corps.
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that high tide reached Hungerford Bridge (100 minutes from the Sheerness observation point) around 3:20 AM, so the water level was indeed close to maximum.
1381: 633:"Our Champion: Daring Lawrence M. Donovan of the "Police Gazette" makes a real jump from the Brooklyn Bridge and turns up safe and smiling – with portrait" 355:
On May 9, Donovan was paroled in Yorkville Court by a judge who "extract a promise not to use any bridge in New-York State for such exhibitions again".
2248: 488: 420: 108:, and learning the skills of compositor and printing press operator. At twenty, he spent 18 months in the Army, serving as a high-private in the 51:
who became famous for leaping from bridges, first around the northeastern United States, and later in England. Inspired by the first successful
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declaring he would refuse to repeat the leap for less than a million dollars. He was diagnosed with a displaced rib and bruised lung.
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Later that month, having "exhausted the highest American ", he travelled to England, with plans to leap from Bristol's
2146:"THE NEWS OF EUROPE: Larry Donovan's Fate Excites Considerable Sympathy in London-Other Matters of General Interest". 168: 593:
Media coverage of his life sometimes praised his exploits, and at other times scorned them. A stern editorial in the
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The following week, he travelled to Bristol to attempt to be the second person to survive a jump from the 250 foot
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He was buried on August 15, 1888, in Brockley Cemetery, London, the service paid for by his former employer, the
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transport for the early morning attempt. He visited a local newspaper before the attempt to ensure publicity.
1108: 1037: 241: 118: 1229: 473: 303: 1829: 1480: 1360: 1339: 1300: 1172: 1126: 967: 753: 725: 1722: 477: 450:'s show, he began working as the manager of a sporting house, a kind of tavern frequented by gamblers. 281: 195:
died in an attempt to prove the harmlessness of falling long distances through the air. A month later,
2051:, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880, 2045:"105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.", 2243: 2238: 1063:"A Dizzy Leap: Brave Lawrence M. Donovan, the Police Gazette Champion, eclipses all previous jumpers" 905:
The Blackburn Standard: Darwen Observer, and North-East Lancashire Advertiser (Blackburn, England)
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Strange and Obscure Stories of New York City: Little-Known Tales About Gotham's People and Places
465:. Presumably paid for the performance, he was accompanied by an attendant handing out pamphlets. 392: 192: 1610: 944: 820: 102:
From age fifteen, he worked in printing offices near Printing House Square, beginning with the
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Just after 4 PM on October 8, with the permission of police, he jumped from the much lower
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as a padded suit and lead-filled canvas shoes. The weather was sleeting with a cold wind.
320: 288: 104: 52: 1230:"He Wants to Beat Donovan: A Buffalo Barber Will Leap from the Niagara Suspension Bridge" 1265: 469: 461:, the first comic strip character to have a regularly published comic named after it – 2161: 1266:"National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: The Bowery Historic District" 2232: 113: 447: 1109:"From the Bidg Bridge: James Martin's Perilous Flight Through 120 Feet of Space" 458: 277: 1414: 2215: 1534: 159:
However, his real interest in jumping from bridges was apparently inspired by
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Donovan's first recorded leap was in 1884 from an unspecified bridge over the
48: 2056: 1738: 1730: 1717: 590:, "I told him that jumping off bridges was a poor way of earning a living." 571:
exploits. He agreed to a bet of £2 (elsewhere reported as $ 10) to jump off
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and since coming to England year ago has been residing with known boxers
821:"The Champion Jumper of the World: an Interview with Lawrence M. Donovan" 726:"Jumped off the bridge: Crank No. 3 performs the feat and he still lives" 468:
In late October, he found employment as an emcee in Canning, then at the
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Donovan's 1886 Brooklyn Bridge jump, as illustrated by his employer, the
945:"The Champion Jumper of the World: an interview with Lawrence M Donovan" 1715:
Chenery, T., ed. (May 9, 1885). "Leap From Clifton Suspension Bridge".
2046: 457:(32 feet), witnessed by "thousands of spectators". He was dressed as 343:
Unable to afford $ 500 bail, he resigned himself to three months at
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After the leap, he swore that he wouldn't "degrade by going into a
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only made the claims to obtain free advertising, were ineffective.
532: 487: 419: 370: 302: 255: 178: 78: 59:, Donovan sought fame and fortune by leaping off that bridge, the 15: 208:
for two rescue boats, manned by life savers, colleagues from the
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character and fearless spirit are indexed in his countenance".
1463:"Bridge Jumpers: A new candidate for fame and a striped suit" 1322:"Bridge Jumpers. A new candidate for fame and a striped suit" 1007:"Dead on the New Bridge; Fatal Crush at the Western Approach" 446:
up boxing instead. After attempting, unsuccessfully, to join
693: 691: 689: 687: 1271:. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. 685: 683: 681: 679: 677: 675: 673: 671: 669: 667: 504:
In his account, a Mr Baker deceived police by driving his
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The Illustrated Police News, Law Courts and Weekly Record
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Donovan leaping from the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.
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Donovan leaping from London Bridge (1887 illustration).
99:, he was deprived of the opportunity to go to college. 1759:"Projected Jump From the Clifton Suspension Bridge". 1940:. 1887-11-11. p. 1 – via Gale NewsVault. 1518:
North-Eastern Daily Gazette (Middlesbrough, England)
2034:. 1888-03-17. p. 2 – via Gale Newsvault. 2001:. 1888-03-15. p. 3 – via Gale Newsvault. 1974:. 1888-03-14. p. 8 – via Gale Newsvault. 1704:. 1888-06-18. p. 3 – via Gale Newsvault. 1668:. 1887-06-09. p. 3 – via Gale Newsvault. 1539:
Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser
1415:"Didn't Dive: Because the Police Were on the Alert" 933:. 1887-08-06. p. 4 – via Gale Newsvault. 907:. 1887-06-11. p. 8 – via Gale Newsvault. 385:fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession 116:. In 1882 he began working as a typesetter at the 1503:Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser 402:On June 16 he laid out a challenge in the press: 2186:. Britain Oceanographic Data Centre. 1888-08-07. 1469:. 1887-04-29. p. 1 – via Google News. 1388:. 1887-03-15. p. 1 – via Google News. 599: 404: 2204:. 1888-08-15 – via Chronicling America. 2126:. 1888-08-08 – via Chronicling America. 2019:. 1888-03-18 – via Chronicling America. 1995:"The Alleged Leap from the Suspension Bridge" 1968:"Alleged Leap from Clifton Suspension Bridge" 1875:. 1887-10-08 – via Chronicling America. 1857:. 1887-09-21 – via Chronicling America. 1254:. 1888-11-26 – via Chronicling America. 705:. 1888-08-08 – via Chronicling America. 8: 1905:"From The Scoop: Ally Sloper's Half Holiday" 1873:Daily Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Kentucky) 1779:Daily Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Kentucky) 1085:Art of the Brooklyn Bridge: A Visual History 1136:. 1886-10-21 – via query.nytimes.com. 763:. 1888-08-08 – via query.nytimes.com. 735:. 1886-08-29 – via query.nytimes.com. 240:His first plan was to attempt to leap from 71:late at night, but drowned in the attempt. 1702:Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 989:"Donovan the Champion Jumper of the World" 311:This was soon followed by a leap from the 183:Donovan's leap from the Brooklyn Bridge. ( 1617:. 6 October 1888 – via Papers Past. 484:Clifton Suspension Bridge: second attempt 187:medal presented to Donovan by R.K. Fox.) 171:, an aqueduct supported by stone arches. 1893:. 1887-10-07 – via Gale Newsvault. 1763:. 1887-06-23 – via Gale Newsvault. 1505:. 1887-06-06 – via Gale Newsvault. 1286:. 1886-12-22 – via Gale Newsvault. 1194:"The First Falls View Suspension Bridge" 850:. 1887-06-11 – via Gale Newsvault. 550: 432:, after the survived suicide attempt of 416:Clifton Suspension Bridge: first attempt 47:(1862 – August 7, 1888) was a newspaper 1535:"A GIRL OF 17 DIVES FROM LONDON BRIDGE" 889:. 1888-08-08 – via Manning Times. 621: 472:, introducing local boxing celebrities 2141: 2139: 2137: 2135: 2133: 1989: 1987: 1985: 1983: 1981: 1962: 1960: 1958: 1956: 1954: 1952: 1950: 1884: 1882: 1806: 1804: 1802: 1800: 1798: 1796: 1794: 1792: 1790: 1788: 1754: 1752: 1750: 1748: 1695: 1693: 1457: 1455: 1453: 1409: 1407: 1405: 1403: 1401: 1399: 1397: 1395: 1057: 1055: 1053: 1051: 1032: 1030: 1028: 1026: 1024: 1022: 1020: 924: 922: 920: 918: 916: 914: 898: 896: 540:, painted by Camille Pissarro in 1890. 2114: 2112: 2110: 1605: 1603: 1601: 1599: 1597: 1595: 1593: 1559: 1557: 1555: 1328:. 1887-04-29 – via Google News. 1310:. 1887-02-19 – via nytimes.com. 1295: 1293: 1167: 1165: 1163: 1161: 1070:The National Police Gazette: New York 962: 960: 958: 877: 838: 836: 834: 815: 813: 811: 809: 807: 805: 786: 784: 782: 780: 778: 776: 774: 772: 770: 660:. 1888-08-09 – via Google News. 627: 625: 7: 1919:"Toff Wall and Bill Wall at Canning" 1889:"Daring Leap from Waterloo Bridge". 949:The Evening News (via Te Aroha News) 875: 873: 871: 869: 867: 865: 863: 861: 859: 857: 792:"Lawrence M. Donovan, Aerial Jumper" 748: 746: 744: 742: 720: 718: 716: 714: 712: 127:6, president of Pressman's Union No. 2168:. 1888-09-27 – via NLA Trove. 1680:"Donovan's Leap from London Bridge" 1571:. 1888-09-20 – via NLA Trove. 307:The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge 1816:The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post 1436:. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 6. 14: 1629:"Excerpt from Philadelphia Times" 1248:"Through the rapids in a barrel" 148:Schuylkill River and High Bridge 2249:Entertainers from New York City 1891:The North-Eastern Daily Gazette 1684:The Illustrated Police News etc 267:Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge 61:Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge 1664:"The American Bridge Jumper". 1: 2184:Historical UK tide gauge data 1212:"The Third Suspension Bridge" 492:The Clifton Suspension Bridge 236:Foiled Genessee Falls attempt 167:m) leap from New York City's 131:9 of New York, member of the 2180:"Register of Tides Observed" 1700:"The Bridge Jumping Craze". 1582:"Mania for Bridge-Jumping". 1282:"Our London Correspondent". 2254:Accidental deaths in London 2162:"Larry Donovan's Last Leap" 2030:"A leap of over 200 feet". 1851:"Jem Smith Dons the Gloves" 265:before settling on the new 2275: 1812:"Leap from Clifton Bridge" 1775:"Bridge Jumper Discharged" 1565:"Sad End of Larry Donovan" 1340:"Larry Donovan's Ambition" 903:"Sports and Recreations". 463:Ally Sloper's Half Holiday 2259:American stunt performers 2198:"Larry Donovan's Funeral" 2124:The World Evening Edition 2013:"Latest news from Europe" 1666:The Morning Post (London) 1647:"Larry Donovan Arraigned" 1501:"London Correspondence". 1148:"Donovan's Leap to Death" 1087:. Routledge. p. 82. 883:"Donovan's Leap to Death" 642:. 1886-09-11. p. 16. 430:Clifton Suspension Bridge 381:Clifton Suspension Bridge 244:at a greater height than 65:Clifton Suspension Bridge 63:, and Bristol's 250 foot 2220:The Brooklyn Daily eagle 2150:. 1888-08-13. p. 1. 2079:"The London Music Halls" 1830:"Current Foreign Topics" 1686:. 1887-06-18. p. 2. 1481:"City and Suburban News" 1361:"City and Suburban News" 1113:The Sedalia Weekly Bazoo 1072:. 1886-09-11. p. 7. 1038:"Brodie's Feat Eclipsed" 995:. 1887-06-18. p. 1. 968:"Jail for Bridge Cranks" 798:. 1886-12-18. p. 1. 658:The Clinton Evening News 555:Drawing in the New York 2097:"Larry Donovan at Bath" 1999:The Western Daily Press 1972:The Western Daily Press 1467:Bridgeport Morning News 1326:Bridgeport Morning News 1173:"Donovan's Sunday Jump" 931:The Lantern (Cape Town) 699:"Larry Donovan Drowned" 654:"Larry Donovan Drowned" 640:National Police Gazette 597:after his death wrote: 321:Niagara Horseshoe Falls 22:National Police Gazette 1761:Western Mail (Cardiff) 1611:"Donovan's Fatal Leap" 1584:Western Mail (Cardiff) 1127:"Donovan did not Jump" 754:"Larry Donovan Killed" 614: 562: 559:after Donovan's death. 541: 493: 425: 424:Waterloo Bridge (1828) 409: 376: 327:Brooklyn Bridge return 313:Chestnut Street Bridge 308: 299:Chestnut Street Bridge 295:in a four-round bout. 261: 188: 91: 25: 2216:"Donovan's Last Jump" 1938:The Standard (London) 1869:"Larry Donovan Jumps" 1723:Times Newspapers Ltd. 1721:(31442). London, UK: 1432:Rowland, Tim (2016). 1382:"From the Four Winds" 1301:"Donovan Jumps Again" 1083:Haw, Richard (2012). 844:"Summary of the Week" 607:Donovan's Last Jump, 554: 536: 491: 423: 374: 306: 259: 219:dubbed him "Crank No. 182: 82: 19: 2120:"Larry's Fatal Leap" 1419:Brooklyn Daily Eagle 609:Brooklyn Daily Eagle 595:Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2166:The Australian Star 2148:The Washington Post 2059:, nla.obj-509303955 2032:Northampton Mercury 1284:The Ipswich Journal 474:Charles "Toff" Wall 1855:The Sun (New York) 1837:The New York Times 1615:New Zealand Herald 1488:The New York Times 1368:The New York Times 1347:The New York Times 1308:The New York Times 1234:The Sun (New York) 1218:. 3 February 2017. 1216:Niagara Falls Info 1200:. 3 February 2017. 1198:Niagara Falls info 1180:The New York Times 1134:The New York Times 1042:The Sun (New York) 1011:The New York Times 975:The New York Times 761:The New York Times 733:The New York Times 703:The Sun (New York) 586:. His mother told 563: 542: 494: 426: 393:Westminster Bridge 377: 309: 262: 217:The New York Times 193:Robert Emmet Odlum 189: 143:Bridge jumps in US 110:Fifth US Artillery 97:Common Sense Facts 92: 26: 2202:The Evening World 2101:The Sporting Life 2067:– via Trove 1936:"Advertisement". 1923:The Sporting Life 1651:Washington Critic 1443:978-1-5107-0012-3 1094:978-1-136-60366-2 573:Hungerford Bridge 538:Hungerford Bridge 69:Hungerford Bridge 2266: 2224: 2223: 2212: 2206: 2205: 2194: 2188: 2187: 2176: 2170: 2169: 2158: 2152: 2151: 2143: 2128: 2127: 2116: 2105: 2104: 2093: 2087: 2086: 2075: 2069: 2068: 2066: 2064: 2042: 2036: 2035: 2027: 2021: 2020: 2009: 2003: 2002: 1991: 1976: 1975: 1964: 1945: 1944: 1933: 1927: 1926: 1915: 1909: 1908: 1901: 1895: 1894: 1886: 1877: 1876: 1865: 1859: 1858: 1847: 1841: 1840: 1834: 1826: 1820: 1819: 1808: 1783: 1782: 1771: 1765: 1764: 1756: 1743: 1742: 1712: 1706: 1705: 1697: 1688: 1687: 1676: 1670: 1669: 1661: 1655: 1654: 1643: 1637: 1636: 1625: 1619: 1618: 1607: 1588: 1587: 1579: 1573: 1572: 1561: 1550: 1549: 1547: 1546: 1531: 1525: 1524: 1516:"London Notes". 1513: 1507: 1506: 1498: 1492: 1491: 1485: 1477: 1471: 1470: 1459: 1448: 1447: 1429: 1423: 1422: 1411: 1390: 1389: 1386:The Deseret News 1378: 1372: 1371: 1365: 1357: 1351: 1350: 1344: 1336: 1330: 1329: 1318: 1312: 1311: 1305: 1297: 1288: 1287: 1279: 1273: 1272: 1270: 1262: 1256: 1255: 1252:New-York Tribune 1244: 1238: 1237: 1226: 1220: 1219: 1208: 1202: 1201: 1190: 1184: 1183: 1177: 1169: 1156: 1155: 1144: 1138: 1137: 1131: 1123: 1117: 1116: 1105: 1099: 1098: 1080: 1074: 1073: 1067: 1059: 1046: 1045: 1034: 1015: 1014: 1003: 997: 996: 985: 979: 978: 972: 964: 953: 952: 941: 935: 934: 926: 909: 908: 900: 891: 890: 879: 852: 851: 848:Manchester Times 840: 829: 828: 817: 800: 799: 796:New York Clipper 788: 765: 764: 758: 750: 737: 736: 730: 722: 707: 706: 695: 662: 661: 650: 644: 643: 637: 629: 612: 560: 434:Sarah Ann Henley 387:a year earlier. 336:bridge to-day." 293:John L. Sullivan 222: 166: 154:Schuylkill River 130: 126: 89: 84:New York Clipper 2274: 2273: 2269: 2268: 2267: 2265: 2264: 2263: 2229: 2228: 2227: 2214: 2213: 2209: 2196: 2195: 2191: 2178: 2177: 2173: 2160: 2159: 2155: 2145: 2144: 2131: 2118: 2117: 2108: 2095: 2094: 2090: 2077: 2076: 2072: 2062: 2060: 2044: 2043: 2039: 2029: 2028: 2024: 2017:The Evening Sun 2011: 2010: 2006: 1993: 1992: 1979: 1966: 1965: 1948: 1935: 1934: 1930: 1917: 1916: 1912: 1903: 1902: 1898: 1888: 1887: 1880: 1867: 1866: 1862: 1849: 1848: 1844: 1832: 1828: 1827: 1823: 1810: 1809: 1786: 1773: 1772: 1768: 1758: 1757: 1746: 1714: 1713: 1709: 1699: 1698: 1691: 1678: 1677: 1673: 1663: 1662: 1658: 1645: 1644: 1640: 1627: 1626: 1622: 1609: 1608: 1591: 1581: 1580: 1576: 1563: 1562: 1553: 1544: 1542: 1533: 1532: 1528: 1515: 1514: 1510: 1500: 1499: 1495: 1483: 1479: 1478: 1474: 1461: 1460: 1451: 1444: 1431: 1430: 1426: 1413: 1412: 1393: 1380: 1379: 1375: 1363: 1359: 1358: 1354: 1342: 1338: 1337: 1333: 1320: 1319: 1315: 1303: 1299: 1298: 1291: 1281: 1280: 1276: 1268: 1264: 1263: 1259: 1246: 1245: 1241: 1228: 1227: 1223: 1210: 1209: 1205: 1192: 1191: 1187: 1175: 1171: 1170: 1159: 1146: 1145: 1141: 1129: 1125: 1124: 1120: 1107: 1106: 1102: 1095: 1082: 1081: 1077: 1065: 1061: 1060: 1049: 1036: 1035: 1018: 1005: 1004: 1000: 987: 986: 982: 970: 966: 965: 956: 943: 942: 938: 928: 927: 912: 902: 901: 894: 881: 880: 855: 842: 841: 832: 819: 818: 803: 790: 789: 768: 756: 752: 751: 740: 728: 724: 723: 710: 697: 696: 665: 652: 651: 647: 635: 631: 630: 623: 619: 613: 606: 568: 561:​​ 527: 486: 455:Waterloo Bridge 439:Horfield Prison 418: 369: 364: 329: 301: 289:New York Museum 254: 238: 220: 177: 175:Brooklyn Bridge 164: 150: 145: 128: 124: 112:, Battery F at 105:New York Herald 87: 77: 53:Brooklyn Bridge 41:Lawrence Degnan 12: 11: 5: 2272: 2270: 2262: 2261: 2256: 2251: 2246: 2241: 2231: 2230: 2226: 2225: 2207: 2189: 2171: 2153: 2129: 2106: 2088: 2070: 2037: 2022: 2004: 1977: 1946: 1928: 1910: 1896: 1878: 1860: 1842: 1821: 1784: 1766: 1744: 1725:pg. 9, col F. 1707: 1689: 1671: 1656: 1638: 1620: 1589: 1574: 1551: 1526: 1520:. 1888-08-09. 1508: 1493: 1472: 1449: 1442: 1424: 1391: 1373: 1352: 1331: 1313: 1289: 1274: 1257: 1239: 1221: 1203: 1185: 1157: 1139: 1118: 1100: 1093: 1075: 1047: 1016: 998: 980: 954: 936: 910: 892: 853: 830: 801: 766: 738: 708: 663: 645: 620: 618: 615: 604: 584:Police Gazette 567: 564: 546:Police Gazette 526: 523: 485: 482: 470:Royal Aquarium 417: 414: 368: 365: 363: 360: 348:the way down. 328: 325: 300: 297: 253: 250: 237: 234: 226:Police Gazette 210:Police Gazette 176: 173: 149: 146: 144: 141: 133:National Guard 119:Police Gazette 76: 73: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2271: 2260: 2257: 2255: 2252: 2250: 2247: 2245: 2242: 2240: 2237: 2236: 2234: 2222:. 1888-08-09. 2221: 2217: 2211: 2208: 2203: 2199: 2193: 2190: 2185: 2181: 2175: 2172: 2167: 2163: 2157: 2154: 2149: 2142: 2140: 2138: 2136: 2134: 2130: 2125: 2121: 2115: 2113: 2111: 2107: 2103:. 1888-04-25. 2102: 2098: 2092: 2089: 2085:. 1888-03-24. 2084: 2080: 2074: 2071: 2058: 2054: 2050: 2049: 2048:The bulletin. 2041: 2038: 2033: 2026: 2023: 2018: 2014: 2008: 2005: 2000: 1996: 1990: 1988: 1986: 1984: 1982: 1978: 1973: 1969: 1963: 1961: 1959: 1957: 1955: 1953: 1951: 1947: 1943: 1939: 1932: 1929: 1925:. 1887-10-20. 1924: 1920: 1914: 1911: 1906: 1900: 1897: 1892: 1885: 1883: 1879: 1874: 1870: 1864: 1861: 1856: 1852: 1846: 1843: 1839:. 1887-06-23. 1838: 1831: 1825: 1822: 1818:. 1888-03-14. 1817: 1813: 1807: 1805: 1803: 1801: 1799: 1797: 1795: 1793: 1791: 1789: 1785: 1781:. 1887-06-23. 1780: 1776: 1770: 1767: 1762: 1755: 1753: 1751: 1749: 1745: 1740: 1736: 1732: 1728: 1724: 1720: 1719: 1711: 1708: 1703: 1696: 1694: 1690: 1685: 1681: 1675: 1672: 1667: 1660: 1657: 1653:. 1887-06-08. 1652: 1648: 1642: 1639: 1635:. 1887-06-16. 1634: 1630: 1624: 1621: 1616: 1612: 1606: 1604: 1602: 1600: 1598: 1596: 1594: 1590: 1586:. 1887-06-07. 1585: 1578: 1575: 1570: 1566: 1560: 1558: 1556: 1552: 1540: 1536: 1530: 1527: 1523: 1519: 1512: 1509: 1504: 1497: 1494: 1490:. 1887-05-10. 1489: 1482: 1476: 1473: 1468: 1464: 1458: 1456: 1454: 1450: 1445: 1439: 1435: 1428: 1425: 1421:. 1887-04-18. 1420: 1416: 1410: 1408: 1406: 1404: 1402: 1400: 1398: 1396: 1392: 1387: 1383: 1377: 1374: 1370:. 1887-03-20. 1369: 1362: 1356: 1353: 1349:. 1887-01-28. 1348: 1341: 1335: 1332: 1327: 1323: 1317: 1314: 1309: 1302: 1296: 1294: 1290: 1285: 1278: 1275: 1267: 1261: 1258: 1253: 1249: 1243: 1240: 1236:. 1886-11-13. 1235: 1231: 1225: 1222: 1217: 1213: 1207: 1204: 1199: 1195: 1189: 1186: 1182:. 1886-11-08. 1181: 1174: 1168: 1166: 1164: 1162: 1158: 1154:. 1888-08-16. 1153: 1152:New York Star 1149: 1143: 1140: 1135: 1128: 1122: 1119: 1115:. 1887-08-09. 1114: 1110: 1104: 1101: 1096: 1090: 1086: 1079: 1076: 1071: 1064: 1058: 1056: 1054: 1052: 1048: 1044:. 1886-08-29. 1043: 1039: 1033: 1031: 1029: 1027: 1025: 1023: 1021: 1017: 1013:. 1883-05-31. 1012: 1008: 1002: 999: 994: 990: 984: 981: 977:. 1887-04-19. 976: 969: 963: 961: 959: 955: 951:. 1888-02-18. 950: 946: 940: 937: 932: 925: 923: 921: 919: 917: 915: 911: 906: 899: 897: 893: 888: 887:New York Star 884: 878: 876: 874: 872: 870: 868: 866: 864: 862: 860: 858: 854: 849: 845: 839: 837: 835: 831: 827:. 1888-02-18. 826: 825:Te Aroha News 822: 816: 814: 812: 810: 808: 806: 802: 797: 793: 787: 785: 783: 781: 779: 777: 775: 773: 771: 767: 762: 755: 749: 747: 745: 743: 739: 734: 727: 721: 719: 717: 715: 713: 709: 704: 700: 694: 692: 690: 688: 686: 684: 682: 680: 678: 676: 674: 672: 670: 668: 664: 659: 655: 649: 646: 641: 634: 628: 626: 622: 616: 610: 603: 598: 596: 591: 589: 585: 580: 576: 574: 565: 558: 553: 549: 547: 539: 535: 531: 524: 522: 518: 514: 510: 507: 502: 498: 490: 483: 481: 479: 475: 471: 466: 464: 460: 456: 451: 449: 443: 440: 435: 431: 422: 415: 413: 408: 403: 400: 396: 394: 388: 386: 382: 373: 366: 361: 359: 356: 353: 349: 346: 341: 337: 333: 326: 324: 322: 318: 314: 305: 298: 296: 294: 290: 285: 283: 279: 274: 270: 268: 258: 252:Niagara Falls 251: 249: 247: 243: 242:Genesee Falls 235: 233: 229: 227: 218: 213: 211: 205: 201: 198: 194: 186: 181: 174: 172: 170: 162: 157: 155: 147: 142: 140: 136: 134: 122: 120: 115: 114:Fort Hamilton 111: 107: 106: 100: 98: 85: 81: 74: 72: 70: 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 46: 42: 38: 34: 30: 23: 18: 2219: 2210: 2201: 2192: 2183: 2174: 2165: 2156: 2147: 2123: 2100: 2091: 2083:Era (London) 2082: 2073: 2061:, retrieved 2047: 2040: 2031: 2025: 2016: 2007: 1998: 1971: 1941: 1937: 1931: 1922: 1913: 1899: 1890: 1872: 1863: 1854: 1845: 1836: 1824: 1815: 1778: 1769: 1760: 1716: 1710: 1701: 1683: 1674: 1665: 1659: 1650: 1641: 1632: 1623: 1614: 1583: 1577: 1568: 1543:. Retrieved 1541:. 1889-12-03 1538: 1529: 1521: 1517: 1511: 1502: 1496: 1487: 1475: 1466: 1433: 1427: 1418: 1385: 1376: 1367: 1355: 1346: 1334: 1325: 1316: 1307: 1283: 1277: 1260: 1251: 1242: 1233: 1224: 1215: 1206: 1197: 1188: 1179: 1151: 1142: 1133: 1121: 1112: 1103: 1084: 1078: 1069: 1041: 1010: 1001: 992: 983: 974: 948: 939: 930: 904: 886: 847: 824: 795: 760: 732: 702: 657: 648: 639: 611:, 1888-08-09 608: 600: 594: 592: 587: 583: 581: 577: 569: 556: 545: 543: 528: 519: 515: 511: 503: 499: 495: 467: 452: 448:Buffalo Bill 444: 427: 412:permitted". 410: 405: 401: 397: 389: 378: 357: 354: 350: 342: 338: 334: 330: 310: 286: 275: 271: 263: 239: 230: 225: 216: 214: 209: 206: 202: 197:Steve Brodie 190: 184: 161:Steve Brodie 158: 151: 137: 117: 103: 101: 96: 93: 83: 57:Steve Brodie 44: 43:or possibly 40: 36: 32: 28: 27: 21: 2244:1888 deaths 2239:1862 births 459:Ally Sloper 278:dime museum 169:High Bridge 2233:Categories 2063:7 November 1545:2021-11-07 929:"On Dit". 617:References 566:Fatal jump 442:December. 407:Newcastle. 75:Early life 49:typesetter 37:M. Donovan 2057:0007-4039 1739:145340223 1731:0140-0460 1718:The Times 1633:The Comet 478:Tom Smith 345:The Tombs 317:The Tombs 246:Sam Patch 215:Although 605:—  55:jump by 29:Lawrence 1569:Referee 588:The Sun 525:Decline 362:England 282:Kendall 45:Duignan 39:, born 2055:  1737:  1729:  1440:  1091:  367:London 221:  185:Inset: 165:  129:  125:  88:  1833:(PDF) 1484:(PDF) 1364:(PDF) 1343:(PDF) 1304:(PDF) 1269:(PDF) 1176:(PDF) 1130:(PDF) 1066:(PDF) 971:(PDF) 757:(PDF) 729:(PDF) 636:(PDF) 399:so." 90:1886) 86:(Dec. 33:Larry 2065:2021 2053:ISSN 1735:OCLC 1727:ISSN 1438:ISBN 1089:ISBN 506:trap 476:and 557:Sun 2235:: 2218:. 2200:. 2182:. 2164:. 2132:^ 2122:. 2109:^ 2099:. 2081:. 2015:. 1997:. 1980:^ 1970:. 1949:^ 1921:. 1881:^ 1871:. 1853:. 1835:. 1814:. 1787:^ 1777:. 1747:^ 1733:. 1692:^ 1682:. 1649:. 1631:. 1613:. 1592:^ 1567:. 1554:^ 1537:. 1486:. 1465:. 1452:^ 1417:. 1394:^ 1384:. 1366:. 1345:. 1324:. 1306:. 1292:^ 1250:. 1232:. 1214:. 1196:. 1178:. 1160:^ 1150:. 1132:. 1111:. 1068:. 1050:^ 1040:. 1019:^ 1009:. 991:. 973:. 957:^ 947:. 913:^ 895:^ 885:. 856:^ 846:. 833:^ 823:. 804:^ 794:. 769:^ 759:. 741:^ 731:. 711:^ 701:. 666:^ 656:. 638:. 624:^ 156:. 35:" 1907:. 1741:. 1548:. 1446:. 1097:. 121:, 31:" 24:.

Index


typesetter
Brooklyn Bridge
Steve Brodie
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Hungerford Bridge

New York Herald
Fifth US Artillery
Fort Hamilton
Police Gazette
National Guard
Schuylkill River
Steve Brodie
High Bridge

Robert Emmet Odlum
Steve Brodie
Genesee Falls
Sam Patch

Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
dime museum
Kendall
New York Museum
John L. Sullivan

Chestnut Street Bridge
The Tombs

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