August 31 was the natal day of Robert Emmet Odlum (1851-1885), the first man to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. You thought it was Steve Brodie, didn't you? Well, Brodie was the first man to jump off the bridge and survive, that is, if he actually did it. Which many think he didn't. Odlum did the expected thing: jumped off the bridge, and died.
Born in upstate Ogdensburg, New York (near the Canadian border), Odlum grew up in well over a dozen different cities all over the U.S. and Canada. As a young adult he wound up in Washington D.C., where he built a natatorium (swimming pool facility) in 1878 and established himself as a swimming instructor. Odlum was able to make a name for himself as a "Professor" teaching the children of America's political class how to swim. At the same time he began to make a reputation for himself, undertaking feats of long distance swimming, and jumping and diving off of great heights.
When Odlum took his fatal jump off the bridge on May 19, 1885, several famous friends were with him: Captain Paul Boyton, first amusement entrepreneur in Coney Island; actor Henry E. Dixey; wrestler and strong man William Muldoon; and boxer Paddy Ryan. Odlum jumped feet first and tried to drop straight into the water, but a strong wind twisted his body prior to landing so that he went in somewhat sideways. Numerous bones were broken, several internal organs were ruptured. He died shortly after his retrieval from the water.
Lesson of his demonstration? Jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge is a very good way to kill yourself. But here are a couple of wonderful free things to do in New York today that WON'T kill you:
The 14th annual NYC Unicycle Festival, produced by friends at the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The festival opens at 10:30am with a ride from Battery Park up to Central Park. Tomorrow's uni ride starts at the Brooklyn Bridge and heads out to Coney Island -- Paul Boyton, eat your heart out! There are more events through Sunday. Full schedule here.
After your unicycle ride (or more likely your unicycle gawking) head over to Tin Pan Alley for a free concert on the plaza outside the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Go over and check it out, starting at 4pm! It's the New York Thing to do!
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