A WONDERFUL LEAP.

Poverty Bay Herald, 21 August 1879, Page 2

A WONDERFUL LEAP.

A leap, the like of which has n^^| before been recorded, was made^^f Niagara Falls on the 21st of May, u^^| a man, by name Harmon Peer, let^^J from the Suspension Bridge into^^H river beneath, a distance of 192 f^H A scaffold four feet long had b^^| erected near the bridge, and projec^^B over il, There were about I,^H spectators of the feat along both side:^H the bank and on the bridge. J^H mounted the platform at forty minu^H past two p.m., bareheaded and dres^P m tights. A wide rubber life-preserver was fastened round him, • reaching from his hips to beneath his arms, funnel shaped, so as hot to hinder his aotion m .the wafer. A sponge was tied over his mouth and nose, and two smaller ones stuffed m both ears ; a leather shoulder suspender, with two small brass rings attached just over the shoulders, complete his costume. To these rings was fastened a fine brass wire to assist him m keeping his equilibrium, and a wide elastic band was adjusted just above his kneea and another across his insteps to prevent his feet from spreading. When all was ready he let himself through a square bole m the- platform suspended by his bands, which he suddenly "let go," and made his'f earful drop, occupying 3| seconds." Three boats were m the river waiting to pick him up, and m one of these he was conveyed safely and uninjured to. the shore. On being landed he stated that "he felt no fear." He sank after striking the water about eleven <feet ; an undercurrent m the river threw himself ou his back and carried him some fifty feet, when he rose to the surface, having been under the water two seconds. The nearest approach to this jump was that of Sam Patch, at Niagara Falls, of 142 feet m 1829. Peer intends to repeat the feat at the same place on the 4th of July next, and as it is likely enough that he will be killed, he is at present the object of much interest m the neighbourhood of Niagara. •