A DIVE TO DEATH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 57, 31 October 1912, Page 3

A DIVE TO DEATH.

SENSATIONAL JUMP INTO A RIVER. Aluch indignation was aroused in Budapest over a schoolboy named Dinoys Kovalik diving from the Franz Josef bridge into the Danube for a cinematograph picture and thereby meeting his death. Two of the employees at the theatre who photographed the scene have been arrested. Kovalik himself wont to the theatre and proposed to make a sensational spring from the bridge for a 1000 crowns (£10), but afterwards accepted a quarter of the sum. In order ‘to make the representation more thrilling, Kovalik agreed to climb to the top of tho highest column of the chain bridge and induce the fire brigade to come and take him down. He also undertook, when the firemen got near him, to jump into the river. - Kovalik climbed to the top of the column, and seated jiijnself astride the figure of the eagle., r He undressed in the presence of the huge crowd, and made speeches to attract still more people,, until the,,fire bj’igade, ,piunc op t;he scene with ladders and motor

boats. Kovalik allowed the firemen to climb to a. point near him,, and then dived at an angle of -Id degrees, turning a double somersault, and striking the water on his back with terrible force. His body disappeared immediately below the waves. The occupants of the motor boat were so horrified at the spectacle that at first they made no attempt to rescue the lad. Kovalik’s friends told the police tin' history of the affair with Hie ci-ne-matrographers, and the latter were arrested. They will bo charged with being accessory to murder.