Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's ReignAshton, John
History
Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
On the 15 Dec. the remains of the Emperor Napoleon, which had been
removed from St. Helena, were laid, with great pomp, into the tomb
prepared for them at the Invalides, Paris; and, contrary to all
expectation, there was no disturbance on the occasion.
CHAPTER XV.
Death of Scott, “the American Diver”—Prince Albert’s ducking—Monster
cheese—“The Boy Jones”—“Tracts for the Times,” Tract XC—Earl of Cardigan
flogs a soldier on Sunday—Dispute as to the discovery of Electric
Telegraph—Sale of Shakspere autograph—The Census—Astley’s burnt—Behaviour
of “gentlemen.”
The first bit of gossip of this year was the tragic death of Sam Scott,
“the American diver,” who was born at Philadelphia, and, at an early age,
entered the American navy. His extraordinary courage and prowess as a
diver rendered him very popular, and, after quitting the naval service,
he travelled about the Union exhibiting. He, subsequently, visited
Canada, and made some tremendous leaps from the banks of the St.
Lawrence, and the lakes which intersect that country; but his _chef
d’œuvre_ was leaping from a precipice below the Falls of Niagara, where,
according to his own statement, he jumped the amazing distance of 595
feet, into the water, which he accomplished without injury or
inconvenience!
He was performing in England in 1838, and came to London in the latter
part of 1840; and we now hear of him as issuing a “Challenge to the World
for 100 Guineas! Monday next, Jan. 11, 1841, and during the week, Samuel
Scott, the American diver, will run from Godfrey’s White Lion, Drury
Lane, to Waterloo Bridge, and leap into the water, forty feet high from
the bridge, and return back within the hour, every day during the week,
between one and two o’clock.” There were about 8,000 or 10,000 people
assembled to see the feat, which was to be performed from a scaffolding
overhanging the river. Here he swung by a rope noose round his chin, and
afterwards, with his head downwards and one of his feet in the noose. He
then again hung suspended by his chin, but the noose slipped, and he was
hanged in sight of all that huge crowd. This fatal accident created a
great impression at the time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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