March
27, 1917 – A 206-pound man jumped out of a seventh story window
of the Lumber Exchange Building this afternoon on a two-pound rope and didn’t
break his neck.
The man was—still is—F. A. Forest, Detroit, Mich., whose favorite pastime is trying to hang himself. In his vest pocket, he carries a lovely picture of himself, his wife and his four children, all hanging from the roof of their home.
His rope is really a steel cable, 3.32 inches thick—about as heavy as some kinds of fish line. It is a part of a patent fire escape that he invented. Today’s jump was Number 141—and he isn’t done yet, he says. Forest has a badly broken nose, which he solemnly declares he acquired while skating.
Forest’s hanging stunt has become an obsession. Even the frowns of F. J. Kraft, superintendent of the building, could not dissuade him today, and before anyone had time to interfere, he was out of the window.
He has been on “on the jump” for two years, his longest descent being from the roof of a 12-story building in Detroit. He went down at the rate of about four feet a second and landed on the ground with about as much force as though he had jumped from a curbstone, he says.
With his machine he can regulate his speed to suit himself, Forest says. The machine consists of an aluminum box, about three inches in diameter, which contains a spool and pulleys, from which the cable unwinds itself. The cable will lift 1,200 pounds.
The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Jumps From Seventh Story, Lands Unhurt; Detroit Man Chooses Lumber Exchange for Scenes of His 141st ‘Leap for Life.’”; March 28, 1917; p. 13.
The man was—still is—F. A. Forest, Detroit, Mich., whose favorite pastime is trying to hang himself. In his vest pocket, he carries a lovely picture of himself, his wife and his four children, all hanging from the roof of their home.
His rope is really a steel cable, 3.32 inches thick—about as heavy as some kinds of fish line. It is a part of a patent fire escape that he invented. Today’s jump was Number 141—and he isn’t done yet, he says. Forest has a badly broken nose, which he solemnly declares he acquired while skating.
Forest’s hanging stunt has become an obsession. Even the frowns of F. J. Kraft, superintendent of the building, could not dissuade him today, and before anyone had time to interfere, he was out of the window.
He has been on “on the jump” for two years, his longest descent being from the roof of a 12-story building in Detroit. He went down at the rate of about four feet a second and landed on the ground with about as much force as though he had jumped from a curbstone, he says.
With his machine he can regulate his speed to suit himself, Forest says. The machine consists of an aluminum box, about three inches in diameter, which contains a spool and pulleys, from which the cable unwinds itself. The cable will lift 1,200 pounds.
The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Jumps From Seventh Story, Lands Unhurt; Detroit Man Chooses Lumber Exchange for Scenes of His 141st ‘Leap for Life.’”; March 28, 1917; p. 13.
Lumber Exchange Building circa. 1910-1917
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@cped/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-190433.pdf
Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released
into the public domain Sept. 16, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.
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If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
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