On November 6, 1829, thousands of people lined the banks of the Genesee River to witness the illustrious jumper and his animal friend make the impressive leap. Promotional ads appeared in the Rochester Daily Advertiser and Telegraph that promised a perfect jump with “no mistake.” The stunt would also feature a newly acquired pet bear that would accompany Sam over the falls. At a height of 97 ft., the Upper Falls were considered nearly as spectacular as Niagara. He set his sights on the Upper Falls on the Genesee River in Rochester, NY. Riding high on the success at Niagara Falls, Sam sought a greater challenge for his next jump. Over the next two years, he captured the public’s attention by making similar jumps in spots throughout the East Coast, reaching the pinnacle of his notoriety in October 1829 after he famously jumped Niagara Falls, not once but twice! In September 1827, he jumped a bridge over the Passaic Falls in Paterson, NJ to a cheering crowd.
When that business failed, Sam began to perform jumps for money. He continued the practice after he moved to New Jersey to open his own mill.
“There’s no mistake in Sam Patch,” he boasted, but a mistake during the jump he dubbed his “last” led to his demise.Ī Rhode Island cotton mill spinner since childhood, Sam Patch began leaping from the waterfalls that powered the mills. For two years he was unstoppable, cheating death jump after jump. Martinsville, LA), August 23, 1890Īmerica’s first daredevil, Sam Patch, astounded audiences by leaping from waterfalls at hair-raising heights.
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