Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Paul Worst, 26, the proprietor of the Lidgerwood Pharmacy, carefully removed his coat and hat, placed them on the Post Street bridge, climbed over the railing and jumped.

Other pedestrians and the occupants of a passing streetcar saw Worst splash into the icy waters.

They ran to the railing and yelled for him to grab the life rope, stretched across the river, but he made no attempt.

“Caught by the current, he drifted toward the falls and a second later he was seen to rise a few feet and go over them,” said the paper. 

His brother reported that Worst had no health troubles, no financial troubles, nor anything else to worry him.

He lived with his wife at the pharmacy.

He had told his family that he was planning to leave for a trip.

Police were still searching for his body.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1712: The Carolina Colony was officially divided into two entities: North Carolina and South Carolina. … 1951: The U.S. conducted its first thermonuclear experiment as part of Operation Greenhouse by detonating a 225-kiloton device on Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific nicknamed “George.”