http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 25 August 2011 COOGAN story _________________________________________________________________ appearing in "New Orleans Daily Picayune" [LA], 22 JUN 1878, PAGE 2, COLUMN 2: A SMALL WAGER LEADS TO DEATH A man named Joseph Coogan, aged 32 years, a native of Ireland, at half-past 2 o'clock, yesterday afternoon, while in liquor, for a bet of fifteen cents, jumped from the yardarm of the foremast of the ship Wyoming, lying at the head of Nun street, into the river. He afterwards went back and ascended to the foretop of the same yard and jumped the second time into the river. His friends, after he had disappeared under the water, waited awhile for him, but he failed to come to the surface. He leaves a wife and two children, residing on St. Mary, between Rousseau and Religious streets. _________________________________________________________________ appearing in "New Orleans Times" [LA], 22 JUN 1878: A DIVE TO DEATH From the Fore Topsail Yard of the Ship Wyoming. At half-past 2 o'clock, last evening, Joseph Cogan, a sailor, dived to death off the upper fore topsail yard of the ship Wyoming, lying in the river at the pier head of Union street, third district. It transpires that Cogan was intoxicated and boasted of his skill at diving, which some of his comrades disputed. As the argument progressed, Cogan, excited by the combined influences of liquor and the subject at issue, offered for wager of fifteen cents to put his vaunted skill to the test by jumping from the foreyard. Suiting the action to the word he stripped, and while his companions crowded the top-gallant forecastle, Cogan ran up the shrouds and taking a position on the yard arm, dived into the river. Quietly coming to the surface, a few strokes brought him to the ship, and he got aboard. ELATED WITH HIS TRIUMPH, he declared his intention of diving from the upper topsail yard, and in a jiffy, ascended to the lofty position, and with a cry of "here she goes," he sprang off the yard. In the descent he slightly swerved from the perpendicular, striking the water partly on his side, in such a position as to knock the breath out of him. At first it was not noticed, but as several minutes elapsed and he still did not come up, the truth finally impressed itself on his companions that Cogan was drowned. At once search was instituted for his body, but without avail. Deceased was 32 years of age, a native of Ireland, and leaves a wife and two children residing on St. Mary street, between Religious and Rousseau streets. _________________________________________________________________