Go Down in History

The 1,000th known suicide off San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was recorded this month. The California Highway Patrol, which tallies the statistics, had tried to keep a low profile on the upcoming milestone after their experience with a previous milestone. As number 500 approached in 1973, authorities were able to stop 14 jumpers in a row, including one man wearing a t-shirt reading “500". But this year, area media would not cooperate with the low key approach: the count was widely known, and one local radio station offered prizes to the 1,000th jumper. (AP) ...Which will be awarded just as soon as number 1,000 comes in to claim them.