The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-08-06
Walking ON the Water.

An exhibition of considerable interest
was given on the Harlem River, near
High Bridge, yesterday afternoon, the
feat of locomotion afoot upon the surface
of the water being satisfactorily accom-
plished. 1t was not precisely walking, but
was, if such "a term may be used with re-
ference to the water, more like skating.
The apparatus used was the result of a
doubt in the mind Of the inventor, Mr.
w. G. Sonle, as to the tluth of what was
taught him at school-that to walk on
the water by mechanical aid was imros,
sible. The occasion of the first attempt
was the pre- sence on the water-side, near
his home in Wayne county, of great num-
bers of snipe in place too deep for wading
and too thick with mud to be accessible
by boat. So he made sort of wooden
shoe, with swinging paddles on the under
side, which allowed for a forward push
without resistance, but took hold of the
water when the foot was drawn back CIV
ing leverage for propulsion.
The floats used yesterday by Mr.. Soule
were made of sheet zinc, soldered air and
water tight. They were five feet long, ten
inches wide and five inches deep. They
were also pointed at each end to reduce
the resistance to the water, having the
appearance of models of double-ended
canal boats, with perpendicular sides all
upper side hole, or "well," is sunk to re-
ceive the foot of the wearer. This being
open at the top, and liable to receive
water, is separate from the water-tight
body of the "boat" The apparatus is
well braced inside for strength. The
propelling part is beneath, and consists
of two gang" paddles, one at each end.
These sets of paddles, which open and
shut by the motion through the water
like window blind Except that the sep
arate paddles are swung by the upper
side instead of by the middle), are held
by iron side pieces, which are fastened to
the zinc boats. Wires before and behind
hold these sets of paddles in place per-
pendicularly under the boat.
When the walker on the water is
mounted in his ''shoes," which resemble,
as they lie together on the water, the
double hulls of the new steamship
Castalla, built for the English Channel, or
of catamaran, he pushes forward with
one foot, the motion opening the paddles,
which yield to the water, giving no resis-
tance. Then, as he pushes forward the
other foot, he withdraws the former one.
closing the paddles, and pulling himself
forward by the resistance of the water.
The repetition of these motions consti-
tutes the new system "of walking on
water" It is not dissimilar to the effort
required for the use of snowshoes, except
that there is no lifting necessary. The
name given the apparatus by the inven-
tor is water skates"
The useful purpose of the apparatus is
briefly described as enabling one to go
where he can neither foot or in boat.
One could nsh or hunt after acquiring
facility in its use, and when tired could
''sit down on his Shoes" Mr.. Soule
crossed the river several times clothed in
an ordinary suit, and afterwards diyed
into the water in bathing suit, and re-
gained his footing in the floating shoes
from the water. The exhibition attracted
much attention from the excursionists in
the vicinity, and was repeated as often as
the curious small boys in boats and the
frequent regular landing of the steam
boats permitted.-Neao York Herald.