Daily Los Angeles herald., 1880-07-21
wal1,. on the Water.

An exhibition of considerab lie in.
trest was given on the Harlem riv-
er near High Bridge recently, the
feat of locomotion afoot upon the
surface of the water being success
fully accomplished. 1t was not
precisely walking, but was, II such
a terra may he used with reference
to the water, more like skating.
The apparatus used was the result
of u doubt in the miud of the in.
ventor, Mr.. w. G sSonIe, Of tho
truth as to what was taught him at
school-thst to walk on the water
by mechanical aid was impossible.
The occasion Of his first attempt
was the presence on the water side,
near his home in Wayne county,
OF gres, numbers OF snipe in place
too deep tor wading aud too thick
with mud to he accessible by
boat. So he made n soit Of wooden
shoe, with swinging paddles ON
the under eide, which allowed for
a push without assistance, but TOOK
ho,d of the water when the foot
was drawn back, giving a leverage
for propulsion.
The floats used by Mr.. Soule
were made of sheet zine, sOldered,
air and watertighi. They were five
feet long, ten inches wide and five
inches deep They We're al.o point
ed at each end to reduce the resist
ance to the water, having the ap-
pearance of models of double-ended
canal boats, with perpendicular
sides all the way around. In the
middle of the upper side hole or
"welln is sunk to receive the foot
of the wearer. This being open at
the top and liable to receive water
Is seperate from the water-tight
body of the "boat." The apparatus
Ia well braced inside for strength.
The propelling part is beneath aud
consists of the "gang', paddles, one
at each end. These sets of pad
dies, which open and shut by the
motion through the water like a
window blind Except that the sep
crate paddles are swung by the up
per 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 perpendicu
larry under the boat. When the
walker on the water is MOUNTED
on his "shoes," which resemble al
thew lie together on the water tn
doubte hull Of the new STEAMSHIP
"Castalia," built for the Englisl
Channel, or of II catamaran, III
pushes forward with one foot, thu
motion opening the paddles, which
yield to the water, giving no resist
ance. Then rs he pushes forwar'
the other foot, lie withdraws tn
= former one, closes the paddles, AM
l pulling himself forward by the re
, sistance of the water. The repeli
: ton of these motions constitute
the new system of"walking on wa
ter.u It is not dissimiliar TO th
efforts required for the use of sno'
9 shoes, except that there is no lit
Il ing necessary, The name give
y by the inventor is " walking
y skates"
q The useful purpose of the appars
" tus is briefly described as enablin
one to go where he can neither z
y foot OF IN boat. One could ifs
p, or hunt Wjer OCCURRING facility
h ia use. and when tired conld IS
down on hls shoes.n Mr.. Sou
y crossed the tleer several tim,
Y clothed in au ordinary suit, au
.t afte-wuId DIV. 1 into the water In
a battling suit cd regained his foo
/. tius ll the 00e ing shoes from IL
As .ee. Tis exhibition attracte
We taua1 attention from the excursion
pa tstssu ,ne vid ny, aud was repea
e.tsd las ultel a the curious sma
i, boss TO- sbe boat and the frequel
w trpguibr npliugs of the steamboa
sy ( perniitcd .--NcW York Herald.