The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-07-21
uANLAN HIS TIN SHOES.
walking ON the water fn Alex
andrta Hay.

Hanlan IL at Alexandria Bay, on the
st. Lawrence, and has been amusing the
crowds there with exhibitions of his tin
boots, with which he walks on the water.
A letter to the New York SIN says: "These
objects looked very much like models of
dismantled hulks of an obsolete pattern,
made of tin, and perhaps resembling Il pair
of clumsy shoes. Some expressed the
opinion that they were torpedoes, and, TO
say the least, they looked suspicious.
"All doubt as to their use was cleared
few days later by the FASTING of bills
about the town announcing the fact that
Mr. Hanlan would appear upon the river
in his reccntly-invented tin shoes and,
weather permitting, would walk upon the
water. Furthermore, the walker offered
reward or prize of $50 to any native of
the bay who would walk u certain number
of yards in the tin shoes This was SUI.
licient to collect large crowd just before
sundown and soon the rowers appeared
carrying the curious tin objects. They
put them in u boat and were soon in the
middle of the river The shoes were then
put overheard and held by the other occu-
pant of the boat, while Hanlan carefully
put foot in each one and showed off, hold
| ing an oar after the fashion of u balancing
pole.
"By the greatest effort, pushing the feet
| forward and back, the shoes moved over
the water, carrying the wearer. IL was
evidently severe test of endurance, yet
the rover did walk on the water, or rather
shuttle along. From u distance it did not
look so difficult, and when the oarsman re-
turned to his boat there were loud calls
for the famous fat boy who holds out here.
The fat boy objected upon the ground that
if he got out in the channel some one
would take him for an island and perhaps
build on him. \ gigantic negro was then
duplicated, but could not be tempted.
"Finally Il young man stepped out clad in
II gorgeous black and yellow suit of tights
and after considerable trouble managed to
get his feet into the Shoes and just as he
was about to back out the boat showed off
and left him to the mercy of the st
Lawrence and laughing crowd. The
big shoes almost Immediately developed
characteristics that they had not before
shown, and ~ the victim tried to skate
off under instructions from the profes
sional, each foot or shoe started on its own
hook, one heading for Montreal and tn,
other for Clayton. This sort of thing
could not last. The wearer, amid the
yells Of the crowd, disappeared beneath
the waters Of the st. Lawrence. lie wa
picked up. After this Ilanlan got into
the shoes, and gave another exhibition tC
show how very simple it was; but he faileC
to draw another victim. The $50 remains
TO be won, and the exhibition still go ON
and the oarsmcn derive daily Amusement
thcrefrom.
'The shocsare made of tin or zinc, abou
three feet in length and eighteen inche
high. In the interior are sufficient al
chambers to support the weight of man
and in the taps arc holes for the feet. Tn
bow or toe is pointed, and the shoes are t.
all intents and purposes boats. To enabl
the wearer to get ahead upon the flat kee
; there are number of hinged blades tina
swing fiat when the foot is moved forwar,
and remain solid, presenting a broad sur
face when the foot is pushed back, and b.
the resistance against these blades or sur
faces the wearer moves along.