The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-03
CEILING WALKING.
IL Appears Startling, but Only Nerve
Is Required by Performers.


Cincinnati Enquirer)
There are to-day at least fifteen per.
sons who perform the novel feat OF
walking head down along the full length
OF great board and who are known as
ceiling walkers. There arc lady and
gentleman performers, their perform
ances being confined almost entirely to
the variety stage. The effect is sartlina
as one OF them moves along underneath
the board, far above the floor of the stage,
their full form extending downward.
Until recently the manner of performing
the feat was q guarded secret. While
there is general difference as to details,
the principle involved in keeping the
walker suspended is practically the same.
1t Is the secret Of the ability of the fly
to walk over a ceiling.
The board used is heavy plank about
fifteen feet long and three feet wide.
This is rendered almost perfectly smooth
by being rubbed down with pumice
stone Near each end of the board is
suspended trapeze, to which the Der.
former hangs, head down, rs he presses
his feet to the board above him when
starting upon his walk Underneath is
stretched large net. An ordinary pair
OF stage shoes will answer the purpose.
1NStBnp6
circular, concave arrangements of gum,
sort OF bowlshaped shoes, about six and
one-half inches in diameter, and it is
these, pressed against the board above,
that hold the walker suspended.
The material of which these bowl
shaped shoes is of tho same thickness
and appearance as that used in fircman's
hose In the centre, on the concave side
OF these shoes, is thick piece of steel,
circular in form. TO this plate is riveted
on the convex side of the shoes q small
iron framework. From this framework
extend two iron rods, shaped like the
handles OF the instrument used in toast
ing or brollIng. BY the framework the
boWl shaped shoes are fastened to the
regular walking shoes. The rods re-
ferred to extend toward the toe, resting
underneath the ball of the foot. A pres
sure exerted upon that portion of the
loot will press out tho rods and permit
the air to rush into the concave gum
shoes just at their centre.
Everything in readiness, the performer
sits upon the trapeze and adjusts the con-
cave arrangements to his shoes. Then
he swings around, head down, holding
on to the trapeze, and presses the bowl
shaped arrangements on his shoes
against the board above. AS he presses
the air is driven out of the bowl. A
vacuum is created as the gum is pressed
all the tighter against the board, becom-
ing f1attened out. The atmospheric
pressure on each one of the shoes used
Will exert q power or carry weight of
aDout fifteen pounds to the square inch.
linen the trapeze is let go Of. The per-
former hangs suspended. A pressure
upon the ball of the left foot o,,arotos +bo
iron rod which opens a small arrange.
ment at the convex centre of the econcHye
shoes. Air rushes in and the shoe be-
comes loosene0. Hanging by the right
foot, the one loosened Is thrown farther
along on the board. Tightly it is
pressed against the board until it fas.ens.
Then the left is operated in the same
manner, and so it continues until the
board is crossed.