Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-05-19
THE CEILING WALKERS,
The Method by which Man Initiates
the Fly.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer

[From the Cincinnati Enquirer1
There are to-day at least fifteen per.
sons who perform the novel feat of walk.
ing head downward along the full length
OF great board, and who are known as
ceiling walkers. There are lady and
gentlemen performers, their performance
being confined almost entirely to the va
riety stage. The effect is startling as
one of them moves along underneath the
board far above the stage, their full form
extending downward. Until recently the
manner of performing the feat was q
guarded secret. While there is gener-
al difference as to details, the principal
in keeping the walker suspended is prac-
tically the same. 1t is the secret Of the
ability Of the fly to walk over the cell
ing:
The board used is heavy plank
about 10 feet long and 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 performer hangs
head down, rs he presses his feet on the
board above him when starting upon his
walk. Underneath is stretched large
net. An ordinary pair of stage shoes
will answer the purpose. To the bot
tom OF these are fastened circular, con-
cave arrangements of gum, q sort of bow
shaped shoes, about 16l inches in diane
ter, and it is these, pressed against the
board above that holds the walker sus-
pended.
The material of which these bow
shaped shoes are made is of the same
thickness and appearance as that used
on heavy firemen's hose. In the centre,
on the concave side of these shoes is q
thick piece of steel, circular in form.
TO this plate is riveted on the convex
side of the shoe small iron framework.
From this framework extends two iron
rods, shaped like the handles of the in
strument used in tOasting or broiling.
BY the framework the bOw-shaped shoes
are fastened to the regular walking
Shoes. The rods referred to extend to-
ward the toe. resting underneath the
ball of the foot A pressure exerted
upon that portion Of the foot will press
out the rods and permits the air to rush
into the concave gum shoes just at their
centre.
Everything in readiness, the perform
er sits upon the trapeze and adjusts the
cOncave 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,
becoming fiattened out. The atmos-
pheric pressure on each one of the shoes
used will exert power or carry a weight
of about fifteen pounds to the square
inch. Then the trapeze is let 60 of.
The performer hangs suspended. A
pressure upon the ball of the left foot
operates the iron rod which opens a
small arrangements at the convex centre
of the concave shoes. Air rushes in and
the shoe becomes loosened. Hanging
by the right foot, the one loosened is
thrown further along the board. Tightly
it is pressed against the board until it
fastens. Then the left is operated in
tho same manner, and so it continues
until the stage is crossed.