The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-30
CEILING WALKING.
1t Appears Startling, but Only Nerve
Is Required by Performers.

1t Appears Startling, but Only Nerve
Is Required by Performers.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
There are to-day at least fifteen persons
who perform the novel feat of walking head
down along the full length of a great beard
and who are known as ceiling walkers
There are lady and gentlemen performers,
their performances being confined almost
entirely to the variety stage. The effects is
startling as one of them moves along under
meath the board, far above the floor or stage,
their full form extending downward. Until
recently the manner of performing the feat
was a guarded secret. While there is a
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 a
trapeze, to which the performer hangs, head
down, as he presses his feet TO the board
above him when starting upon his walk.
Underneath is stretched a large net. An
ordinary pair of stage shoes will answer the
purpose. To the bottom of these are fasten-
ed circulars, concave arrangements Of gum,
a sort of bowlshaped shoes, about six and
one-holf inches in diameter, and it is these,
pressed against the board above, that holds
the walker suspended.
The material of which these bowl-shaped
shoes is made is of the same thickness and
appearance as that used in heavy fire.
mems hose. In the center, on tue 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 small iron
framework. From this framework extends
two iron rods, shaped like the handles of
the instrument used in toasting or broil-
ing. By the framework the bowl-shaped
shoes are fastened to the regular walking
shoes. The rods referred to extend toward
the toes, resting underneath the bail of the
foot. A pressure exerted upon that portion
of the foot will press out the rods and per-
nit the air to rush into the concave gum
shoes, just at their center.
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 onto
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 fiatened out. The at
mospheric pressure on each one of the shoes
used will exert power or carry weight
Of about fifteen pounds to the square inch
Then the trapeze is let go of. The perfor-
mer hangs suspended. A pressure upon the
ball of the left foot operates the iron rod
which opens a small arrangement at the
convex center of the concaye shoes Air
rushes in and the shoe becomes loosened.
Hanging by the right foot, the one loosened
is thrown further along on the board. Tight
ly it is pressed against the board until it
fastens. Then the left is operated in the
same manner, and so it continues until the
stage is crossed.