The Washington herald., 1907-01-20
An Aquatic Tramp from Gin
cinnati to New Orleans.
NOVEL TEST OF ENDURANCE
Charles OIdricve, the Wave Walker,
Trying tO Capture $1,000 Wager
Down the 0bfo-Accompanied by
Small FIeet-His Wife Helps Him.

attired in a rubber suit inflated like a
pneumatic tire fioated down the Ohio
River. has any man performing feats on
the water attracted half so much atten-
ton along that river as is now being paid
TO Prof. Charles Oldrieve. the wave walk
err who IS attempting the novel feat Of
walking on the water down the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. from Cincinnati to
New Orleans, a distance Of 1873 miles, in
forty days. on a wager Of $500. OF no
less interest TO the public than the wave
walker Is his wife. who declares she is
the champion oarswoman Of the world,
and who, in a skin. is following her hus-
band on his novel and perilous trip. keep
ing near enough that she could rescue
him in case he should fall. In which
event. on account OF the buoyant mecca
sins he wears, he would drown in a few
seconds.
While those unfamiliar with water and
water sports are inclined to look upon
OIdrieve's feat OF wave walking as a
modern miracle, the mere walking is real
~ no wonderful trick. Let one get ac-
customed to the devices that he must
wear on his feet. and he can soon walk in
placid water. The miracle in Oldrieve' s
feat, il he reaches New Orleans, viii be
the fact that he had the courage and the
endurance TO brave the rough waters of
the Ohio and Mississippi at this time Of
the year. The wet season Of the past few
days. flooding the Ohic. has served to
greatly increase his danger.
Moccasins Like Canoes.
The mOccasins worn 10y Oldrieve as he
walks on the water resemble small ca
noes. They are made Of cedar. are three
and a half feet long by six inches wide
and the depth is the same as the width
At the bottom. sides, and heel they are
perfectly square, and are slightly pointed
at the toe like canoe or wooden shoe
Near the center Is the receptacle for the
feet The professor. before donning the
moCcasins, incases his feet in heavy rub
Der boots which reach TO the thighs thus
protecting his legs from the water, and
after placing his feet in the moccasins
which 1T tight, he lashes over the boots
a rubber bandage which practically makes
the moccaslns watcrtight, although al
times. he says, water gets into them. BY
the agreement Of the wager he is per
mitted 10 90 10 the boat and empty the
water from the shoes.
As he walks on the water the mocca-
sins sink below the surface a distance OF
three or four inches, and he propels him
self with a stroking motion. something
Ike skating. although II is evident that it
requires a great deal more exertion than
10 skate. The walker while al work
somewhat resembles a man foundering
along in mud from which he is unable 10
entirely lift his feet. Ii is evident that
the wave walking requires great exertion
and the walker when he passed the falls
Of the Ohio was already beginning
70 show the effects OF the fatigue
although he had been out on his novel
journey but five days He complained Of
rheumatism. and when on account Of the
disabling Of the gasoline launch that is
part Of his equipment and travels q
short distance in advance Of the walker.
the party was compelled to lay up in
Louisville. he complained OF being very
tired, but hoped with practice 10 over
come this feeling
From Daylight to Dark.
The professor walks from daylight until
dark and at night the party occupied tho
launch, which is manned by a L. Mad
den, Of Cincinnati, pilot. and Arthur
James. also Of that city who is the en-
gineer Of the launch. L. J. Weatherton,
OF Louisville. who Is the hacker OF the
expedition, usually accompanies the party
and is member Of the gasoline boat
family, and Edward Williams. of Boston.
who is the representative Of Alfred
Woods, a Boston sporting man. who has
al f4ar 81 =
rieye cannot be successfully performed. Of
ten visits them Mr.. Williams keeps
near the party, and Is liable to drop in
on them at any time.
On Sunday. January 6, Prof. Oldrieve's
trip came near ending seriously for him
self and party. While going over the falls
of the Ohio, near New Albany, OIdrfeve,
walking. and Mrs. Oldrieve. in her sliff.
and the launch were all carried by the
swift current over the falls The men,
bers of the party escaped injury from this
mishep. but the launch was damaged 20
the extent that It had TO be repaired be-
fore t could proceed and a DELAY of
twenty-four hours was caused. Every
member Of the party Is thoroughly &C
customed TO the water and the thrilling
experience Of being carried over the
rapids by the current which would have
struck terror 70 the hearts of a novice.
was regarded by them as an incident
hardly worthy Of mention, although Prof.
Oidrieve admitted that It was a some
what thrilling experience as. at a terrific
rate of speed, he bumped over the rocks
of the falls. Mrs. Oldrieve, who carefully
guided her skin through the channel. de-
Clared that she enjoyed the excitement.
she confessed that she felt some
uneasiness for the safety of the
men IN the gasoline launch. The mem
bers of the lne-saving crew on the falls
thought that Oldrieve and party went
over the rapids of their own accord. At
the stage Of water the steamboats, go
over the falls instead of using the canal
and the life-savers did not think that
the party was in danger Prof Oldrieve
said that he did not signal the life-saveTs
because he knew his wife was a better
oarswoman than any Of the men at the
station and he never doubted her ability
to save him in case he should lose his
balance and fall into the water.
This HiS Last Risk.
Il am done with these foolhardv ad-
ventures" said Prof Oldrieve. There's
nothing in it. and I want to live as long
as I can"
FolhtlnS 10 scar on his nose, he said
he carried the mark as a reminder of a
trip over the Lawrence Rapids on the
Aerrimac River, in which he met with a
mishap and sustained. in addition to a
broken nose, two fractured ribs and other
injuries, that kept him in hospital for
two months. He added that he would
not again go over the falls of the Ohio
but would resume his journey from the
point at the foot of the rapids where he
left off
It was in the winter of 1887 that Prof
Oldrieve commenced the feat Of wave
In thai YEAR ne accnrnrlisini rhn