Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-28
WALKING 0N
 THE WATERS An Aquatic Tramp Now on a Journey From Cincin- nati to New Orleans for Five Thousand Wager. TEST OF ENDURANCE Charles Oldrieye, the Wave Walker, Uses Skifi-Shaped MOccasins-Ac. c0mpanied by Small Fleet and Wife in a Boat.
TEST OF ENDURANCE

Never since back in the early part of the 'S0s when Capt. Paul Boynton, attired in rubber suit inflated like a pneumatic tire foated down the Ohio river, has any man performing feats on the water attracted half so much attention along that river as is now being paid to Prof. Charles Oldrieve, the wave walker, who is attempting the novel feat of walking on the water down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, from Cincinnati to New Orleans, dis tance of 1,513 miles, in forty days on a wager of $5,o00, says the Indianap- olis Star. Of no less interest to the public than the wave walker is his wife, who declares she is the. champ- ion oarswoman of the world, and who in a skiff is following her husband on his novel and perilous trip, keeping near enough that she could rescue him in case he should fall, in which event, on account of the buoyant moc-
 
 few seconds.
 While those unfamiliar with water and water sports are inclined to look upon Oldrieve's feat of wave walking as modern miracle, the mere walk ing is no wonderful trick. Let one get accustomed to the devices that he must wear on his feet and he can soon walk in placid water. The mir acle in Oldrieve's feat, if he reaches New Orleans, will be the fact that he had the courage and 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 Ohio, has served to greatly increase his danger.
 Moccasins Like CanOOes.
 The moccasins worn by Oldrieve as he walks on the water resemble small canoes. They are made of cedar, 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 cen ter is the receptacle for the feet. The professor, before donning the mocca- sins, incases his feet in heavy rubber boots which reach to the thighs, thus protecting his legs from the water, and after placing his feet in the moc- casins, which fit tight, he lashes over the boots a rubber bandage which practically makes the moccasins wat ertight, although at times, he says, the water gets into them. By the agreement of the wager he is per- mitted to go to the boat and empty the water from the shoes.
 As he walks on the water the moc- casins sink below the surface dis tance of three or four inches, and he propels himself with stroklng mo- tion, something like skating, although it is evident that it requires a great deal more exertion than to skate. The walker while at work somewhat re- sembles a man floundering along in the mud frim which he is unable to the mud from which he is unable to that the wave walking requires great exertion and the walker when he passed the falls of the Ohio, was al- ready beginning to 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 a short dis tance in advance of the walker, the party was compelled to lay up in Louisville, he complained of being very tired, but hoped with practice tc overcome this feeling.
 From Daylight to Dark.
 The professor walks from daylight until dark and at night the party oc- cupies the launch, which is manned by A. l.. Madden, of Cincinnati, pilot and Arthur James, also of that city who is the engineer of the launch. E J. Weatherton, of Louisville, who is the packer of the expedition, usually accompanies the party and is mem per of the gasoline boat family, an( Edward Williams, of Boston, who i! the representative of Alfred Woods Boston sporting man, who has wag cred $500 that the feat of Prof. Old rleve cannot be successfully perform ea' often visits them. MT. Williams keeps near the party. and is liabl to drop in on them at any time.
 on Sunday, January 6. Prof. Old