The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-30
/. SKATERS SUNDAY PASTIME.
GREAT MULTITUDES ON THE FROZEN
LAKES IN JuE PARKS.


Men md Women, Boys aud Girls, Gathering
In tncountcd Thousands and Around the
Ice-Fun for Others, Work for the Police.
Tho Mall in Central Park at 3 p. NJ. yes
tcrday brought 10 mind an early summer Sntur-
day afternoon. when the trees and grass are Mt
their grcencst and tho band is playing. so
donsely was II throngcd. But there was this
difference that the visitors we're all going one
way. and ono-auarter OF them had skatcs dang
ling from their shoulders or carried them in
their lhnds. 1t was the first Sunday that the
ball was up TO indicate admission to the big
lake. Horse cars had been running full and
there had been large increase Of passengers
on the New York Elevated Railroad. Strangers
had no need to inquire the way to the lakc.
Nearly every avenue in tho park was filed with
a convcrging multitude. Only patches on tho
brown hills that shut in the lake on the south
were visible from distance. and when one
arrived at their summit he found him.
self overlooking q vast amphitheatre black
with n restless multitude that sent up
ward to his ears continuous roar. Here
and there n square yard or two Of tho
white powder. torn up by the skaters. was nll
that was visible of the twenty-four acres Of ice.
Tho large building for the accommodation Of
skaters was packed 10 It's fullest capacity. Some
were there to put on their skates. some TO buy
az the rcfreshment counter and tables and
some to drink the beer and cider that werc dis
pcnscd in the basement Two police eiiicers
stood no each Of the principal entrances to pre-
vent blockades. Park rules for the time were
suspended. The banks cont tiguous to the lake
were lined with q cOucuurse almost as great as
that ON the lake. The hill about the skating
house was used Us a grand stand and every
Vendors Ol straps. gimlets, and buckles pierced
the thrOug. shouting their wares. large
force Of Park police was on duty TO preserve
order.
Ali the skates kept to be let were gone early in
the afternoon. Nearly an inch OF powered lee
had gathered on the lake since morning. when
il was ms clean MS scrapers and brooms could
make II. More thnn half of the folks on the ice
wore no skates. They seemed to move about
with chilled feet and stagnant blood intent only
on making unsuccessful attempts To- avoid the
onsots Qi clumsy skaters. Fancy skating was
impossihlc. An attempt at II wns sure 20 bc fol-
lowed by u collision. The best OF humOr pre-
vailed. however. and the frequent falls pro.
yokod shouts Of laughter. Nearly a quarter of
the visitors were women ana girls. The day
was bright and the air was keen enough to
touch the cheeks OF those OF them who were on
skntcs with ihe perfection Of tinis.
Though the behavior was generally excellent,
the ,hrQng was designated by officers. who had
in mind the kind Qt persons who usually skate
on weck days Us n rough crowd
Al , o'clock there were from 10000 to 10000
persons taccording to the estimates ot different
pcrsonsl on the lake and the overlooking hill
sides, and II ~ not improbable that 100000 Wis
tied the lake during tue day. II Is said that for
| tendance. Ii Is the rule that on sunday the ice
/ must he cleared OF skaters at D, This was q
hard SLOW lob Yesterday, IN The ,o ,oicers formed
/ drove in tho pickets Of the skaters. BY this
time an impression had made It's way to the
middle Of the lake that something WIS going
| ON at the north end. and all started in that
| direction to see what 4 was. The officers
| were overborne by the rush. and tho Ice
| they hnd cleared was regaincd. Then the
greater number of the visitors who were order
| loving, and who had discovered what WAS
/ tod Of
lake. but ii,i uni6rtUnately Tor the T police Ice
tue resistance 10 the northward rush had been
| 50 energetic and so interesting that each man
| in the throng resolved ~ linger behind and
| watch further efforts. The result WIS n dense
| ridge %, humanity extending across tho lake
| from east Ia west, Boys who wero good skaters.
| being stimulated by the presence Of SO many
| spectators dartcd between the officers. and cut
mOcklng circles on the free leo. Two or three
| officers would stump after one Of these on their
| steel crcrpers and attempt 10 head him on and
/ capture him. Generally the boy would curl
| gracefully around among his pursurrs until
| they were heavily reinforced. and then dart
| back and lose himself amid the dense throng.
| In such cases tho spectators would applaud his
| uGillty; sometimes, however, the police would
| catch the skuier, and belabor him numerically
| over his shoulders and around his legs with
! the snort switches that they carried. Then the
| spectators would laugh at the boy. II was slow
| work. but al last the ice WAS cleared. and the
| avenues Of the Park were agan blackened.
| Persons waited at the Sixth. Seventh. and
| Eighth avenue entrances in throngs and strag-
| glrd slowly down tho sidewalks. because the
| horse cars were able 10 carry only "a fraction Of
! them. very iarge number went 20 the Third
| avenue elevated railroad station. At ga the
| stairway of the seventy street station was
! packed to It's lowest step by persons for whom
/ there wus no room on the platform abuvc. The
| trains wero running ut their usual intervals.
| but the throng Increased blow faster than II
| could be decreased above. Ordinarily the telc-
| graph could hay" been used 10 bring additional
trains into use. but ii happened that all tho OK
! ira rolling stock had Just been removed to Hur-
| lem, in readiness Tor the opening Of that sec
! tou of Tie road for travel tins morning. For
| over an hour trains and horse ears ran iull.
| The street rar company managers had fOrcseen
| the cmerg ncy, and had put on an extra num-
| Der Ol cars.
There has been flne skating on the lakes in
| Prospect Park. Brooklyn, since Christmas, but
| II WAS not until yesterday that the tide OF
| pleasure seekers reached It's height Tho lakes
| Were nreity fairly pcOped on Saturday. The
| umated at 10000 Tho ice was swept and
| paned late at night after Saturdays sport.
| The early cumcrs had the best part of the day =
| sport to themselves. The crowd increased
| steadily until an hour before sunset. At that
| time the pond, We're so thickly covered that II
| seems miraculous that no accidents happened.
| No one wns rash enough 10 attempt high rate
| few women out Ine largo majority of the
| sautrra were apparently sun in their teens, the
| small boy Of 10 or IA wears being the prelnmi-
| nant element The day WAS universally pro-
| nouncrd a perfect one Tor the sport. The air
| was strong and btacIng and quiet. Ii was no.
| rule, carefully wrapped his skates in news
| paper, and either buuoned the package under
| his cont or half concealed II under his arm.
| There was not that free. proud swinging and
| dangling OF them that you see on other days.