The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-21
SKATING AT GILMoRE's GARDEN.
INAUGURATION OF THE LARGEST RINK IN AMER
IcA-GIIMoRE's GARDEN FILLED WITH A

INAUGURATION OF THE LARGEST RINK IN AMER
IcA-GILMoRE's GARDEN FILLED WITH A
CROWD OF FASHIONABLE SKATERS.
At eight o'clock last evening there OF
10000 square feet of ice. smooth glass. gstenng
beneath the glare of the many hundred coored lights
that twined archwse within the roof Of Gmore's
Garden. 1t was space three times larger than that
Of any other rooted rink in America and the only
where the ice is made to order by the management.
The nine miles Of pipe that constituted the flooring
on which the ice is formed was constantly
filled with the freezing element conveyed from the
huge tanks Of ice in the Twenty-sixth street re-
servoir To create floor of such dimensions-a
cake of ice 80 feet wide by 200 feet long and about
two inches in thickness-is an experiment of no
little difficulty and it was for the first time sue
cessfully accomplished yesterday. 1t
sary to take out all the latent heat of
water-namely. 142 degrees 10 degrees be-
low zero. chemically dccomposing the ice in the
reservoir and pumping the freezing liquid through
the pipes under the fresh water which was to be
frozen 1t was transfer Of ice from the reservoir to
the floor by chemical decomposition. The Kansas
manager. Mr. Rankin. who superintendent the under
taking, said it was the most difficult task of the
kind ever undertaken by him. In the afternoon q
number of anxious skaters put in appearance but
the ice was rough and uneven. the garden bleak
brought change, remarkable considering the short
time left to place the garden in proper shape for the
grand opening. The furnace the Madison
entrance distributed genial heat sufficient to make
those who came only to look feel comfortable and
a very brilliant assemba9e and very small band
were in attendance The majority came with skates
under their arms and enthusiasm in their faces.
THE INAUGURATION.
There were little formalities about tho inal-
guration Of the quondam home of Jubilee Gil
more. Wagner. Thomas. the trick pony and
the playful elephant . skating pond. Not
wen n sDpecl made the OCCASION. al
though the manager, Mr. Tillesen, had u suspicious
roll of manuscript in his pocket The New York
Skating Club, with such we'll known veterans as
Messrs. Charles W. Jenkins. Gibson. Robert Ed
wards, Rogers Burr and Mitchell ut their head led
of In grand the Offering surface. Then
few ladies' were encouraged to put stce on their
tiny feet and gided along with that Understandable
grace the true poetry OF c,on TINT cnaractSrizes
jets that ickcrcd above was now added the electric
light. which made brilliant debut, but after
sputtering aloft for half hour 1t retired into OBJ
security the surface. cut by 20O steel clad heels,
presented greater variety Of gcometrical figures
than ever were constructed by the ambitious youths
and sages who have vanly sought to square the
circle.
The skating rink was cleared after an hour or two
to give free scope to Messrs. Swift and Williams, who
were DESTROYS Of showing what could be done
steel shoes. They watzed in time with the music.
races. spun around like top and initiated the
awkwardness Of the tyro on skates. Swift tried to
convince the lockers on that ones legged man can
acquire the graceful art as well as his more fortunate
friends for he used his lett leg during circuit OF
the rink somewhat a conductor docs his baton
beating time while the other was describing strange
figures on the co
ANOTHER RUSH THE ICE.
When the champions withdrew there followed a
simultaneous rush for the tempting surface For
some minutes there q confused crowd OF darting
figures and IL seemed to the uninitated marvellous
how collisions avoided. The ladies', too, were
carried by the excitement of the and their
swaying figures enhanced the beauty or the picture
The band joined in the enthusiasm OF the moment
and, from the cornet TO the ophiclede blew lusty
blasts OF sound IL they were dcsirous to
aid the pumps that throbbed ut the east
crn end OF the building. The assemblagc
was fashionable. A race track of Ice will be con-
structcd around the promenade where 0'Leary
trudRed his weary six days walk which skatorial
experts may skim around the garden ut a speed that
will far eclipse sports swift runs or the "Lcppers
frantic efforts Later In the there Will likely
be carnival at which fancy dresses will add to the
brlliancy of the scene The electric light will be in
complete working order this evening The success
which attended the Inauguration last night will prob
ably lead to the establishment Of permanent rink
all the round.