Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-02-24

lev track IS unusually smooth ana soiiu
the best double rippers have gone
across the bridge into the city. The
usual stopping point is an old watering
trough, a quarter of a mile from the
bridge.
Fox's Hill has been thronged with
coasters all this season. and some fair
zine has been made. On last Wednes-
day evening Charles S. Fiske's double
ripper. which for three years has been
accounted the fastest sled in Connecti-
cut. was timed by two timekeepers. one
at the foot and the other at the top OF
the hill. with accurate thermometers.
The track was by no means in tirst-class
condition. The sled bore twelve men,
with MIR. Fiske, who is the most expert
steerer in Eastern Connecticut, at the
front. The descent to the watering
trough. three-quarters OF mile. was
made in fraction less than forty-five
seconds. On the double-ripDer no one
is allowed to move his feet from the
foot supports along the plank; he is en-
joined TO keep perfectly still. As the
slightest movement OF a passenger when
sled is making such fearful speed L
likely to result in disaster. Disaster
means mutilation. and perhaps death.
So perfect is Mr.. Fiske in the art oil
steering that he can run his sled with
in hairs breadth of a line. and he
avows that with a single movement he
can upset the sled in an instant. if il
is necessary 10 avoid collision. As
every passenger is in danger of being
killed in ease Mr.. Fiske upsets his sled
when going at breakneck speed. he has
not been able to carry his theory into
practice. One of the passengers ON the
trial trip. on Wednesday evening, said
to the writer that it was his first expe-
rience. and would be his last. 1T was
a perfectly still night" said he. 1.-The
hill descends steep, you know, at first.
for about fifteen rods. As we began to
descend that pitch we seemed to be
floating in the air. There was no sound.
we moved so swiftly. | didn't think
that we were going fast. But in an
instant perfect gale was blowing; the
road was white mist; there was con-
slant buzz in my ears. l couldn't
breathe; knew when we reached the
Preston Village, which begins at the
foot of the first descent, by the wall
that was on one side of the road. That
was all l could see; the rest was all
blank, a white mist. never expected
to reach the foot of the hill alive. In a
second. almost. we began to slow up,
and in another l got off the sled for the
last time"
Mr.. Fiske is about twenty-five years
Of c1.nhf opI .shlAt,a = ka
son of well-known physician here.
His sled was made in Providence, and
he brought it with him when he moved
here three or four years ago. Its great
speed was never developed until few
years ago. 1t is called 1.-The Queen of
Norwich The connecting plank is Of
three-inch seasoned white oak 1t is
strong enough to support five tons. 1t
is shod with fine half-round silver steel.
Its cost was about fifty dollors. 1t is
the sled that was used in disastrous
contest with the double-ripper OF New
London about this time Of the month
in 1877. Mr. Fiske steered his sled at
that time and won the race without ac-
cident. The New London party, piloted
by Mr.. Fred Allen. were unlucky.
From the start nearly to the silk mill,
which is about half way down the
course, the Norwich sled, which had
started behind. steadily gained. At
the mill the sleds were neck and neck,
and here MIR. Allen, confused by the
terrific speed or on account of his unfa-
with the way. made wrong
with his foot, and the next
instant the sled and its occupants were
hurled against lamp post and over the
ground. All were picked up uncon-
scious. Some Of them lay at the point
Of death for days; some were crippled
for life. One man was partially disem-
bOweled, and the leg Of another was
broken in two places.-Cor. N. Y. Sun.