The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-19
Fun on Wheels.

50; 49, Fun on Wheels. )
We went up to see the roller skaters
the other night. The trick of the thing
is t0get some green hand 10 put on the
uncertain eontrivanees in order TO make
fun for the spectators. They approach
ed us, but we convinced them it would
be dangerous to turn us loose on rollers
In hall where others were present
We once put on skates in meadow
which had oyeriowed, and inside of one
short hour had broken cows leg and
Knocked. down three lengths. of fence.
We would begin fall in the middle of
the pasture and not be able to call it a
finished job until we had struck plowed
ground in the next field. We convinced
these fellows we were also disposed to
be a regular boomerang We laid the
fellow up for repairs who got us to put
on those skates He started as out in
the direction Of clear sailing, but our
sta board leg ran athwart our la board
limb, we gave tremendous push to an
ship our riggingLthis turned us com
plete1y about, and we returned on the
back tack with falling swoop, striking
our assistant and knocking enough wind
out of him to run bagpfpe for seven
minutes! : g.
This discouraged the young men who
but soon we saw them leading Corbett,
of the Nescs, to the slaughter. They put
on his skates, stood him up, and gave
him a push as send off. He kept his
feet together and tried to dig in his
heels, but the skates kept right on. His
body could not keep mp, and as he be-
gan to unbalance, his heels flew up.
For Sixteenth partof a second, awheel-
barrow could have been run under him
at any place, but he did not stay up
there LONG He struck the floor with
vigorous expression that nEade the win
dows rattle, and as he rolled back his
head sounded one Of those hollow, spite
full bumps that win make a floor ache
for half an hour The boys yelled, and
hooted, and pounded each other in try
girls rammed their handkerehiefs in
. their mouths and busted their waist
bands with suppressed emotion.
Corbett's hackers got him UP, and ex-
planned to him he lacked confidence.
He must not try to stop-but launchsont
and keep turning out for things till he
ran down. They let go of him, and he
gave a flourish with 1ls hands and a big
push *ithAone foot, and went scudding
down the hall followed by a little black
and tan rat dog. that had got a firm
hold on the bottom OF his pantaloons,
and Went Sliding along, sending out a
different ssf1aped grewl every time it
shock its head. Dick had not Stacked
up amy as he approached the wall not-r
withstahding the four ounce dog was
pulling back with all its might. He
crooked his legs the way he wanted to
turn, but kept going straightforward.
Some one called to the crowd standing
ahead of him: Get out of the way
there, and they had Just time to get
out of the way. as the skater went head
foremost, with whang, against the
wall; he then reversed and-sat- down on
the four ounce dog with . force that
broke n growl off before 1t was half end
ed, and left the smashed pet looking
like q lamp mat with D scarlet fringe.
They pulled the skater out the. CASH
mere hat, which had been damned clear
down to his shoulders, and wheeled him
of, to. make room for fresh champion
in the arena-Aurora Blade