Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-23
AN ARMY ON SKATES.
How thcarorwrgian warriors GO into
Battle.
From Chambers's journal |

Let us figure in our minds two planks
Of wood Ms broad as the hand and nearly
of the thickness of the little finger, the
middle underneath being followed, to
prevent vacllation and to facilitate the
advancing in direct line The plank
| fastened under the left foot is ten feet in
length that intended for the right is only
six, or thereabouts; both of them are
hent upwards Mt the extremities, but
higher before than behind. They are
fastened to the feet by leather straps, at
tached to the middle, and for this pur-
pose are formed a little higher and strong
er in that part. The plank of the right
| foot is generally lined below with the
skin of the reindeer or the sea. wolf, 30
| that in drawing the feet successively in
right and parallel lines with skates thus
lined with skins, and very slippery in the
direction of the hair, the skater finds
| them nevertheless capable of resietsnce,
by affording a kind of spring when he
would support himself with one foot in
contrary direction ms by such movements
he raises mp the hair or bristly part of
the skin. IT is affirmed that an expert
skater however loose and uncompact the
snow may be. will go over more ground
in an open place, aud will continue his
course for longer time together, than
the best horse can do upon the trot over
the finest and best paved road. If a
mountain is to he descended. he does it
with such precipitation that he is obliged
to moderate his fight to avoid losing his
breath. He ascends more slowly and
with some trouble, because he is compel
led to make zlpzag course but he ar
rives at the summit as soon as the best
walker or foot-sodier. with this advan-
tage, that however little consistence the
snow may have acquired, he can never
sink into it
Experience has proved that in spite of
the multiplied obstacles produced by the
rigor of the winter, the Norwegians have
often been attacked by their enemies in
precisely such seasons and from the
above manner of going out to hunt, and
undertaking long journeys, it was not at
all surprising that the forming of mill
tary corps of skaters should be thought
Of The whole body consisted of two
battalions, one stationed in the North, the
other in the South. Its strength was
nine hundred and sixty men. The uni
form consisted of a short jacket or waist
coat, a gray surtout with yellow collar
gray pantuloons, and black leather cap.
The skaters arms were carabine, hung
in leather belt passing over the shoul'
der ; large coutcaU dc chdSSc, and q
staff three yards and half long, to the
end of which is affixed pointed piece OF
iron. At little distance from the ex
tremity it is surrounded by circular pro
jecting piece of iron, which serves prin
cipally to moderate his speed in going
down hill. The skater then puts it be
tween his legs, and contrives to draw i
in that manner or he drags it by hi
side ; or uses it to help himself forward
when he has occasion to ascend hill ; IL
short, he makes use of it acco. ding t.
the occasion and the circumstances il
which he may be placed. Besides this
it affords n support to the tirelock, whel
the skater wishes to discharge its contents
With such rest, the Norwegian peasan
fres gun deXtcrously, aud very seldom
misses his aim.