Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-06
.Ghe RepnbHrar.
WATERTOWN, MS. FEBRUARY 6
SOME REMARKABLE SKATERS.


The residents of Brooklyn can at pres
~ent boast of having in that city two OF
the greatest skaters that ever made their
appearance in the United States. They
are Axel Paulsen, aged 50, and his
brother Edwin, aged % years. When
they appeared on the ice at the Wash
ington Skating Park, corner of Fifth
avenue and Third Street, OH Monday
last, very little attention was paid to
them. They were not long at work,
however, before their peculiar movements
drew every eye toward them and soon
they were the center of attraction. Since
then their feats have been watched with
interest by large number of spectators.
They executed movements that were
decidedly dangerous. They go flying
down the ice as if shot from a gun, and
when it seems impossible to stop they
turn at right angles, without any appar-
~ent effort or elimination of speed. At
one time the elder darted halfway down
the lake, wheeled, retraced his course
vita lightning speed, and, when opposite
the stand, bounded into the air, turned
twice and resumed his onward coarse,
stopping instantly when expected to turn
on the bank The Paulsen brothers are
natives of Christiana, Norway,
where they have been engaged III the
grain business, III which they acquired a
competency and from which they have
retired. Axel has been a skater since
boyhood. He was never instructed in
the use of skates. One of his first at
tempts was at all international skating
carnival held in Vienna few years ago.
Here, despite the determined efforts of
skilled opponents, he won not only the
two gold medals but also a magnificent
silver tankard containing 1000 forms.
In 1879 bis wonderful skill made him
again victorious, when he won, ever many
competitors, a handsome silver cup pre-
scented by the Crown Prince of Norway
He also captured prize for speed in GO
ing backward. and again skated l65
English miles in nine hours and twenty
minutes, after which feat he walked to
his home, declining to be taken in car
1iage. The skates used by the brothers
are really a combination of skate and
shoe, the former being firmly screwed to
the latter, which is laced high above the
ankles. The skate somewhat resembles
the club skate in use here, but differs
materially in the use of the runner
This is one quarter inch wide at the toe
three ,eighth inches in the center and
three-sixteenth inches at the heel. 1t is
SO constructed tina. they have al! their
power and facility for rapid turns, etc.,
concentrated on the center of the skate.
Their racing skate is different, being
about IL inches lower, the blade per-
tectly straight and only Is of an inch
thick throughout The Paulsens lie
Norway on the 9th of December and
went direct to Hull, Eng, thence to Liv-
pool where Axel was married; thence to
Halifax and Yarmculh, Ms, from which
point they came to New York. They
expect to stay in Brooklyn week or
two, giving exhibitions of their peculiar
and vigorous skating every afternoon and
evening at the Washington Skating Park.
Their subsequent route will be to Chica-
go. st. Paul, Minneapolis, Toronto and
other points, reaching Montreal in time
for the carnival After a short stay in
Montreal they will start for England
-NeU York Telegram.