Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-22
EttrnorhInnrr sLntinr.

When, three weeks ago, Beventeen Of the
heetest skaters in the country drew into line
to start on ten-mile race, very few had any
idea that the quiet, scholarly looking gentle
man with eyeglasses, old-fashioned skates and
retiring demeanor was destined to astonsh
them oil by his splendid record and easy vic.
tory. Mr.. Axel Paulsen from Norway, hav-
ing thus drawn the attention Of the athletic
world to his powers as a skater, arrangements
were soon made to still further test his abili.
ties in twenty five mile race against the rec.
ord.
1t took place February 2, in the Washing.
ton Park rink, Brooklyn, with result that
threw all former records into the shade, and
leaves him without q rival in this branch of
athletics.
The scene on the ice during the great race
was very novel and beautiful one. Thous.
ands of merry skaters glanced and whirled
singly or in couples, and hundreds chased
from side to side of the great quadrangle to
catch glimpse Of the tireless skater as he
passed the most favorable points OF view.
On one side Of the course dense mass of ex.
pectant humanity formed a lane, leaving q
pathway about twelve feet wide for the ska
ter, and in the middle distance the Judges,
time.keepers and recorders formed an equally
interested group at their table, The track is
a quarter of a mile, with several sharp turns,
and as the spectators watched the racer dash
ing down the straight stretches it seemed next
to impossible for him to round the corners
without collision.
Near the track it was impossible to study
his actions closely. At the cry, "There he
comes!" the crowd leaned eagerly forward
There was rapidly increasing and musical
ring of steel on ice, the fash past Of q dark
body, like the fitting of a shadow, which
shrank and faded away In a rapid diminuen-
do or perspective most trying to the eye un-
accustomed TO such rapid movements. II
was only by repeatedly watching him in this
position that the spectator could catch an ink
ling of the secret of his surprising speed.
You noted powerful outward thrust Of the
foot on the last of the stroke the perfectly
straight line kept, with little or no side move
ment to the body. Seen from distance as
he few down the opposite side of the rink,
the further peculiarities of his method be-
came apparent. The bending of the body
very low, almost straight, the hands clasped
firmly across the small of the back, the we'll
extended chest the eyes closely fixed on the
ice, are all parts evidently of a theory which
he has reduced in practice to absolute clock
work system giving fewest motions, least
friction, and greatest speed.
The skater had no distinguishing points of
extraordinary strength or endurance never
theless the miles were reeled off with an ease,
a regularity and heetness, battling every at
tempt of a number of other noted skaters to
hold him for even few laps He made four
hundred turns during the race, beating the
record at every mile. Each lap Of the twenty
| 6ve miles was timed. The first mile was
done in 8 IN. 26 2-5 8. five miles in II m.
SO . > g. ten miles in 3G IN. 81 1.5 8. IF
teen miles in 80 m. s.; twenty miles in l
b. IA m. 1.5 8. twenty-five miles, b. 33
m. % 2-5 S. This lowers the best previous
record by % m. 80 1-5 s.-Hdrper'S Weekly,
| FEB. 1G.