Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-02
COWBOYS ON ROLLERS.
THE NATIONAL CRAZE INFADEs
THE CATTLE REGIONS.
A Mountain Fairy on Wheeis-An
Exciting Race in Skating
Rink for a Hiss.


After appeaSing an appetite whetted to
razor sharpness by a horseback ride offorty
miles sat down in front Of the hotel 10
enjoy a cigar and view the rude surround
ings. AS I sat there Iazily putting at
genuine Havana Ullinois) cigar my atten-
ton was attracted by the sharp rr-r-rlt-tat-
tat r-r-r-rat-tat-tat I-T-r-rat-tat-tat OF snare
drum, the stirring call coming from side
street a few yards distant.
"What is THAR. ] asked, turning to
bronzed and bewhiskered native who sat
by smoking an ancient clay pipe Of the
intage of 40.
"TIat," he replied, 81 air the skatin'
rink. That's notification to the mulutude
that the doors air about to open an the
saryices begin"
Has the roller skating craze invaded
Ibis remote locality? ?" l asked, in surprise.
" Has it? Wal, ! should eXtemporane-
ously remark that it has. Eyerybody's got
it. from The Methodist preacher clar up to
the bigh-t0nedest gambler III the camp,
The huh town gifts onto skates an runs
wild every night, an thar amt man.
woman or child in the place that don
carry condensed map O the Black Hltls
range s0mewhar'5 on en-, printed thar by
the cllsses sittin' down with too much
ea-erness an impctuoSity. ] tried EN-
once. an like q burned fool, | sOt down
with an overdose O yiSOr, an look at me
now. 4 total wreck an two doctors treat
in me fur curvature o the spine. J wish
the hull cargo O skates d roll down into
the internal regions, an carry the cuss that
invented en- along with EN-. III never be
with a tinkers d-n as'in. Appetite's all
gone. an Grinketite n0thin' like it used 10
be. Dammem, l say
Leaving the aching victim alone IN his
misery. I strolled around to the rink, and
was surprised 10 find so complete an estab-
hshment in such an uncouth town. The
hall was newly built, one story III hight
with hard marble floor, presenting q
skating surface OF 40 by SO feet. A reflect
ine chandelier, suspended from the ceiling
in the center and numerous lamps ranged
around the walls, shed q brilliant light and
4 kerosenish odOr over the large hall,
which was already nearly filed with merry
skaters Of every age, sex and grade OF
moral character.
The crowd was a motley one With
Joined hands the halfbreed Indian yaquero
and the dudish store clerk few wildly by,
and the broad brim OF the sombrerO Of the
cowboy brushed the floating curls and
frizzes Of The society IN belle as they sped
over the smooth floor on Whecl-shOd feet.
The toney gambler and the woman to
whom virtue was but vague dream of the
past iosted against the pillars of the
church in the wild, mad rush, and the
wealthy cattle owner, with breeches tucked
in the tops Of his cOwhide boots, locked
arms with the hotel diuingrOom girl and
wobbled around with more earnestness
than grace.
Z cd q
the inscriptions upon some of which were
original and unique [ recall q few Of them,
which were as follows:
Gentlemen viii not spit on the floor
and others viii not be allowed TO do 50. II
YOU must chew tobacco. fire your juice
through the windows" " No loud or
boisterous swearing allowed IN the rink
when ladies are present To prevent
accidents, gentlemen viii please leave their
pistols in the office" The rink viii be
closed during church services Sunday fore
moons, but viii whoop her up from noon
till midnight Gentlemen must not
smoke while skating with ladies' unless
given permission by the ladies to do So"
Approaching the proprietor Of the rink,
q young man whom every one addressed
IS Joe.n i said Business seems to be
good with YOU
Yes lie replied. she's rushing.
struck bonanza when turned this racket
loose. I've been running Just month
now, and I've taken IN oyer fifteen hun
bred dollars. They crowd her every night.
Just rs You see il now
Who is your champion skater?' /
asked.
Kate Ernest, cowgirl that lives over
on SAGE Creek She's the daughter Of :
cow-nau who owns the biggest herd on the
range. and she's a thoroughbred from way
back, aa don't You forget 1t. There ain
a bronchO in the country that she can
ride, and I've seen her get after wild
Texas steer with her horse on keen jump
and her RATA flying in circles around hel
head and quicker than you can say keno
when You check your last number, she
have the critter roped and rolin' on the
ground She ambles of with the first prizC
at every rifle shooting match, and she's {
ga! that don't fear man nor devil. 4oJ
mustn't think she's rough, stranger, for she
amt. There amt Z nicer girl IL the Terri
tory That's hcr--that gal that just come
in.
l turned my eyes toward the door, anC
they fell upon picture that will long re
main printed with pleasing impress upon
the tablets of my memory. Rather low II
stature triiu-built, her black hair falling il
bewildering mass Of jettish beauty ovel
her Square-sct shoulders, her ripe, full lip!
half parted rs her keen, bright black eyes
darted piercing glances over the assem-
blage. her handsome. bron2cd face and hel
uea,-iitting dress Of black material, 81
went to form in my eyes q perfect picture
of the ideal maiden of the mountains
She paused at the door for a moment anC
then moved toward where we were stand
ing. now best0Wing a bow and smile i
response 70 o salutation from gentleman
now pausing moment 70 exchange wOr,
with some girl friend, her every step thi
very poetry of grace and motion Drawing
near she smiled sociably upon the proprl
etor Of the rink, and said
Howdy do, Joe2 Give me my skates
please.
Certainly, Miss Katie Feel like takinl
q whirl this evening do you2'
We'll, only short one. We've beer
cutting out and branding cattle to-day, an,
I'm about used up. ] was in the saddle q
davbrcak this morning and never got OF
my horse till shutdown and had 20 haudl
some of the meaueSt steers that ever felt
rope"
4 pair Of club skates We're handed to her
and She soon had them fastened 90 as nea
4 pair of feet rs were ever displayed witt
conscious pride by the most stylish bell
that ever prou1eugded a Sacramento street
She started off with an easy, swaying mo
ton, her little form bending like a willow
and IT needed no second glance to assure tn
beholdcr that her perfect and gracctt!
figure never felt the hampering embrace c
q corset. She was poem on rollers
symphony on wheels.
An hour later group of half doze
cowboys had halted at the end Of the ha
for n brief rest, and while chatting over tn
sport Of the evening the fair p" Princess {
the Range" glided up and cried out
Boys, let's have some tun. I'll tell 70
what ! Il do. Give me twenty feet the sta
and III race thewhole crowd Of you a mil
and if one of you catches me I'll give hin
a genuine Simon pure kiss right square o
the lips before this whole crowd but
YOU don't catch ne you must all chip
and buy me the best hat in town. WIZ
do you say
the proprietor informed of the ar-ang
nerf s tan of the bell soon brought G.