The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-09
TIE RoLLEn sKArINe RAGE.
Three Fine Kinks to DO In Operation by tn,
Eud of the Month.


Three Fine Kinks to be In Operation by tho
Eud OF the Month.
When Charlie Lucas opened roller
skating rink in the Public Library build
ing over three years ago, and after the
most persistent efforts to make the amuse-
ment popular, gave up the enterprise in
disgust, no one ever imagined for mo:
ment that the sport could ever be the
fashionable thing in Wheeling. And yet
in three years what change there has
been. Now the craze appears to have at
tackled every one. 1t Is raging over the
town like western cyclone, and every
day the number on rollers grows larger
and larger. It has been long time COM
ing, but there's no doubt that It
has arrived, and judging from the prepara-
tons made and about to be made, for its
accommodation, ithascam TO stay. When
one contepplates its arrival and growth,
no cannot help wondering ut the rapidity
with which 1t has seized all classes.
Scarcely two months ago two young men
started rink in M9nnerchor Hall. 1t
was crowded from the start, although the
skating space was small and the floor not
the best. Then tho Island Pavilion Rink
was opened on New Years day. Slice
then there has not been q session when it
was not we'll filed,
Now, two more Kinks are 10 be erected
within the next two weeks. In fact, they
have got to be built in order to sccommo.
date the people, for as before stated, every
one appears TO be on rollers. Old men
skate, married folks skate, young ladies'
and gentlemen skatp, boys and girls skate,
rich and poor skate. ut is the fashion; it
is cheap, graceful and healthy sport and
therefore every ono can afford to be In
the. fashion. Therei Is a regular boom, so
to speak. Hardware men are laying in
supplies Of skates; matters are procuring
skaters caps, and the theatres and even
ing parties are giving away to roller skat,
ing,
A RINK ON MARKET STREET.
1t was reported in the INTHLLidEScER
few days since that there was some talk OF
a rink being built on the Atheneum cor.
ner. The Atheneum rink 10 all assured
fact. Yesterday Messrs. Edward Larkin
and John Handlan, two OF Wheeling's
well known go-ahead young business men,
concluded the purchase Of the property,
situated OH the corner OF Sixteenth and
Market streets, and the contract was
signed for rink that is to BIO completed
and in operation in ten days. The build
ing will run back to the Owens. build
ing, and there will be about .15,00O
square feet for skating purposes. The
work Of grading will be commenced to-day.
These gentlemen said last evening that It
was their intentionto put in all the modern
convcniences, such as ladies' and gentle
mems dressing rooms, etc, They also
think Of using the electric light for illumi-
mating. The floor will be made Of the
very Best maple and will be laid in cement
or in some other way deadened. The
rink will be opened with handsome at
traction; the Opera House band will he
on hand, and the ladies' will be presented
with charming souveuier. The manage
ment will, OF course, be first class in every
respect,
ANOTHER IN TIE FIFTH WARD.
The other rink to be erected will DO sit
uated on the northwest corner OF Chap
line and Twenty-second streets, where 1t
can DO easily reached from all parts OF the
city. The ground was secured yesterday
and the contracts for the rink will be
given out in time To have the rink open
enterprise is being pushed forward by
AIssers Chas, Rose and viii Entler. Mr.. Rose
has up to yesterday, been connected with
The Island rink, hut he severed his con-
peGtion there yesterday for the purpose Of
attending to his own rink. The skating
floor Is to be l29 by 90 feet, and there will
be chairs to accommodate 500 people.
These were ordered yesterday. Special at
tention is to be given 10 the floor and the
intention Is to have everything q tho
very best
The crowd at the Island rink last night
was q very large one, both Of spectators and
skaters. Master Clint Collinb, the chan:
pion soFobattc' skater OF Ohio, gave his
tirst exhibition. His teats arc wonderful,
and he was accorded very warm applause.
He will be al the rink this and to. morrow
evenings. DR.. Simons has everything runs
ling slhlethly and siAs "a keep big place
Ghat It started out to be-a delightful
place Of resort,
FORMER cRAzEs.
To show how the roles skating craze is
Ipreading 1t may be stated that 1t is es-
imated that there are now in operation In
his country over p 900 rinksi for rollers and
,icylists, and new ones are being built
very day. The last roller skating excite
nent prior 10 the present one, began in
$50 and by the end Of 1868 skating oil all
dnds was voted a bore, and nothing more
vas heard ofit for fifteen years. But in
hose days theroller skate had not reached
hat state Of perfection found In the skate
i to-day, and the skater was limited In