Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-20
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msrerm,eh 81 -. 1ohs Beats shs Record AZ
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New york fIerald.l

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New York ilerald.l
When the telegraph dashed the news
that Hugh Mccormick hal skated Two
miles in 6m. lols. at st. John, n. D.,
very few people placed any credence IN
the record. but those who saw TINS
phenomenal skaters effort to cover a
mile in 3m. l0ls. at the Hcboken Rink
last night think that he Is without
doubt the fastest short-distance skater
in the world. and that with favorable
surroundings he could skate two miles
close to the figures given above. This
seems all the more wonderful when 1t
is considered that Axel Paulsen's time
for this distance is Gun. So los
Up TO last night Paulsen had the best
record for one mile in this country,
which was 3m. % 2-5s., and, as the Sc
ouel will show, Mccormick put this
away in the shade. Paulsen was on a
twenty-five mile journey, while Nc
Cormick was TO stop at the end OF the
mile. so that the Norwegian was practi-
cally engaged on long distance, while
the New Brunswicker was indulging IN
squirt. Paal6en's performance was
made on quarter-,nile track with good
ice and light wind. while Mccormick
had to make a little over six circuits
before his mile was finished.
The circuit was marked off by soap
boxes. on which were placed Chinese
lanterns, and at each of the corners
were placed judges to see that no = IN
cuing in - was INDUCED in. This patrol
was composed of Henry +. Buermeyer,
William Young, l.. Z. Meyers, and
George Avery. The time-keepers were
/. +. Meyers, George Avery, W. b.
Curtis. and Edward Plummer.
II was nearly halfpast Q when Nc
Cormick was notified that the track was
ready for him. but he took long time
TO fix up his skates, which hadto be ad-
iusted to a nicely. The runners used
by the champion were what are known
as the long-reach skates, and the blades
were fully fifteen inches in length.
At a quarter to 10 he came on the
track and INDUCED in few preliminary
spins 70 test his skates and learn the
turns. In two minutes he had mas
tered these, and then he came to the
starting point. Taking off his over
coat and light undercoat. he stood forth
a wcll-deyeloped athlete clad in an in
digo-blue jersey. blue flannel knee
breeches. and thick woollen stockings.
Setting himself firmly, he signilied his
readiness TO he sent on his mission.
and Myers fired the pistol. McCor-
mick moved forward. stopped. then
hesitatcd. and came back. stating that
the scnd-of was not satisfactory.
When the pistol was fired next time
he got well away. lie came to the end
of the first lap in I'm. 6 2-5S. The Sc
cond lap was finished in I'm. 80 2-5s. :;
the third lap in pm. lbs. the fourth
lap in On. A lbs. The full distance
was traversed in 3m. lG4s.. which failed
to gain the $3.50 offered by the Spirit
ofhe Times for beating 3m. l0@S.. but
gives Mccormick the best on record at
mile in this country, he beating Paul
sens figures by % seconds.
Mccormick travelled alone all the
way until entering the home stretch of
the last lap 4; then his brother Charles
joined him, but was soon left behind.
Throughout the whole of the journey
Mccormick skated very close to the
corners, and once struck a soap-box
with his knee, but received no hurt
worth speaking OF. As soon as his
mile trial was over Mccormick ex-
pressed his willingness to skate against
the fve-mile record, and the boxes
were moved ont so as to give perfect
six-lap track, but the hot dressing
room proved too much for him. so he
gave up the attempt.
II is very probable that he will en-
deayor to cut the en-. l0!s, at an early
date.