The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-20
A CLOSE CONTEST.
An Exciting Race Mt the Roller Rink.
Fouls Claimed on Both Sid es, but
knittle Finally Decided the
Winner--The Rink
Muse.

Muse.
Cambridge Tribune
Hear them pirate, pirate pirate
The skater with his mate
On, the skate, the merry merry skate!
Ihere many lovely story they relate,
As they speed at a fearful rate
lis often Cupid seals the fate
BE sure and save your pate
Ere il shall be too late
For It's so very, very great
10 ride upon the me rry, merry skate
lis better than swinging on the gale,
Brooklyn Eagle
He put on the rollers at seven.
Ana before the clock sounded eleven.
His feet they were flying
As if he We're trying
10 KICK out the blue dome of heaven
She was blue eyed maid of sweet sixteen,
And thought she'd like to go
And skate around the roller rink with her auburn
e0lored beau;
They slid, they slode, they glid, they glode,
The envy of the set;
But suddenly they struck snag,
And the floor and those two met.
The scene was one of great chaos,
The fragments strewed the floor,
And as the moon her face did hide
Behind friendly passing cloud,
The maid and youth did homeward glide
There was very large audience pres
ent at the Rock Island rink last night.
The attraction was the five mile race be
tween the champions of Geneseo, and the
champions of Rock Island, for purse of
$50. The spectators were impatient for
the start to be made when the time for
the race arrived. Soon Bert Hoag and
l. n. McBroOm, of Geneseo, appeared,
dressed in handsome racing costumes
followed BY Knttle and Wollenhaupt,
the Rock Island champions Four judges,
referee and time keeper were chosen.
Mr.. Joseph Durham, of Geneseo, was one
OF the judges, and travelling man,
stranger to all parties concerned, was
chosen referee. The racers were called I'D
to the scratch ready to start. Manager
Collins went over to the south side of the
rink, seemingly to speak to someone, and
suddenly cried, "goy' The Rock Island
team were eff like flash, but the Genes
seoans stood perfectly STILL There was
something queer about the sprightly man.
ner in which the home team started. Nc
Broom and Hoag said they did not pros
psSe to start when there was anyone on
the race course in front of them. 4 little
boy was skating around the first curve.
The four were brought into line again and
the word given, and the two Rock Island
ers and Hoag started, but McBroom stood
still and cody watched the Others When
asked why he did not go, he replied that
he was tightening his belt, and as the
team was not asked if it was ready, he
lid not see that he had to go. Once more
the quartette toed the scratch, and the
starter called out "are you ready? Cor
and away they went. Ii this would have
been done in the first place a start would
have been made. 4 starter had no right
to 90 to the opposite side of the rink and
suddenly cry go" to the men on the
scratch. He had right to stand within
ten or fifteen feet Of the racers, see that
each one toes the scratch, ask, ''arc you
ready" and after moments hesitation
sag go" McBroom was right in not
starting in the first two send offs last night.
The Geneseo team took the lead at the
start, McBroom being first, Hoag second,
knitlle third, and Wohenhaupt fourth.
they made a dozen laps in this order
when knitte by lucky shoot got second
place. Wollenhaupt was watching his
| chances and suddenly surprised Hoag by
swinging in in front of him. Cheers
greeted the Rock Island boys as they flew
around the rink, and friends in the audi>
euce urged liem by encouraging remarks
| All this time long legged McBroom kept
the lead with long, steady stroke that
that was admired by all. He did not seem
to be working hard, merely going fast
enough TO keep out of the way. Hoag
fell behind and was soon a half lap behind
the others. The pace was too fast for him
! and he conteHted himself with easy work.
Knittle was close upon the heels of Ne
Broom all this time and Wollenhaupt was
Crowding upon Knittle. 1t was a pretty
race for a couple of miles as the three
glided around not more than three feet
| from each other, each doing his best In
the third mile kuittle caught McBroom
mapping at the northeast curve aud with
fine squirt passed him. And then what
cheering and yelling there was. 1t lasted
for several minutes Knittle then set the
pace and 1t was rapid one, too. BY this
time Hoag was "a lap behind and was
again passed by Knittle and McBroom
Wollenhaupt came dashing up and wa;
4 about to pass Hoag on the northeast
curve when the latter touched him with
his hand and Wollenhaupt very properly
claimed a foul. He succeeded in heading
Hoag in the next lap. In the meantime
MeBroom was making Knittle skate foT
all he was worth to keep the lead. Soon
Knit,le caught up with Hoag and the lat
ter set the pace Knittle was now in {
pocket Hoag in front was evidently
trying to bother the plucly little Rocl
Islander all he could to give McBroom 6
chance to pass. At the northwest curve
, Hoag slowed up and compelled KDittle Il
do the same and McBroom with magnif
icent burst of speed took the lead again
There were yells of foul" and groans
and cries of put Hoag out, " make hin
get off the floor, etc. Knittle claimed
another foul The cries against Hoag
aud such choice expressions from some
| ~, C3I,U ,aeto x-aY vor