The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-08-03

crowds of spectators had good time and
and cheers and applause rang through the
crowded hall whenever an apprentice of the
art came in too close contact with the floor;
but in very short time all learned how to
dance on the skates, and by this time the
largest majority of the sailors have become
quite fancy skaters and an observer certain
ly would hardly believe that these young
men dressed in their beautiful naval uni
forms, with large collars adorned with snow
white tape, had only short while ago taken
their first lesson.
As it is expected that the vessels of the
North Atlantic squadron will soon leave our
shores and go on cruise, the manager of the
Forest City rink, Mr., B. l.. Bailey has pro-
cured a handsome gold medal with the inten-
tion of presenting it the fastest skater among
the sailors. Each vessel, the Tennessee, the
Swatara. and the Galena, selected two men
to contest for the prize and notice was given
that last night the great three mile race for
gold medal and the championship of the
North Atlantic squadron between u S. Blue
Jackets" was to come off
The hand bills which had been posted all
over the city ever since last Saturday stated,
Don't miss the race, laughable, interesting
and exciting" and it certainly turned out to
be this way. Although the weather had been
rather threatening all day long, and thunder
showers and rain squalls hung over the city,
nevertheless much before the usual time the
steamboats, plying between the city and the
island brought large crowds of passengers,
who all came to witness the race at the slsat-
ing rink.
BY seven o'clock the rink was crowded,
and still the people flocked in, atrying to get
glimpse at the contest. The largest crowd
of sailors from the ships of war that ever
before came to the island were there last
night, and everybody discussed the race.
AT half past seven the band commenced to
play and the floor soon filled with skaters
who danced about the rink at a speedy
rate.
At nine O'Clock the gong was sounded and
the necessary preparations for the race were
made. After the floor had been cleared,
there appeared within the rink amid the APP
plause of the large crowd of spectators the
six sailors from the fleet, who were anxious
to enter the contest to fight for the champion
ship of the North Atlantic squadron.
The following sailors entered the race:
Henry P. Bennett, printer, and John st.
Voss, seaman apprentice, from the flagship
Tennessee; Theodore Sauer, seaman ap-
prentice ana John F. McGurn, seaman APP
prentice, from the U. S. steamer Galena; and
Peter Peterson, armorer, and Edward l..
Aiken, seaman apprentice, from the U. S.
steamer Swatara.
The following judges were selected: Mr..
John j. Heary from the Tennessee Mr..
David Hennessey from the Galena and Mr.,
Samuel Shields from the Swatara. Mr.. FL.
j. Hammett from Portland was chosen ref
cree.
The two sailors from the Tennessee were
dressed in navy blue shirts and trowsers,
with blue caps, while those from the Swata-
IA and Galena wore blue caps, white frocks
with blue collars, trimmed with snow-white
tape, and blue pantaloons
The manager of the rink-Mr. Bailey
made short address to the crowd, wherein
he stated that the race between the sailors
now on the floor was one of speed. and that
the contest was for handsome gold medal
and the championship of the North Atlantic
squadron. The sailors were drawn up in
one line, and when everything was in readi-
ness Mr.. Bailey gave the word 'tgo," and the
skaters started ahead while the band struck
yp lively air. The crowd commenced to
cheer and applaud, while one tried to beat
the others record. The first two laps were
made in twenty seconds, with Bennett one
eighth of a lap ahead, McGurn closely fol-
lowing. When the first mile had been tray-
eled. in four minutes and nine seconds, both
d. ~, 81 a. H., 10 \
the skaters were encouraged to renewed
efforts by the enthusiastic crowd, when
allat once in turning corner Bennett
slipped and his opponent passed him. Be-
fore the former could get on his feet again,
the latter was about One-quarSer of lap
ahead of the other. The other four sailors
although good skaters could not keep up
with their two friends but still made excel
lent time. McGurn continued to keep the
lead and cheered by his friends never slack
ened his speed. go it Reddy go it Reddy!
get up to him" Ego it shorty" were the sub
stances Of the cheers and when McGurn fin
ished the 45th and last lap with Bennett
only three-quarters of lap behind the hall
rung and rung with the applause. The
three mile race was made in 16 minutes and
seconds. A large crowd gathered around
the victor and his close follower and among
the cheers of over two thousand spectators
tile handsome gold medal was presented to
the champion and pinned to his breast.
The medal which was presented to the
champion is certainly an extremely hand
some one, and was made after the drawing
of Mr.. c. E. Davis of Portland This gem
consisted of gold ring about two inches in
diameter, ornamented with beautifully en-
graved leaves. In the centre of the ring is
found five pointed solid gold star which
bears the image of man on roller skates.
The upper portion of the band bears the
words Championship of the North Atlantic
Squadron" A very fine gold bar. connected
by two little chains with the center-piece.
completes the beautiful ornament, which
rests on pink ribbon.
Mr.. John F. McGurn, the champion
skater of the North Atlantic Squadron,
and the winner of the handsome gold medal
of the Forest City rink, certainly is quite
an expert, and it is with pleasure that we
admired his performance; with grace and
ease he kept his course, and never for a mo-
ment tired or slackened his speed. We take
pleasure in congratulating him, and he can
boast when he hears that his opponent, Mr..
Bennett, holds three medals. His first medal,
silver one, was won in Jersey City in 1888,
where in three mile race he defeated four
others, one Of which held the championship
of Patterson, N. j. The second medal,
gold one, was earned in New York in 1884, in
a one mile race, six amateurs taking part in
the contest. The third medal, another gold
one, was won in 1885 in Brooklyn, in one
mile race
Mr. McGurn now holds the championship
of the North Atlantic squadron, and we GER
tainly feel assured that he never will forget
the beautiful charming times which he and
his shipmates enjoyed while on their visit to
our friendly shore