The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-05-06
Temperance Column.
Young Men, watch the whizzer.

Young M6ui WauSA VAS " Z
CATER enjoying good skating until
IL became n trife monotonous to them Y
party of youths on large pond at |
Clifton, Staten Island, introduced a
novelty with which to make the pas
time more exiting. The innovation
consisted Of what they a call 'whlzzer'
The 'whizzer' was made by cutting
hole in the ice, placing an upright
pole through the hole, and attchlng
two horizontal bars to the pole Inc
bars were about fifteen feet long ana
on opposite sides of the upright pole
A dozen boys would catch hold oil the
bars and begin to skate around alter
the manner of sailers winding cap |
stan. The result would be that the
bow near the pole would be moving IN
n circle at a very moderate pace
while those on the outer edges where
whirling around at terrific speed
and if they CHANGED to let so OF the
'whizzer,' they would be hurled lor-
ward as if shot from catapnlt'
"The excitement OF the sport con
sisted in watching the gyratlons oil
those who let 60 One lad loosened
his grip on the bar, was hurled for
ward about fifty feet, and after slid
ing most Of the distance on the ice
went home with the entire lett side o.
his face almost devoid OF skin, anc
bleeding profusely. Another DO!
tripped, and was carried OIL with
sprained wrist and Il broken kneepan
Still another tripped and fell, and be
fore he could get out OF the way tn
other bar come around, and he wa
struck on the head with a skate. IL
was taken home suffering from COZ
cussion Of the brain, and with larg
gap in his scalp. The 'whizzer' WI
then stopped for the afternoon.
"The circumstance has brought
mind another kind OF 'whizzer, who
is in active operation both SUNNI
and winter, and which consists
several bars which rcvolye aroul
the rum-bottle. Persons take he
near the center, where they lind
glass Of beer, or wine, or cider
them. 1t is not hard to get hold
the 'whizzer,' and as long as you Ike
near the center it is very popu
amusement. But when persons
crowded out from the center the sp'
increases, and they go faster and
Their than they ever intended.
"Iti is easy getting hold OF the wi
zer,' the difficulty is in letting
Swifter, and swifter, and swiiter 1t
wolves. The walk becomes trot,
the trot run, and there is no 81
ping. The 'whizzer' never slows
and there is no chance to let 60
must run or be run over; you n
hang on or be knocked down, ira
led under foot, or flung off headl
on tangent.
81 have seen some fearful WIZ
caused by the 'whizzer. Men
red noses, bloated faces, bleared
ragged coats, bad hats, and ger
wretchedness, are still keeping
to the bars and holding on to
'whizzer,' which is continually
creasing its speed. There is 81
gay young chaps near the &c
They are good-looking and well-(
ed, and they take things easy
move with great moderation; b'
and by others press in and they
crowded out along the bars an'
farther they go the worse they
and tle longer they hold on the
zer' the more they wish they
let go of it. Finally they reacl
end, and lose their grip, and IL
and go manned, and bruised
bleeding, to destruction. You
never recognize in the bruised,
ed, manglsd mass that is flung
the end Of the 'whizzer' the ga
sprightly young man who took
of the wine-cup at the center,
is the same, and any one who
like to see the working OF the
zer, can see people taking hold
bar of almost any first-class hot
high-toned saloon, and see ther
off, mangled and crushed, whit
last penny is spent, and they al
cd out to die in the gutter, or
away shivering and demented,
mad.house, the prison or the g
"My friend, do not take hold
devils 'whizzers,' He has tn
up at nearly every corner, and
working them with all his
Stand Off There is danger
Keep clear of the bottle and tn
Look not upon the wine whe
red,''-The Christian