The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-02
GO-AS- S-YOU-PLEASE.
TWenty.fOur.HOur Skating Con.
test at the Pavilion.
snowden, Champion of the World, Has the
Lead and May Possibly Hold 1t to the
Termination-Th Scores.

mo BO-dS-l
roller-skating contest commenceda at the
Pavilion last night at 10 o'clock, and will
end this evening at the same hour. The
prizes are as follows: First $500. second
S125, third SIS, fourth $50. A small remain
ing percentage will go to the first man
toward a championship belt, provided the
worlds twenty-four-hour record is broken;
and, if not. the amount will be divided
equally between the fifth man and the man
who makes the best appearance throughout
the contest.
Peter jackson acts as referee and A. S.
Blake as chief scorer and time-keeper. The
following are the thirteen contestants:
THE CONTESTANTS.
j. A. Snowden OF Boston, Mass, champion
long distance skater of the world, ana champion
of America at all distances. has won numberless
races through the Eastern StaieS. His most i'm
porIant victory was in the six days go-as-you-
please III New York City March, 1856, when lie
covered 1l66 miles, demolishing the previous
lne former champion, together with fourteen
99na 9elei 'tar,oss ] His tweutyfour hour record Is
Frank Deimont, who, though an American
born skated his first race in Calcutta, December,
championship OF India. In February, 1890 he
won the short distance championship of India
and Australia, at the Columbia Rink, Bombay,
defeating, among others, Mr.. Summons, the
owner OF tile rink. July 20, 1890. on the Lon
don track, lie outsHated Hal Berie the English
champion, by less than yard In two miles,
bringing the worlds record down TO :04Ia for
that distance. week later, in a nve-inile race
OH the same track, William Curtis dIstanced him,
but on August 26th. In 4 dash OF one mile wtll
Curtis. belmont proved his superiority al short
distances by coming III au easy winner In 2 2:6012,
2:5sls held by Curtis by eight seconds. These
track ever laid. Though Delm0nt has almost In
sariably won at distances under two miles, he
has never yet come IN first al over that distance,
4, ~ 90 M
Delmont claims no championship. having re-
signed In favor OF The local flyers when leaving
their country.
Mort Smith OF Sydney, Australia, who is essen
tally a long distance man through having won
The six days contest In sydney against field OF
nine, ior snort distance some of our local skat-
ers could defeat him. la the twenty four hour
race lie is a safe man 10 count on 10 run first.
second or third, and Ii is said that Snowden con-
siders binl his most dangerous opponent.
w. +. Gee. champion of San BernaTdino, Is
one OF tie OlymDlan Instructors,
Wlll Sharp, amateur champion Of the Coast, is
4 we'll built young man and should run WELL
Frank Sharp, II years old, is tine skater and
has an lndomltable grit. II his strength holds
out lie should be prominent at the finish.
l.. Nj. Morgan, champion of Los Angeles, Is
considered inyincbe by his friends In that city.
Joe MatheSOn, well known as lhe leader OF the
Park Band. the knowing ones say there viii be a
yefitabie surprise for The champions. He Is
iooked upon generally as dark horse.
veteran who relies on his staying powers to out
skate his more speedy ryals. He is at present
ou6 OF tHt OlSmplan instl uctorS.
q. w. Meyer also relies on his stay and his fine
physique 10 outlast his opponents.
George Dean, champion OF Massachusetts, is a
speedy skater aud has an easy and graceful
stride.
George Barry, 10 years old has never been in
race and Is not particularly speedy. He has
been quietly training and Is backed by the
Oympian management to be among the first five.
OOfty GOofIy says lie Will surprise the cham
pions.
ooFTY GooFTY AS CLOWN.
The track was marked off by picket
fence for the inner circle and barriers of
seats and ratings for the outer circle, out
side Of which were about 1000 spectators
Oofty Goofty, in silk attire and loaded down
with "liemonds," was the thirteenth con-
testant and the clown at the same time.
The race started at 10 o'clock and little
disposition was shown to speed until Snow
den put on a squirt at about his fourth mile
and set the pace for the rest. The crowd
then woke up to the fact that there was
some ginger III the contrSt and applauded
Snowden as ne flew around the course. At
the sixth mile belmont lead the string, with
'Snowden one lap ahead of him and dogglng
his heels. At the eighth mile Snowden
jumped to the front, with belmont and
Morgan second and third respectively, and
the others strung out brokenly. AT this
time the contestants settled down to regular
work, with belmont again leading, although
Snowden had Ian to spare. Occasionally
a short squirt would be introduced for the
sake of variety, and never failed to win ap-
plause. On the first lap of the twenty ninth
mile DelmontS skates brokeIand he had to
leave the track until they were fixed. He
lost about ten minutes.