Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-01

The origin Of the skate l. wrapped in
oblivion, but all commentators on sport
agree that its Introduction was due to
actual necessity, a. a means Of lOcomotion
over a frozen surface, rather han for the
purpose Of amusement. ~ far a. can he
learned from the records Of the past nearly
all the northern European races used "a
rude device for travelling over the ice, and
the next record l. found in Holland, when
a Dutch sailor, who was storm driven on
The coast Of Lapland in the Twelfth cent
ury, learning from the natives 20 "skait
withe boenes on hys feete, - introduced the
strange practice 70 his countrymen. II j.
worthy Of notice that "skait' Is the HoI-
lander's word for glide
From Holland the skate was introduced
into England about ITO, the historian
Fitzstephen saying that Young men do
20 70 the create moor at Moorfields, on the
north wall lof Londonl and there do binde
boenes TO there feete. holding stakes in
there handes with which they sometimes
do strik the ice One pair OF these bones
is now preserved in the British Museum
and another in the collection Of Col. Roach.
II would seem that the skate progressed
very slowly for many years, for in 1880 the
historian stowe says, The apprentice 10
tye bones on 70 their heies, and running on
their toes do slide on the ice on their heles
with great speed, often suffering greyous
falls and broken bones.'
In 1854 the first mention of the iron skate
appear, and Pepys tells US that a man
named King brought a pair from the
island Of lhoes, and hat in 1862 the lake
in st. james park wa covered with citi-
zens enjoying the new diversion. Bristol
was the first town to see their use in Eng
land.
From then on the skate remained for
many years simply "A wooden patten aud "A
metal blade. Il use became general, and
it was probably used in this country dur
ing the first winter passed here by the
Pilgrim Fathers. For many years the
skates used here were imported from Aus
tria and Germany, but as usual with Amer
leans. no sooner did the demand increase
than a domestic supply sprang up 70 meet
it. IL is worthy Of note in this connection
that American skates and their improve.
ments now dominate the skating world.
The first skates made in this country were
the handiwork Of "a man named Sanford,
living at Eaglesville, Conn. The eXact
date is lost, but IL was in 1880.
This skate had a long curved runner,
which turned up ia front Of the foot like a
piece of spring wire, and must be affec-
~tionately remembered by many an "Old
boy" This ranner was fastened 20 the
wooden standard by screw, and "A narrow
strap. heel and toe. held 10 iu position on
the foot. The next improvement was what
is known as the clamp introduced in
1865. These gripped the sole and heel and
dispensed with straps. At first these were
Used on the heel and a strap on the toe,
but later the clamp was affixed to both.
The clamps were worked 10y a double
threaded screw, aud this idea was patented
and sold 10 a Worcester Mass firm.
The double threaded screw was super
seeded by the lever IN 1869, "a style that
quickly spread the name and fame Of
American skates all over the civilized
world. Here 10 a great extent the inveu-
tion of improvements ceased. Many styles
rave heeu introduced that nav varied in
some detail, but for actual practical use
the l~59 model with some notifications
still holds the palm. The long reach
racer j. the late,. innovation.