Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-04-15
FIGHTING ON SKATES.
A Novel Battle Between Spaniards and II OIL
landers.


ianders.
Once upon time King Philip, OF
Spain, went to war with Holland, the
country where the land is lower thar
the sea-level and there have to be big
walls, called bikes, to keep the water
from sweeping over the fields. This
fight was desperate one, for King
Philip was so eager to subduo the coun-
try that he waged the war with all the
means at his command. He sent to
Holland, as his'commander-in chief, the
duke of Alva. a spanish nobleman and
o famous general. After the war had
been going on long time, and many
towns had been seized, the duke saw
that If he could take Amsterdam he
could easily overcome the rest of Hol-
land-but between Amsterdam and
the kings forces lay the city of Haor-
lem.
The duke sent his son Don Frederick
to capture HARLEM. The city was al
most surrounded by water, then frozen
over, as it was winter. There were a
few ships lying near HARLEM but they
were held fast by the ice, and. might
easily have been captured had not
the sailors dug a trench all around
them, and fortified them against the
enemy.
AS soon as Don Frederick arrived he
sent a body of soldiers to attack the
ships. The soldiers marched out to the
vessels, but as they came near body
of armed men on skates sprang from
| the trench
The Hollanders were used to skating
from their very babyhood, for in win
ter the canals and sea were frozen for
miles around, and every body slsated.
Not only did they skate for fun, but tc
market and their daily business, just as
easily and far more quickly than they
could walk. They used to have games
and sham battles on the ice, SO that
when there was need for real fighting,
they knew what to do.
But the Spaniards lived in southern
country where there is little ice, and
they never went sliding or skating
When they saw the Hollanders dart Out
at them, their feet shod with steel, ap
pearing almost to fly in the air, they
thought the enemy must be aided by
witchcraftl They were tempted tc
run, such was their amazement and ter
ror.
However when the bullets came fly
ing among them. they tried to pick VI
their courage and fight. But their eff
forts were feeble, for, unable to keel
their footing on the slippery surface
they would stumble and fall. while tn,
Hollanders would glide by unharmet
and send their bullets to the mark.
The Hollanders were victorious; and
when they drove the Spaniards off thu
ice, several hundred Of the enemy la,
dead, while the conquerors scarcel,
suffered any loss. When the duk,
heard of this defeat he was much sur
prised, and decided that he would not b,
beaten again in that way.
So he ordered seven thousand pair
of skates, and commanded all the sol
diers to learn to skate. They had fun
while learning, but not long afterwarC
were able to handle their weapons OF
ice as boldly as the Hollanders. Blu
they had little occasion to make use o
this new accomplishment, for sudden
thaw and flood made it possible for tn
ships to sail away, and the sailors
brave spirits were much cheered by tn
sudden frost that followed and rendere,
them safe from naval attack for
time.
The Spaniards soon after capture,
HARLEM, but they had to fight hard t.
take it, for the city was well fortife
and the people brave. st Nicholas