The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-12
The MERRY COASTERS.
They Enjoy Great Times on Cong
don Street This Winter.
GREAT SPORT ON RUNNERS
A "News" Mans Experience On n Sled
-Congdon Street Hill In the Rest Pos
sible Condition--The Crowds Enjoy
the sport of Sliding Down Hill.
"Hackl Ha-a-ackl"

From far up on the hill rang out these
words OF warning in shrill childish treble
and presently there shot into view. half
way down the icy slope, sled TO which
clung one small boy, followed closely by
other sleds until the entire hill side
seemed fairly black with the rapidly de-
scending coasters.
All this happened late yesterday after
noon. A News reporter pausing q mo-
ment on his way homeward, attracted
by the shrill cries and the turmoil, be-
came interested in the sight, and forget
full OF everything, stood and watc he'd the
merry makers as they careened dow n
-CeHgdea street with-the speed of the
wind.
Presently one of the coasters. attracted
no doubt by the pensive attitude of the
NEWS man, approached him and hesi-
tatingly asked him il he wouldn't like
to take ride. He was considerably
taken back at the eagerness with which
his offer was accepted but soon both
were on their way up the hill.
On the way crowds Of bright eyed, rosy
checked girls passed. shooting with the
speed of meteor down the incline their
shrieks OF mock terror ringing out on
the crisp. frosty air with startling dis
tinctness. BY this time the lamps and
eicctrIC liBuus suoNcTcu Iuelr DrlRuC rays
onto the slope bringing out the shadows
and throwing silvery mist about the
rapiSly discerning sleds.
Aud then the top OF the incline was
reached and the NEWS man. perspiring
and painting with his unusual exercise,
stood and gaz ID wonderingly at the lively
scene spread bsfore him. Down the hill
the road was land out in alternate patches
of light and shadow, with here and there
dark moving spots. These latter were
the returning coasters, and they came
toiling along in groups with their
sleds strung out behind like the tail
Of some great Leviathan. just then
however, the owner Of the sled called the
attention of his guest TO the fact that IL
he wanted to slide he wo uld have to
jump on Immediately, and in a moment
the NEWS man had slowed himself on the
extreme front of the sled, his capacious
feet hanging gracefully over the front.
Aud then there was sudden push, a
terrific rush and the sled bearing its
passengers was of like shot. The sled
soon attained terrific speed and flew
through the air at a tremendous rate.
Over concealed distractions the sled
jumped, shooting oil into the air and
landing many yards beyond with n crash
that loosened what hair the represen ta-
tive OF the press had left.
Down, down the slide the sled tore like
stray comet, shooting through groups
or coaster wno scattered right and lett
as the shrill notes of the sled owner rang
out In the words which constitute the
opening sentence, until eventually, to
the great relief of the newspaper man
there was slight slackening of the
speed, and in "a second more the sled
plowed through pile of ashes, throwing
cinders right and left and raising dense
cloud which hung over the vicinity like a
pail. Then the sled struck an obstruc-
finn and lufar hafh fha nSv
and his passenger were brushing the
ashes from their clothes and shaking the
loose snow from within their trousers
legs where il had flown and the ride was
flushed.
AS there was no very great desire on
the part o. the press representative TO re-
peat his trip he finally refused an invita-
tion and proceeded on his way homeward.
The children have at last been graft
fled by "a spell OF good cold weather, ac-
companied by plenty OF snow aud good
sleighing and coasting. Congdon street
being slightly out OF the way is a favor
ite resort of the coasters and IL is but
very few hours after snowstorm before
an icy track is made down the middle Of
the street. The small boys make them
selves generally useful in carting ashes to
spread at the foot of the slide, and many
weeks supply of them gotten rid of by
the householders in that vicinity with
our expense.
The coasters have merry time, and
with all the danger there is a noticeable
lack of accidents. A roll and tumble in
the soft snow does no injury and makes
sport for the rest. Occasionally, as one
is making the descent, he is showered
with handfuls of snow, and sometimes
they miss him, and then again they don't.
AT any rate, these little things do not
trouble the coasters to any great extent,
and the street is crowded until late
hour in the evening.