The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-07
GLARE ICE ON sEBAGo.
How 1t Got There Despite the Snow Storm
Rare Opportunity for Skaters Last
Week-A Portland Party's Saturday
Trip.


Information was received last week by
some young men in this city, from the
officials on the Portland & Ogdensburg
train. that Sebago Lake was covered
with sheet of glare ice, and that con-
sequently there never was better skating
and never will pe again. In view OF the
! recent storm and the foot of damp snow
| that fell, it seemed difficult to believe
| that there was any glare ice anywhere
in Cumberland county. But the brake
man declared that he knew ice when he
saw it, and having passed it every day
| and seen people skating on it was tolera-
bly, certain that it was no delusion.
Consequently party of ten young
ladies and gentlemen left this city on
the afternoon train last Saturday, ac-
companied by their skates and the hope
that there might be glare ice on Sebago,
and also the determination not to be dis
appointed If there wasn't, but to be con-
tent with the excellent supper they were
sure of finding at the village hosiery,
and with the more mere experience OF
this novel winter trip.
But their fondest hopes were realized.
Imagine yourself arriving at the Sebago
Lake station. with pail of skates under
your arm and looking forth upon huge
mirror of black ice, that extended for
miles and miles to the distant snow-cov-
cred shores. The famous inventor OF
the flying machine did not look forth
upon his supposed realms tf fight with
any keener delight. But there was no
deluslon about this ice. 1t was all that
it looked to be, and as velvety and ca
reening to the tonch of the skate as the
heart of skater could wish.
One of the young couples skated far
up the lake till they seemed mere specks
in the distance They estimated that
they STATED twelve miles. A young man
who lives at Sebago said that the day
before he had sksted away up to the
mouth of Songo river, the entire
length of the lake.
The supper at the hotel was worthy OF
the occasion, and and the appetites of
the young people were as good, which
is saying good deal.
Their only earthly regret as they came
home on the evening train, was the
Thought of how brief their stay had
been on that beautiful, fascinating win
ter playground of nature, that might
we'll inspire the dancing, happy spirit of
playful childhood in whoever looked up
on it, be he old or young.
But how about the glare ice? 1t seems
there was only thin sheet of ice before
the big snow storm came, and the wind
blew with such terrific force down the
lake during the storm that il broke this
ice up and drove it down and E1Ied it
M at the foot of the lake. Theye it was,
in chaotic mass, extending several hum
dred feet from the shore. Bat the whole
lake was cleared and the snow fell into
the water and vanished and then came
the still, cold nights and tne zero
weathes and the velvety ice was formed.
1t is rare indeed that there Is such
| ice on great lake, and doubly rare
when the shores are buried in snow,
| that forms suitable framing for the
| gigantic mirror.
Probably Saturday was the last OPP
| portunity to enjoy this ice. as the snow
| of Sunday must have covered it, and
probably the above party were the only
| Portland people who did enjoy it.
Of this fortunate party the young la
| dies were Gertrude Kilborn, Eleanor
Samson, Margaret Elwell, Belle Water
| house and Gertrude Pomeroy; the young
| gentlemen were Philip c. Kilborn, Har-
RE B. Coe, Edward A. Hay, Charles B.
| Mitchell and Joseph Kilbogn.