The morning times., 1896-12-28
Providing for Skaters.

All around the inner side OF the course is
placed a platform two feet in width, aid
resting Immediately upon the ice. Beyond
this and forming an inner railing for the
riders, are chairs for the accommD Ddation of
skaters, for it is intended that the skating
In The palace shall be iuterGered with in
no n.anner~ 4 railing twelve inches in
H.. ght surrounds the outer aud upper edge
OF the track.
The large platform at the south end Of
rhe hall has been raised its entire length
TO All additional height OF eight feet. 1t
is intended that this shall afford room FOR
the Judges, the scorers and members of
thc press.
At the opposite end of he rink and i'm
InedIatcly iB front OF the nirance TO the
hall Il bridge has been raised high above
the track with double rows of stairs
leading up 70 either end II viii be the
means Of ingrcsS and egress for skaters
on the rink. With all the new consumption
OF space a surface OF 5000 square feet
of ice yet remains.
As has already been announced, there
Will be tweIvc starters in the contest The
beginning VIII be made from the center
OF the cast side of the track. and the spin
have already becnmade for the preparation
Of food for the riders that viii be taken
en- route, and this ..ill he handed to them
as they bowl along the side cXpanSes where
the course approaches nearest a level
Riders All Here.
The riders will be as gayly dressed as
the joClicS in Il horse race Each man
wears some garment illustrative of his
nationality, and large numbers the keys 10
which viii be found in the program, viii
serve. as in other races, 10 keep the OBJ
server posted upon the relative positions
of the men.
1t IL said that Sam Linton wears the
Welsh coat or-arms on his breast and the
crest of the Prince OF Wales on his back
The hackers OF each man will have wheels
in readiness near the track so that the
least possible time may be lost in case OF
accident
There viii be scorer for each rider
1t viii lac his duty to tally every lap
made 10y his champion. and a hook has been
especially prepared 10y Manager Towers
for this purJ oSe The books are arranged
with a maximum limit of 1,1OO miles,
several hundred in excess of the present
" bIiu > itfOIu iDT
All OF the wheclmen save Henry John
son, of Cedar House, l.. l., had reached
the CITY last night. Teddy Hale and
Eddie Bald were among the last to arrive
Almost all ofthe contestants are quartered
at Cohb's Hotel
Hale, the winner of the Madison Square
Garden race, came in from New York at 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon and was
present during the completion Of the
preparations at Convention Hall last night
lie is locking in the best OF health and
sa vs. henever felt better.
Hale VIII Not Race.
Hale is English in appearance, action
ard accent. He smokes pipe almost In
cessantly when not gagged in work and
has an elastic tread that readily disclosaS
lis nimbleness of action. He is slight in
build and not above the medium height.
1t will he surprise TO almost everyone,
however, to learn that he will not take
part in the race. He had been entered by
his trainer, Plummer, but after his arrival
in the city yesterday the welshman an
nCunced that he was not able to make the
fight after the recent ordeal of the Madison
square GardenTace.
He Will be seen at least twice each day,
though, in someofthe practice work that he
has been doing dt two of the New York
theaters since the close of the race in that
city. When seen at the rink last night he
said:
Il have carefully examined the track
and ] want to say that it is an excellent
one. I think il far superior in many ways
to the one we had in New York. ! also
like the plan OF eight-hour racing and
think that none toolong for an experienced
man to remain ON a wheel. OF course
l, like the rest, was pretty sore after the
last hg race, but am all right now"
Bald came in from Buffalo yesterday
and last night he, too, was AROMA TO
look at the track. He said that he was in
excellent condition also. Comm encing