The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-10-24
WHOLE REGIMENT ON SKATES.
Soldiers OF Norway Use Them In Their
Winter Evoiutions.

|ttat|H u 4*OI WMI A8E ne m Nu nIII
Winter Evoiutions.
Norway. during a considerable por-
ton Of the year, i covered with snow.
and her winters, which In other counj
tries are Of short duration. extend TO
five or six months. and In the most
northern parts TO much longer period.
During this time II Is impossible to
leave the beaten roads, for the purpose.
at least OF travelling. and when fresh
snow happens to fall even the comm
nlcation by means OF them Is stopped
until the sledging Is able to be cOntin-
ued by means Of a machine. which. BY
being dragged by horses along the road.
Restores the former track by clearing
away the snow In part and hattening
and IevelIng the remainder.
The thinness. however. Of the popula-
ton. widely scattered over such an i'm
mense extent Of territory. renders Il IN
many places impossible to keep the
roads open by these means II was
catural. then, that the Norwegian should
devise some mode by which to leave
his hut. generally removed from roads.
n W. - a tArE AlAE III IrAH ~ a. AVu1 VI
rections with sufficient celebrity TO fol-
low the chase, his favorite occupation
For this purpose he devised the skies.
or snow skates. which consist OF two
thin. narrow pieces Of FIR Of unequal
lengths. the foremost part being point
ed and turned upward.
The longest, which measures about
l. -. I..f~ nr.I
the other. which IS about two feet short
er, on the right. The latter Is called
aander. from the right foot being used
more than the left, particularly In turn
ing. Both skates are about three inches
In width and an inch In thickness In
the center. where the foot h placed.
which Is firmly bound to the skie by
loops at the side, made Of willow or
the fiber Of mr. roots. to which are fast
ened leather thongs The skies are
smeared with tar OF pitch. and the I'M
der side Is followed in the center into
a groove to prevent their slipping later
ally and to enable the skielOber. or
skater. to keep a straight course
The arms OF the skielober were a
rife. TO which was attached broad
leathern strap passing over the shout
der, and a short sword. He carried with
him besides a stan (sKiestoken) seven
feet In length and rather more than an
inch In diameter. This. which was held
In his right hand. was armed al one
, end with an iron spike. and above It
was placed a circular piece OF wood
The use OF the former was 10 penetrate
the fozen snow and Of the latter TO pre-
vent the stan sinking in. giving thus a
firm support to the bearer.
The skiestok. or skiestay. as IL was
called, was likewise. as has been be-
fore observed. Of considerable use to
the skielober In enabling him TO moder-
ate his speed, make certain wheels and
preserve the necessary balance during
the descent Of steep declivities. The
skielober 70 the skate exercise united
that OF the ordinary chausseurs. or
light troops. Of which II constituted a
part. and IL performed all the duties.
differing from them only in marching
on skates, which gave IL a very great
superiority. The skiel0ber moved with
singular agiutyr ana from the ueptu Of
snow were safe from every pursuit Of
cavalry or infantry.
On the other hand. they could attack
the enemy's column on march and har-
ass them necessarily on both sides Of
the road without mourning any dan
ger to themselves. Cannon shot pro
duced little effect against them. dis
persed as they were al the distance OF
200 or 800 PAGES. and their movements
were so rapid that at the very instant
you would expect 10 see them second
= tine they had already disappeared, to
D reappear again In a quarter where you
= were not the least aware Of them. The
e real superiority Of the skating soldiers
e however. was chiefly shown when the
: enemy halted after long march. What
5 ever precautions might then be taken
] they were In constant danger from
troops which had no occasion for patti
or road, and traversed with indifference
marshes, lakes. rivers and mountains
, Even In those parts where the ice was
too feeble 70 bear the weight OF a mar
j the skielober glided safely over by th'
II