Evening star., 1897-01-28
LOCAL CRACK SKATERS.
Contests for the Championship of
Maryland and the District.

Contests for the ChampionahiD of
Maryland and the District.
The races for the skating championship
Of the District and Maryland will begin to-
night at the Convention Hall Ice Palace.
There will be three events, as follows: This
evening. one mile: tomorrow evening. two
miles, and Saturday evening. three miles.
Besides these boys race will take place
Saturday afternoon. The races will be
skated at 8 o'clock each evening and at 3
o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The list of entries Is large, and will prob
ably necessitate the different events being
skated in heats. A gold medal will be
given by the management to the man max
ing the highest number Of points in the
three events. which will carry with 1t the
championship of the District of Columbia
and the state of Maryland. A silver medal
will be given for second place.
The Entries.
The entries are as follows: Harry Sites.
present champion of the District and Mary
land: A. P. Morris, ]. H. Strickland. r. F.
LIE Mat. Williams, Ed. Hughes. r. P.
Hawes, P. b. Lewis of this city, Bailey of
Alexandria and DR.. Creswell Shearer of
Baltimore This last entry will keep the
championship from being an empty honor
as far as Maryland is concerned, as the
best skaters Of the state are probably To-
Gated at Baltimore. and an entry from that
vicinity will be sufficient to represent the
state.
Saturday afternoon, besides the boys
race, there will be burlesque race. in which
Jack Mace, the five-year-old boy of Harry
Mace. one of the best known employees Of
the rink, will be given five laps in a mile
by p. B. Lewis. Jack is called Jack the
Wonder and is indeed a wonderful skater
for so young boy. He will impersonate a
Brownie policeman. and Will endeavor to
catch Lewis. who will be CARRIED as a tramp.
If he succeeds he will be given a new pair
of racing skates.
Sites the Favorite.
Harry Sites long. swinging strokes and
steady body pushes that We're character
sites Of Joe Donoghue's work have made
him a great fayorite. OF the men who
raced last year, he Is considered to have
the best chance. Those who are remem-
Dered from last year are Strickland, LIE
Mat and Bailey. Strickland made some
very close finishes with DoEoghue last
year. and but for the fact that he fell and
cut his hand severely, LIE Mat would also
have had better record for last season
than he now enjoys. Both fancy
skaters of mere than ordinary ability.
Bailey did not show up well last year. but
this season has been working hard, and is
in excellent condition, having improved his
stroke wonderfully.
OF the newcomers, Morris is showing up
IN SpIendlQ shape, considering the short
time he has been the racing skates.
lille Williams is another who seems to
take to the long steels as a duck does to
water. Both are good hockey players and
will be able to keep their feet during the
races. even If they do not win, which Is a
big item when the large field of inexper-
fenced racers who will enter the different
events is considered.
r. P. Hawes Is the latest addition to the
local racing corps. He comes from New
burg. N. Y, Joe Donoghues home. and has
skated with the latter many times, picking
up many valua BILE hints. Although he has
not raced for some years, he is in good con-
dition.
Ed. Hughes time during the day is prin-
cipaly occupied in pushing an emery wheel
by means of pedals. and this should have
an effect on his training He comes from
Boston. and enjoyed there a distinction as
a fast man of more than ordinary ability.
2. B. Lewis Is one Of the instructors at
the rink. and although only recent addi-
ton to the squad of racers. is likely to be
heard from DR.. Shearer is one of the best
known skaters in Baltimore and probably
knows more hockey than any resident Of
this part of the country. He is like chain
lightning on ordinary hockey skates. and
on the long racing steeis should be able to
show his heels to any of the men who have
entered II he Is able to increase his speed
n aterially by this means.
The track at the rink is recognized by all
as one of the best in the world and there
is likelihood that some new local records
will h<. -toh1 tchn