The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-15

for this event Ia open to all the world, and
competition for the three medals, gold, sill
yer and bronze, Is invariably strong.
The regular championship meeting of
amateurs was first held In 1885. 1t was
conducted under the auspices Of the Man
haitian Athletic club of New York on the
clubs grounds In that city.
In the following year the National Skat-
ing association was organized and In 1887
figure skating was made an annual event.
Its object was to encourage effort In the
line of fancy skating and provide for an
nual competitions open to all corners. 1t
was expected that such contests would
prove very interesting, and the promoters
of the event were not disappointed. Ever
since it's establishment this fixture has
grown in favor with the general public as
we'll as with the great body Of skaters ev-
erywbere.
Tho first championship was won by f.
p. Good, a graceful performer, whose clean
cut work won him much praise.
In the two yeare next succeeding Louis
Rubenstein of Montreal held the cham
pionship trophy. This Rubenstein had q
wonderful record In the fancy skating line,
and although he relinquished part of his
interest in the medal to George ID. Phillips
of New York, who tied his score, 10 wal
not until the following season that he ab
dicated fully ih favor Of Phillips
The next year Phillips, In turn, resigned
the highly priced bauble to j. +. Bacon OF
Arlington, B. c. In 1894 there was no
contest. It was q warm winter, the ice
was Of lad quality, and no suitable ar
rangelnohts for the event could be made,
But In 1895 there was a close struggle, In
which Phillips was again victorious,
though pushed very hard by several Of the
cracks.
Last year Phillips encountered defeat
from a somewhat unexpected quarter His
conqueror, Herbert 8. Evans of Boston,
though a recognized expert, was generally
considered to be entirely outclassed by
Phillips, who had come to be regarded as
well nigh invincible. Although Evans
margin of superiority-seven points-was
not large, it sufiiced, and the champion.
ship was his, and the loser had to content
himself with the reflection that he had
been overcome by no mean adversary.
Champion Evans has done fine work in
New England for some years past and has
made good showings in previous contests
for the championship. He is 30 years old,
stands feet 35s inches without shoes and
weighs / is pounds. His methods are high
ly artistic, and his success Is due to patient
practice and good head work.
Although no longer champion, Phillips
remains the leading and most conspicuous
figure of the amateur skaters of his class.
He Is not only the chief promoter of this
years meet, but Is the moving spirit In
all enterprises of the sort. He Is one OF
the oldest veterans among the figure skat-
ers. For 20 years he has been winning
championship medals of various kinds,
and very few Of them has he resigned.
His movements are all mnrvels of grace,
and even now, though nearly two score
years Of age, he can learn and execute a
new design while the ordinary fancy
worker is trying to map out In his mind
the intricacies of the pattern.
In the coming contest the movements
for testing the proficiency of the skaters
will be 81 In number. They have been ar
ranged under comprehensive fundamental
heads, designed to include every thing ap-