The sun., 1898-01-05
FINE SPORT ON SKATES.

FINE SPORT ON SKATES.
A Crowd on the leo at van Cortiandt Park
Tho Ball UP at Prospect Pnrk.
Snow foil in fine flakes during tho afternoon
yesterday at Van Cortlandt Park, but this did
not check the sports OF the skaters, for Foreman
Mangin had his snow ploughs and eweepors out.
so that the snow was cleared away as fast as 1t
| gathered. In all, only about three inches de.
scended, and when the night skating began there
was not q trace OF snow on the ice. Tho sport
lasted until 10 o'clock last night, and but for
the lack Of the usual calcium lights about the
shores the scene was as brilliant and gay as
usual at tho annual public carnival Of the
skaters on Van Cortlandt Lake. In the furry of
organizing the new Park Board, the Commits
sioner for the borough Of tho Bronx, August
Moeber was unable yesterday to get through
the rcquisition for the caciums, but they will
probably be faring out over tho leo tonight
The sheet Of ice had been further improved by
the Punishment OF the skaters from the fine sur.
face covering tho lake on Tuesday night. It
was tested yesterday In many different spots by
the experts. who pronounced 1t to be OF an aver
age thickness Of seven inches. Usually the Ice
at the westerly end of the lake is weak, but now,
probably because the contiguous bushes and
underground were cleared away during tho
summer, this part is as solid as all the rest.
The Ice is the best known since tho city
has had possession at Van Cortlandt Park.
and extends In clear sheet of even
thickness and without a crack or airhole. from
shore to shore. Ala o'clock In the afternoon.
when the crowd was thickest. from 1900 to
1000 persons were on the ice The pavilion was
kept nicely warmed for the accommodation Of
| tho throng. and Dominicks staff did thriving
trade in hot coffee. soft drinks, and sandwiches
as well as IN hiring out skates. A great improve
tho pavilion have been widcned and safe side.
rails put on the platforms extending out on the
snasss 5
entertainment from the unexpected slips and
fails of the skate-wearers in their Journeys over
the former narrow passages. did not have nearly
Whether they came in the morning, after
age was Impressed on ali beholders. The tum.
bling. wildly sliding element seems to have van, .
! is due 10 practicing in the inclosed Kinks or,
| with the children, to sidewalk efforts on roller
be ali
| at ease on tho steel blades. Betoqued. blanket.
clad skaters at Quebec winter carnival or
move with greater freedom and grace. In the
morning hours groups of children under the
sionai parties Of young women and men known
In society, made up the "a. attend,ance; nd, school
noon, forming q rushing dartins. red-choeked
host that completely swamped the individuality
sss tnS
mostly from the same office or athletic club.
and parties Of girls and women with their es.
| Van Cortlandt. the visitors from Yonkers and
the towns to the park 1nsary as
D1Ss they neE'
sisters, or thoir sisters friends. were too eager
81 s In % hs so,s
The curved front skate and I,.hds the t old
SSsF1 nsht ney rmSed ana Designed sn a
sterneon % boys and girls wSpid not have S an any OF
them. Clamp skates OF the sort the hockey
Stops. stops were H the favorites with the boys. but
nearly IS used the long narrow Nor,
to carry an extra pair Of hs9y shoes
| skates were attached. the new footwear being
donned when the Ice was reached. The girls
and women were less restricted in the styles of
lead lead with them. too. With the women n the he
ordinary cycling suit. in length Of skirt and
costume. The boys and men were alike only in
the unanimity with which they wore thick
sse 'Sef' nsSt a hero was neither
moon nor stars to brighten the scene. the lights
terms OF the railroad block signals added to the
beauty Of the view when skating away from the
lamps along the pavilion platform made the Ice
nearly as light as at midday. Each Individual
stood out. like silhouette in the gaze Of the re:
turning skaters. The curriers' had possession Of
ana Van corande rnks had lively prae
tico match to determine their ndidates for the
teams IN the annual m1tch, North ys. south OF
morrow.
Prospect Parks three lakes were the mecca
day. 1t was tho first days skating. and the
police reports Jas last night stated that between
frozen surface between the hours of 6 o'clock
and 10 o'clock last night. at which latter hour
SURFACE Of he sRSps at %
moro Than 100 persons awaited tEemsslSes q
the privilege to venture out on the Rlittcring
noon. noon however. the red bali that was displayed
to the banks OF the lake and In the big summer
house. which had been inclosed In glass for the
season when Jack Frost" Is In evidence.
Ice Yaehtsmen Begin RacinE tho South
shrewsbury River.
LoNa BRANCH. Jan. Am exciting ice yacht
race for the South Shrewsbury Club pennant
was sailed this afternoon on the South Shrews.
bury River. The course was between Branch
port and Pleasure Bay. a distance OF two miles.
boats started: p; F. Taber's Leroy, William <.
Seamnn's Harold, Asher Wardell's Redbird, and
Bert Cubbcrley's Leota. They finished In the
order named The Leroy beat the Harold by a
good hundred yards. No time was taken.
Racing Mt New Orleans
New ORLEANS. Jan. 4.-The defeat of three
warm favorites was tho feature of to-day's
races. The track was fast and the attendance
large.
First Raoe-senng; slI and half furlongs--PsAce-
fACleFFaFl 4 /
third. Time, 1881.
Second ace-Maiden three ye ar al furIongs-
Celia b.. lO1 (BArrotD. 10 to ], woni Rosa Hurns.
loa {BuIn.,: t. 20 T. second second Mamie Davis los
Third Rsce-selling; one mile and quarter.-Evan.
atus. Ill (Hirsch). TO g, woni Cherry Leaf. lot
lCaywoOdE to second; Booze. 100 Smith. 20 to
], third. Time, e;IO.
Fourth RAoe-Handlcap, seven ana one.hair fur.