The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-26
FERN WON WITH EASE.
He Had No Trouble in Running Away
from E. A. Snyder, Who Came
from New York City.

Scranton was reminded last night
that it has an American champion in
its midst, which it had almost entirely
lost sight of. Ezra Fern, "Zeke" as he
was known the country over in the
days of the roller skating rink, donned
his skates after a lapse of five years
and with an ease that robbed the event
of all semblance of a contest, ran away
from +. w. Snyder, a New York crack,
who was good one in the old days
and who by reason of recent perform
ances thought himself to be the very
best of these times.
The race took place in Finley's hall,
LackaWanna avenue, where the sport
has been lately revived. 1t used to be
Keystone rink and was one of the first
opened in this city. The front part of
it has been cut up into offices, but
about three-quarters of the former floor
space remains and the old hardwood
floor still being intact, it makes quite
a respectable-sized rink.
The race was not extensively adver-
tised, but despite this there was a
goodly number of the old cranks and
admirers of the unconquerable 'Zeke'
on hand to have their minds pleasur-
ably carried back to the days wher
Fern, the Mash boys, the Dowdells
young Baker and Wickwire, OF
Carbondale; Jones, of Pittston; Joe
Rice, of Wilkes-Barre, We're heroes
beside whom the epoch-makers OF
history paled. and when a mem.
bership in the Lackawannas, Ar.
cadians or Hickorys was more of 6
distinction in the eyes Of the small boy
than a seat in congress or an election
to the French academy.
Fern showed up in surprising form
He had trained only about ten days
yet he proved himself to be still pos
sessed of the qualities which made him
the wonder Of the roller skating world
in the old days. Just what speed he
| worked up could not be measured, as
| the rinl<'s dimensions are not exactly
known and consequence no effort was
made to catch the time. BY compari-
| son, however, it was plain to he seer
| that he was striking something. very
| much like his old gait. In the mile
| he passed Snyder eight times. This
! ended the race, but as neither men
| evidenced a desire to stop the speed.
| ing was continued for about three
miles. Fern let down and contended
! himself with doubling his opponent
only four times in the last two miles
| He could have done better, but as II
was his first race after a long absence
from the rink. he did not want to risl
| oVer-eXertiOn.
Snyder claimed that he met with ar
accident to his skate early in the race
and that he prevented him from doing
anything like his best work. He did no
contend however that he would hav,
won on anything like that if he hadn'
been handicapped. "All l want credi
for" he said after the race, "is tha
had the nerve to so up against Fern
| That's ALL"
Fern authorized The Tribune to an
nounce that he was back in the arena
and ready to meet any man in Penn
| sylvania. After he improves in form
he will make an unlimited challenge
Tommy" Marsh has Issued a chal
lenge to race any man in Luzerne o
Lackawanna counties, Fern excepted
Jones, of Pittston, and Marsh are be
ing talked of for a race.