Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
WINTER SPORTS TO THE FORE
Recreations Of Mild Seasons Give Way to
More Rugged Psstimes.
CURRIERS' PREPARE FOR A GRAND MATCH
Ice of the winter Forms Smoothly
and without FIRw-PInns Com
Hidered 60 Make Omaha
Base Ball Center.

Base Ball Center,
To those who feel cramped within fou
walls the present fall and winter have OF
fered many chances to breathe fresh all
Outdoor eports are largely at the mercy o
the elements and owing to their recen
kindly temper, lovers OF foot ball, golf
cricket and other fall sports have been abl
to indulge in their favorite pastimes to th
very threshold Of the Christmas holidays
Winter has arrived at last in his full dignit!
and bats, balls and pigskins have beer
slowed away to await the coming of another
summer.
The games meant for gentler seasons
however, are not without worthy substitute!
now that land and stream are icelocked
The freeze, which will probably last during
the winter came when there was little WIND
or snow and the ice formed as smoothly as
a skating rink. There are no ridges on its
surface or imbedded leaves or rubbish tc
bring grief to the skater. Last year the ice
came with a blizzard and was dangerous and
unsatisfactory until 1t broke up late in
March.
Curriers' on the Kinks.
Thirty members of the Omaha Curling
club gathered at its rink on the upper pond
at Hanscom park yesterday afternoon for
the first game of the season. BY permission
OF the Board of Park Commissioners the
pond has been reserved exclusively for the
curriers' use and two excellent Kinks have
been mapped out on it's surface. There Is
still room for another II the needs Of the
club demand it, The regulation length OF the
rink is forty-two yards from crampit to
crampt, but it consumes very little space
lattudinally. The curriers' dare not venture
on the ice until 1t has attained consid
cradle thickness and are obliged TO look on
from the shore long after light-footed skat-
ers are skimming over the surface. The
weight of the stones and players requires
a thickness OF at least four inches, as the
traffic Is not distributed over the whole sur
face.
There were enough present yesterday to
form two strong sides, the ice was cleared
off and eager players we're seen along the
course, "sooping her up" or guarding their
tees at either end. Gordon clansmen were
at last satisfied who had been sighlng al,
the summer-like fall for
A CHEEKY, heartsome game,
To send through a the soul flame,
Pit birr and smeddum in the frame
And set the blude a-din'lng.
Equipment OF the tiuD'
The Omaha Curling club is now well
stocked with stones, twentyfour having
been imported from Scotland at an expense
of S12 a pair. The huge missiles are only
secured from one source in all the world, the
AiIsa craig, or "Paddys milestone a rocky
isle in the Firth OF Forth. 1t bears the
soubriquet "Paddy's milestone because it
is one mile from the Irish coast. The Isle
is one mass Of peculiar kind of granite,
close grained and susceptible of high pol
ish To glide over the ice with the requisite
Jsmootbness the under surface of the stone
must be like glass, the slightest crack or
flaw turning it from its course to the ruin
of its propeller's hopes. A genuine curler,
therefore, will refuse to enter game with
any other than bona-fide chip of the Ailsa
craig.
On a contiguous shore there has recently
been erected a curling stone factory which
quarries tons Of the granite yearly. The
stones were formerly rounded and polished
by hand, but special lathes have now been
invented for the purpose which do the work
much more perfectly and economically. The
stones are often deliberately decorated with
jeweled handles and are costly acquisi-
tion.
strength ana Sklfl heNutreu.
The regulation weight Is thirty-eight
pounds and it requires sturdy, dexterous
arm to send them spinning over the ice to
the opposite tee. beginner with suth-
cheney of strength but without a curriers'
peculiar knack has difhculty in covering the
space If the throw falls short, however
he may depend upon one of his side to carry
the stone along to the furthest possible
tiny obstruction nth his "besom."
The local curriers' expect to secure membe.-
ship in the Royal Caledonian Curling club,
which has hundreds of branches on both
sides OF the water. The home society is a
powerful organization and numbers the fore
most peers Of the realm among its mem
bers. The patron of the club is the prince
Of Wales; the president Is the right hon
orable A. j. Balfour; the president elect,
the right honorable earl of Hopetoun In
teresting contests for medals are held an
nually and bring together large numbers
OF experts. There is no intention of barring
out those without the pale Of aristocracy and
the section OF the regulations bearing On
is as follows: ANY curling
club which has at least eight members
shall be admissible into the Royal club
provided 1t has a distinctive title, a sheet
Of Ice for its operations, and is governed
by Office bearers elected In accordance with
the rules OF this club"
Contest for TrouD Medal.
The grand match OF the local curriers' will
occur on New Years day In competition
FOR the Troup medal, token offered last
year by A. c. Troup. president of the club.
II was won one year ago by George Andsr-
son. and according to the terms Of the COM
petition he must defend II in two more
against all comers. II he ho'ds
Il safe for three years 1t becomes his per-
sonal property and another medal is set up.
There is hardly sufficient time for proper
and the aspirants are preparing
10 do hard and systematic work to get into
form. One OF the most difficult acquire
ments OF the game is the curve which ex-
pert bowlers and curriers' have in common.
A scientific curler Is able 10 send his stone
around an obstacle directly in it's path and
return II to the course again in time TO find
he tee
skaters are also entering upon their share