The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-16
COL. ROGERS
ON SKATES.

| Clldl AUG oppelliltlllef Is alIdlu L
meet Colonel j. Henry Rogers Of Ne,
Castle on skates. The colonel i
angry over the disappointment. Tn
phiadedhia North American to-da,
says:
| Colonel J. Harry Rogers, of New
Castle, Del, came up to Philadelphi;
| yesterday to dispute with Abe Open.
heimer the right to the title of Cham.
pion octogenarian skater of the
world. He claims it by default, fol
his opponent did not appear, The
colonel gave an exhibition Of his skill
on the Queen Lane reservoir:
or all the sons Of the Blue Her
State. the gamest, pIuckiest chicken
is this while-haired boy of So. And
when he started home last night he
was something more, He was as the
emblematic bird of his native State
would be On a rainy day.
don talk to me about Abe OPP
| pellhcimer, he said, his white beard
hrstling with Indignation. "The
i lea of that man hurting out a chal-
lengc Why, | don't believe he knows
how to skate. In the first place he
ism built for it He's too heavy
and he has u foot about thirteen
inches long,
Him, | II skate him blindfolded.
IN skate him on rollers. III skate
rings around him, I'll do figures
that lie never dreamed of. III show
him some fancy twists that'I make
his head swim
As readers Of the North American
are aware, the rivalry between these
merry old gentlemen started u year
ago. when Mr.. Oppeuheimerannounc-
ed that he was the champion skater
of his are. Colone lRogers immedia-
lel!y took up the challenge, but bad
weather and sickness prevented the
match This winter the dispute was
renewed, but it was impossible to
agree upon Il date and place for the
contest. Colonel Rogers tcicphoued
from his home on Tuesday that he
would come up yesterday to meet his
aged but agile rival, but Mr.. Open.
hcilner declined to meet the arrange
menl. The colonel, whose DclaWar-
can blood was up, came, anyway.
lie was accompanied by party Of
enthusiastic friends, and they said
thai had ihr malcu been a certainty,
half the pupulali II of New Castle
would hay" made the trip. Those
Who gave him the support of their
presence We're james +. Challenger,
William beakync, john Martin and
Edward Z. Challenger af New Castle,
and Dana kimbalI and I. Earl Chal.
tcu@er Of I'hiladeI phia.
Colonel Rogers wore loose sack
suit and WOulcn skull cap, and
carried his skates in a blue cloth bag.
When the party arrived at the Queen
tArc pond he holcd With diSappoint-
m mt that the ground had softcned
>.~.iu8 the night but pnshcAon ahead
20 lie edge Of the ice. | was badly
.Iorcd by the skaters and covered
with half an inch Of sI';Sl.
an see what can do, said the
colonel, and strapped on his razor
edged Skates "li any Of YOU fellows
see Abe UppcnAcincr, just let me
snow .
lie struck ont across the pond, and
III WO minutes Was the centre Of an
Admirn@ crowd. Small boys called
their companions and watched with
amazrmcnt the cvululiOns Of the old
gentleman. He was hailed immcdl-
.t"Iy as "lOyy Granpa. and the
name was accepted with universal
rill .llSiaSm.
In spite of the disadvantage of soft
Ire, lhr doughty colonel won the
oiaWdts Of the small boys by his sur
&>jng ev"Injous. He did tic "sp,ead
eagle, II" "grapcvinc, the ''lnncr
totI,' the "oll cr rull,n the 'scrpcn-
Hle' and others of the simpler fig
ares "lhan ease that indicated what
us skill is on hand ice. A, he gained
confidence he bespuglit members of
III" party to 90 in search Of Abe OPP
pou!t elmer and bring the challenger
10 the placeof contest.
'''ll altering challenges, Colonel
Rogers refreshed himself from his
pJLkct flask, aud continued his cxcr-
rinc The sun was low behind tie
AprdS before c"nscntingtUta take off his
,ialtS and start hone. Ihcn he lit
a cigarette knocked his cap Just a lit
tie farther ON one side aud walked
,tuldiiY to the station
at is too bad, y said some one,
that Mr.. Oppcnhcimcr did not ap-
V'ar.
lIim;' said Colonel Rogers, "Ycs
ia Hike to see him Skate. I'd lust
! Ic to src him. We were ts dc fig
nr'S alternately in TINS ma ch Of ol1s.
Why, know 'Wcnty Ut 'cm he never
beard Of, and u do 'cm 50 fast it
"oud Fighter him. IIa. llan' 1t
Was lhc mirtl,rSs laugh of scorn.
"Wuuld You make Il bet with Abe
DpponIrImer COIoncl:'
"lIim?' norted the Colonel. I've
Eul a farm worth $50 900 and III
h"' him that, and be- ratl!cd his
,EaicS dctiantN.
MI bpr"nlcner, in declining the
contest yesterday, complained that he
lHh been ready several times last