Evening journal., 1902-01-16
SKATING MATCH ES
DIDN'T TAKE PhACR
Friends Of Colonel Rogers
Say OpDenheimer Lost
His Nerve
sneclal 10 the EyenIng Jonrnal.

New Castle, Jan. 16-rhe skating con-
test between Colonel j. Harry Rogers, of
this city. and Abe Oppenheimer, Of Phila-
delphia which was to have taken place
on the skating pond near the Queen Lane
reservoir, Philadelphia, yesterday after
noon, did not come Off Colonel Rogers
was on hand, but the more juvenile Phil
adelphian did not appear.
The facts in the case as stated by Col
onel Rogers are as follows: You see
wasn't well last year, 50 couldn't do any
stunts. but this year / felt as fit as a
fiddle and | wanted badly TO show that,
despite eighty-fve years, | can skate as
well ms ever. / met Mr.. Oppenheimer
last night and talked the matter over.
For some reason he did not feel inclined
10 take my dare and ! hear he has gone
10 New jersey. Anyway he is not here.
Not that it matters much, for on this ice
we couldn't skate at all. 1t is like 80
much snow
And so it was. The warm sun had so
/ far sOftened the surface of the artificial
lake that the blades of the few perform
ems who insisted upon skating on the
pond had cut it up into powder and red
flags ia dozen places showed that the
sheet was none too strong.
"I am sorry" said the octogenarian
that we could not have our competition
but you can see for yourself that even if
Mr.. Oppenheimer had been here we could
have done nothing"
mo skating contests for me- said the
Philadelphia octogenarian, II was will.
ling TO meet the colonel last Winter, but
he was taken sick. No more fizzles fol
me. I'm not in the skating business now
I'm an insurance man.
That's my final decision and l won'i
change it for anyone. My friends ar,
willing to back me against the colOne
for any amount from $1,000 TO $4,000
But even that doesn't tempt me. No, sir
I'm out of it.
I've had too much notoriety from thii
skating business, anyhow. Why, las
Winter couldn't go out ON the stree
without having some one I'd never seer
before come up to me and say. Hello
Oppy, whens that race coming oiff I've
got So | want 10 be ON you That's {
little too much. ! haven't stopped skat
ing. | was out yesterday, in fact
Among the furnishings of Mr.. Open
heimer's apartments, at 7lG North Broat
street is sign to be hung on the door
This placard reads Gone out skating
Friends of the Colonel declare that il il
a clear case of backing water ON the par
of Oppenheimer, and are almost as highly
pleased as if he had actually won out II
the contest
A horse belonging to II. Eben Watt
fell through the ice at the pond wher'
farmers We're cutting zee yesterday and
was with difficulty that it was gottel
ashore. The animal was in the centre o
the pond when it fell through.
In the basketball game between New
castle and Farnhurst last night, tn
former team won by the score OF l3 Il
&.
On Friday night Miss Josie Fitzgeral
will give an oyster supper to members o
the Tuesday Night Club.
The arrival Of Special Agent Plumme
is anxiously awaited by citizens of hi
city and section roundabout. The farm
ers especially are desirous Of having
mail route established as soon as pOssbl,
There was a dance in the X. of p. Ha
last night.
The lecture of the Rev Sheldon Jacl
son in the First Presbyterian Church las
night was attended by many, and th
church was filled TO overlooking.