Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-12-17
JACK" O'MELIA TELLS OF
HIS ROLLER SKATING DAYS
Tells Writer in Boston Paper of His
ExpIoits-Once Covered 1922 Miles
in Six Days-Exertions Turned His
Hair White at Age of 16 Years

Augusta friends of john RI. O'Melia.
formerly of this city but now Of Port
land, will be interested in the follow
ing interview with him printed in the
Boston Sunday Globe over Portland
date line. Mr. O'NIclia was a fancy
roller skater and polo PLAYER when he
first came to Augusta. ana married an
Augusta girl, Miss Mildred Thoms:
John II. O'Nelia, assistant supeyin-
tendent of the Fidelity Trust build
ing. acquired gray hair at the age of
16 as q result of skating 1123 miles
in six days. finishing second in the
contest That was 3S years ago, the
first six day skating race ever staged
in Madison Square Garden.
lie slept five hours in the six days
and almost constantly several days aft
er the race. From the shower of
greenbacks and coins flung by wildly
excited spectators on the floor at the
conclusion of the race lie picked up
$685. as his share, all bonus over his
share OF the purse
He wore the first pair Of ball bearing
skates ever used in a race. receiving
them Wednesday morning and running
away from all competitors the first few
hours. Then other skaters got like
equipment and recovered much OF their
lost prestige.
Someone tossed MIN an orange, one
day. he sucked the juice. was taken i'll
soon after and was obliged to lay off
thereby losing valuable time and as
he believes, the race, as the winner
VI I1Ay ,NrI
cred only seven more miles than he
did. Donovan's eXertions proved fatal.
II was a skate boy III the o}d In
stitute Fair Building rink. Huntington
avenue, Boston, where the American
League Park was located for several
years" said MIR. O'Melia. THAT was
in 1882. | was in charge Of the skate
department at 13 and | won my first
pair of skates in contest among us
boys. | had speed and kept on skat-
ing until had won peck sof medals
and the one-hour championship Of the
state, also defeating Johnnie Wilson
record of 3m 2s.
Then I turned professional and en-
gagenents We're plentiful as roller
skating was all the go for Il number
of years. Boston had about - rinks
and all the suburban cities several
each. n. A. Skinner. now a Boston
automobile dealer. long the fiVe-mile
champion, and Wilson. Il jeWelry deal
er now. prevailed upon me To go after
the money purses.
Peter Duryea. who married Viola
4 Hen fhp actress from
New York to urge me to enter the big
contest being arranged for Madison
Square Garden. and I finally secured
the consent of my father and mother.
About 40 entered. II finished and ev-
cry one of US suffered permanent i'll
effects.
Il was the Youngest and toughest.
and was able to recoVer-all except the
color of my hair,
Fred White of Boston was my
trainer at that time. | had 40 pairs of
rollers and the shoes We're soaked with
vaseline to prevent hlisters l changed
this gear frequently. Charles Wal
tor. now a Revere policeman, | think,
won the 500 purse for high man the
first % hours. He covered 270 miles,
I was second; Jake Small champion Of
New York State, third.
"One by one the outclassed men
dropped out, and / was at times on the
point of exhaustion myself. but the
to stay in was stronger
than to quit. Eugene Maddocks was
my closest competitor at the finish
and we raced, lap after lap, almost
head and head. but beat him out. The
crowd howled almost constantly. fran
tic With excitement. fortunes in bets