The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-05

ENGLER,THE SKATER,
STILL YOUNG AT ST
Civil War Hero Taught Fa-
nous Jackson Haincs How
to Cut Figures.
PRO CHAMPION IN 1868

Few athletes attain such renown tina.
their fame lasts over n period OF fifty
years There Is one notable exception
to the rule. He LIS John Engler Of jersey
City. who reached the zenith OF his ca
reer IN 1868. when he clinched the pro-
fessional fancy Ice skating champion
ship.
eighty-eighth birthday on April H. has
had an unusual career. He perhaps ~
the only man of his time who success
fully made his living by fancy ire
skating. In the SOS he was a famu-
lar figure on the various ponds of New
York and vicinity. He then obtained
such popularity that Frank Leslies
Illustrated Newspaper saw At to publish
In Its February 9. 1857, issue n full page
wood cut of Mr.. Engler and Dolly 0Ie,-
rietta) Bedell in the act OF cutting fanny
figures on fee skates on the Union Pc!.d,
williamsburg, L. I.
Miss Bedell was niece Of Peter
Cooper and the Union Pond was located
near what Ia now the site Of the For,,-
seventh Regiment Armory. HARRIS.
avenue and Hayward street, Bro3klvn.
The wood cut Leslie's published is esti-
10 nave Cost sfOU. MT. IsIgIe1 n
achievements were Of more than usual
interest to demand the expenditure 4
such an amount OF money for a Nero
picture.
Born In Quakertown Pa. on April l.,
1881. Mr.. Engler came to Jersey Ci,v
when about 10 years old. He was tin
smith by trade and for two years helped
his father fulfil a contract to keep th0
city's street lamps In repair. When be-
tween IL and Is years Of age he trav-
eled about the country with a circus a.
tumbler until 1919. when he made
fancy ice skating a profession.
Gradually he gained fame through his
graceful ability and daring. He taught
Jackson Haines, the American who went
abroad and on the Continent ter be-
came known as the father of European
figure skating.
When the civil war broke out In 1861
Engler Joined the Northern forces as irrt
sergeant and color bearer of the Twer-
ty-first Regiment OF New Jersey. Dur
ing this service he received four medals
for distinguished bravery and sharp
shooting. He received three wounds. ora
in the leg, one in the temple and one In
the thigh
After the war Mr. Engler married and
settled in Jersey City. where he now
lives with his wife and a daughter. IL
is the father of fourteen children. o.
whom eight. two sons and six daughter,
still are alive.
"SkatOrinI King of World"
During the period of the civil war
Jackson Haines of Albany bore the tito
of fancy ice skating king, but upon Mr.,
Engler's return he quickly regained his
former laureis Old theatrical pro
granmes which Mr.. Engler has pasted
in a scrap book -ecite the fact that no
skated with Miss Carrie A. Moore IN
1869. when George l.. Fox was on the
bill as the headliner. He also appeared
at the Bowery Theatre on Saturday eve
ming. April .. 1870. and at Boston dur
Ing the same year he was billed as tn"
"Skatorial King Of the World" when i"
skated on stills three feet high. During
his skating career Andrew j. DuplGn"'
acted as his coach.
An extract from the New York Word
dated January %. 1855. by one OF tie
writer's OF the time is interesting. Il
says:
81 enjoyed a chat with A. Dupigna7.
the Nestor of fancy skaters, and he re-
lated many interesting anecdotes aoon.
John Engler. Eugene Cook, CharIr Jei
kins. Collie Curtis. John Meade. Ed BUR-
and others who are recognized as being
in the front rank Of hgure skaters.
To jenkins ne awards the pam flr
grace: to Cook, for uneScelled manipu-
lat.on OF the feet to Burr and Meade
for spins and whirls and to Ene!er FOR
handsome all around work"
Some of His Spells.
Mr.. Engler has fifteen medals e.. So"i
gold and silver for figure skating, wilt
are valued at $500. In the ACCOMPANY
ing picture he Is seen wearing eiEht "
the most priced skating trophies besides
his army awards. His skating mediate
were won at Hartford, Jersey CITY, New
ark Buffalo Pittsburg Boston Roches-
ter. y. Y. and Rochester, y. ].
Mr.. Engler has a remarkably strong
constitution. He has been a great love-
! o. the outdoor lie and ALWAYS has been
fond Of fishing and hunting He stu
enjoys these hobbies TO an extent Fla
has smoked all his life and used i.luor
moderately. Temperance and mode-a-
ton in all things, he says, is one of ~
keynotcs OF his success.
He has the regularity of eating whom
ever nc feels like il, and often gets out
of bed in the wee sma hours . ~"
morning to make tea. He has not m
medical attention for ten years Nat
M kes his own antidotes.
MT INEler seemed 10 nave N''''F|
out ~ the public eye about twc"ty-'V'
years ago. as an extract from IN, N"r
York JoUrnTl of December IN lNs6.
pasted in his scrap book indicates. u
says:
"Of professional skaters John E0r'.-
o. New Jersey made the most W.E"'
. md lived on skill entirely The last
heard Of him was his departure
Poughkeepsie, his arrival never Ht. -
been reported u rkSon Haiuc- ~ A.
hany then wore the mantle VIII o.
from Engler's shoulders and mad"
specially Of rink opening nights
prC'esslon1l skaters rre few I'm -" -.
as ice cannot be relied upon for "H.r
wocks"
IA II to helm celebrate the ff' r-
nivcrs7ry OF Mr. FnE'crs w'rr.Hr D. p.
professional, fancy slL'i2g IT. '
winter was the srvprcst ever cxl.r...
here and pr1v!dcd almost IN U' .
amount % iC" skGt!ng .Nlso Nr' MP
! Held, prominent as ~ dry
ice skater sent Mr.. EuG'cr a %. .l-
himself boring the inscription 'Et :; g
/ father OF h!ure skNtiug in Awt' .|
ENGLISH RACE MEETS,