The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-24
FAR AWAY WHERE TIE
WEATHER. IS GOLD
A Newhcrry Boy Writes interesting
ly About Boating and Skating
on the Ice
NilwaU ac, Wis.

stay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. l
did not have time while there to write
you about this country. climate, etc,
though l know you are always inter
ested TO know about the places that
l visit. So ] VIII now try to give a
description of the snow and ice scenes
that l saw there.
Minneapolis is called the City OF
of Winter Sports, ard from what
saw the week l was there it certainly
lives up to its name.
There are several lakes on the edge
of the city and they are used for ice
sports in the winter The mair ice
sports are ice hockey, lee boating,
ice skating and horse racing on the
ice. There is also lots of "skieing
ice," but this is quite distance out
of the city proper, and l did not get
out to see it. Wish / had though,
for it is said to be a great sport to
watch.
When l was there the ice of the
Lake Of Isles," where the sports are
held, was about two feet thick, and
the ice sports had been under way for
about month This is the m e. place
in the city limits for al the ice sports
and the day l went out to the lake
there We're thousands of people there
to watch and to take part.
1t seems rather odd to see great
crowds of people walking around on
the ice in middle Of the lake, and to
see autos going across the lake.
The ice boating was great sport.
The boats are built in the shape of a
cross with one arm considerably long
er than the rest. Runners are mount
ed on each end of the arms and the
sail is mounted at the point of cross
ing of the arms. There are usually
two men on each boat and they cer-
tainly do sail along in a good stiff
wind. They are handled like real
sail boat and when tacking in stiff
wind, they frequently ride on one
runner, like an auto turning a corner
on two wheels This is the time the
real sailor shows up, for he must
climb quickly out on the side Of the
raft, that is raised off the ice, so as
to prevent the boat from upsetting
1t is real thrilling to watch five OF
six of these ice boats coming down the
lake under full sail in a stiff breeze
and then see them tack back anC
forth. 'Tis, indeed, q great sight, arC
one to stir the blood of any one.
The horse racing on ice struck me
as being the most unusual of all The
idea of having horse race on ice
certainly did seem odd to me. The
track is laid cut on the ice of the
lake and is kept swept clear Of snow
It is about the usual track width ant
shape and judges stand is built or
the ice near the finish line. 4 bis
tent is erected on the ice, near The
track for the horses and drivers be
tween beats. The horses are shoe
with special spikes in special lea
ther shoe, that is slipped on tht
horses hoof, when they get on tn
ice.
TIE drivers wear lots of warm clo
thing and goggles and the horses hav'
a hood over their heads and faces
more of hood than is used in dir
track racing. The horses seem to b.
as keen for the races as horses on
dirt track, and they make very goot
time, too. Time like l 10 and l q
for a half mile trot or pace is fairl.
good for half mile track. The sam
kind of sulkey is used as on a dir
track Tell some of the old rae
horse men around town about thi
horse racing on ice, and III bet it vii
interest them lot.
The ice skating was great and
large crowd took part in it. Their
several races and the racers certain
ly can cover the ground. no-ice, i
a hurry. They, the racers, take spe
cial care of their skates carYyir
them in a leather case to keep fror
dulling the edge against anything
All real good skaters do this, an
they have expensive skates, too. Tn
good racing skates with shoes Gan
all good skates have special skatin
shoes attached ike baseball spikes
cost from $40 to $50 pair. Ordinar
skates and shoes range from SO W
Silver skates, the finest Of skates
range from s25 to 500 pair l ha
pair that cost So in 1915 whie
would now cost about SIS.
Childen, too, learn to skate hero