Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-08
Cold Fails to Halt
Hikers and Other
Winter Activities

Sundays zero weather fai,ed IN
cool the ardour Of Augustus winter
sport enthusiasts, for in spite of tha
cold. Ganheston Park was vestarSns,
an animated scene with ski. iutnrers
young and old, skaters of both sexas
topogganlsts. scores of mixers and
numerous spectators.
Community Hike Popular
In response to Chairman R,aine
Owens call for mixers to participate
in the first of d series of commnn;tv
snowshoe and ski jaunts a large
party assembled at the entrance 70
Ganneston park and started off
briskly over the five-mile course A
little later William Warrell, another
OF Augustus winter sport enthusi-
asts' ied second group Of mixers
over the same course,
The popularity of this form of out
door recreation has led Chairman
owen to announce that these hikes
Will become a weekly feature of the
winter sports program. The day
ana hour of the next hike will be
announced later in the week.
Boys Take Daring Ski Jumps
Last year when Hon. w. H. Can
nett quilt his juvenile ski-jump, lit
tie did he realifie that in less than
a year local boys of nine years and
under would be taking the descent
OF the 75-foot slide from the mon
ster ski tower with the ease and
grace displayed by the exhibition ski
jumpers of last winter. Yet this
very thing is daily happening in Au-
gusta and the visitor at Ganneston
Park yesterday would have been
treated to many thrilling sights as
boy after boy came dashing down
the slide, making the jump in per-
feet form and with only an occa-
sional spill.
The agility of these lads, among
whom may be mentioned Charles
Nelson. son of Representative John
f. Nelson, Norwood Mansur, son Of
Herman Mansur. official carnival
photographer, Warren Malcolm, son
of Fred Malcolm. Frederick Bagley,
Jr.. Fred Ellis. Lawrence Hanscomb,
Wallace Sheppard, and nine-year-
old David Baker, who not only made
the jump without a CULVER, but took
without mishap the long slide down
the hill. across the artificial pond
and up the other side.
From these sFillful jumpers and
the trials next Saturday, three or
four of the best performers will be
sent to Portland to represent Au-
gusta at the Portland Carnival,
which occurs Saturday, Feb. 10. or
just one week previous to the State
OF Maine Carnival at Augusta.
Farnum Plots Hockey Rink
To make certain that there will
be ample space for the carnival ice
events. which include ice hockey.
skating races, fancy and acrobatic
skating. and general costume skat-
ing, Major Farnum. who is directing
the activities at Ganneston Park
during the absence Of w. II. GAN
nett. and Lawrence. G.. Purinton,
carnival chairman, yesterday sur
veyed the artificial pond. The size
of the pond will permit of a hockey
rink. $50 feet by 80 feet. in the CEN
ter and still leave ample room for
a race course of about 10 laps to the
mile outside of the boards.
The new rink will be the scene
of the trick skating exhibition by
the world famous Russ Jones. head
liner at the Hippodrome. and the
pair of fancy skaters with whom
Chairman Purinton is negotiating.
On this arena also will be deter
mined the Maine Amateur Hockey
championship. the Maine Intercole-
giate Hockey championship, and the
Maine Interscholastic Hockey cham
pionship. On the race course which
encircles the rink will be concluded
the various skating championships
between individuals from all over
Maine and New England, and be-
tween relay teams from cOmmuni-
ties. schools and colleges.
The setting of these sports is per-
feet. Ganneston Park at this point
forms q natural amphitheatre. the
gentle slopes of the hills which sur
round the pond afford vantage
ground for the thousands of specta-
tors who will be in attendance at
the carnival. The fringe of trees
which skirt the pond forms q natur-
al windbreak and add to the COM
fort of the people. Plans are al
ready underway for 1lood-lighting
the pond during the evenings of car
nival week.
The events of yesterday are but a
forerunner of the carnival itself and
indicative of the widespread interest
that is being taken in this section of
Maine in winter sports.