Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-06
By D. J. O'MALLEY Nm KID

By d. J. O'dALLEY Nm KIDD
Among the almost forgotten
tragedies that occurred in Miles
City during the '80's, was the kill
ing of Al Smith, the roller skater.
by his brother, Frank Smith. Dur
ing the '80's the United States was
in the throes of the roller skating
craze, and Miles City, though but
A small frontier town, was bitten
pretty hard by the roller skating
bug. In 1884, Perkins Russell. a
sheepman, built skating rink In Miles
City. The skating surface measured
so by $50 feet and there was a STAGE
OF ample size and fitted with the
scenery Of q first class theater
Miles City was a good show town
and many of the troupes held the
stage for week at time and showed
to good houses each night Among the
most prominent showing there as re-
membered by the writer, were George
Q. Min Shakespearian plays; Katie
Putnam, and Milton and Dollie Mobiles.
dramatic artists. r. @. (Bob) Ingersoll
known as THE Infidel," lectured on
The Mistakes of Moses" John Nc
Guire, afterwards a noted theatrical
manager at Butte, appeared in mono
logueS ana many others occupied the
stage at different times.
Many political speakers spoke to
the voters from the stage at the rink.
The writer remembers listening to such
notable political speakers as Wilbur
+. (Col) Sanders, Thomas II. CTom)
Carter. Martin McGinnis, w. A. Clark.
Hon. E. d. Mats (Gray. Eagle of the
Rockes), and others, lambast each
other and their opposing candidates at
the rink
1t was from this stage that Colonel
Sanders and Tom Carter made use of
expressions that have gone on in the
political history of Montana. Carter
said at one time when extolling the
virtues Of a candidate that He shone
out on the political horizon of Mon
tana like diamond on dirty shirt
front"
Colonel Sanders in one of his TRADES
against the democratic party, said
there: Remember, my friends, I do
not say that every democrat is a horse
thief, but I do say and in all truth
fulneSs, that never knew, or saw,
horse thief who wasn't a democrat"
Many roller skating attractions were
all over the United States to Miles
City. Trick and fancy skaters, male
and female, singly in pairs, and as
many as four in one combination gave
exhibitions Of their proWeSs on the
foot wagons" as roller skates were
called by the Indians. A roller skating
horse and one-legged man skater
were among the varied attractions Of
Tered to the public. The latter used
crutch fitted with wheels to assist him
in his gyrations.
One exhibitor who did clog dancing
on skates stayed week and when he
left he took with him one of Miles
City's eligible young ladies in an elope-
ment.
Miles City boosted two speedy skat-
ers, Ed Goettlich and Dominick White.
They skated number of races against
outsiders and lost very few. Goettlich
champion Whose name cannot be re-
called. White ran away from the
Butte five-mile man (whose name was
Walker) defeating him by one-eighth
Of a mile in five-mile race. Local
contests were staged and for a long
time RuSSel's roller rink was the busiest
place IN town. When the stage was
not in use the rink floor was filled
with skaters every day, and until mid
night.
In the early part of September, 1885,
Two well dressed men got off the N. P. |
train at Miles City, and go
ing to the Inter Ocean hotel (after-
ward the MacQueen) registered as Al !
Smith and Frank Smith from Chicago. |
They made inquiries regarding the To-
cation of the skating rink and shortly |
afterward both went up town.
The men met with the owner of the |
ink and made such arrangements as
we're necessary and soon the town was
flooded with hand bills announcing !
hat the celebrated Smith Brothers, |
premier trick and fancy roller skaters |