Books
Dusting Off the Old Ones was published in 1961 by W. B. Clarke, Miles City, Montana.
The 10 Mile Race in Miles City
In the early eighties there was constructed at the corner of Pleasant and Eight Streets a building 50 feet wide by 150 feet in length which was used for many purposes. It was originally built for a skating rink--roller skating being very much in vogue at that time. This building faced Pleasant Street and extended back to the alley--just opposite to the manner in which the business buildings at that location face at the present time. It was built by a man by the name of Perkins Russell. We have had several rinks in Miles City since that time, but never one that filled the public demand as this one did. The building was also fashioned for a theatre. It had a truss roof so that the interior was unbroken by posts. The rear 25 feet were cut off and fitted up with a stage and dressing rooms and equipped with curtains and scenery. The rink was used for many public gatherings. It was in this building that the early day meetings of the Montana Stockgrowers Association were held.
One particular evening at the rink is well worth mentioninig. It was an evening in August of 1884 that a ten mile matched roller skating race was scheduled. One of the participants failed to show up. A five mile race was substituted between James Walker, the Butte skating champion, and E. Goettlich, a local saddlemaker. A purse or side bet of $20 was made. Although Walker kept ahead at the start, he was finally overhauled by Goettlich, who won by a short distance. And then, not to disappoint the crowd which had paid their admissions, a race against time was announced. Walker was to skate 10 miles in 50 minutes. There was plenty of betting on the outcome. The timekeeper stated that he completed the 200 laps necessary to make the 10 miles in 45 minutes and 9 seconds. Among the judges and timekeepers were such familiar names as J. J. Coleman, Will Savage and C. B. Towers. Such was the manner in which many an evening at the "rink" was spent. In retrospect, we wonder what kind of time Sid Ramer would have made in such a race 30 years ago.
One particular evening at the rink is well worth mentioninig. It was an evening in August of 1884 that a ten mile matched roller skating race was scheduled. One of the participants failed to show up. A five mile race was substituted between James Walker, the Butte skating champion, and E. Goettlich, a local saddlemaker. A purse or side bet of $20 was made. Although Walker kept ahead at the start, he was finally overhauled by Goettlich, who won by a short distance. And then, not to disappoint the crowd which had paid their admissions, a race against time was announced. Walker was to skate 10 miles in 50 minutes. There was plenty of betting on the outcome. The timekeeper stated that he completed the 200 laps necessary to make the 10 miles in 45 minutes and 9 seconds. Among the judges and timekeepers were such familiar names as J. J. Coleman, Will Savage and C. B. Towers. Such was the manner in which many an evening at the "rink" was spent. In retrospect, we wonder what kind of time Sid Ramer would have made in such a race 30 years ago.