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The Olympic speedskating tryout meet scheduled for Friday has been set back until Saturday to meet the unusual weather conditions of this year.

Never before in the history of skating, either here or at Saranac Lake, has real winter, the kind that makes perfect ice, failed at the holiday season. But the fans of this region are experiencing the exception to the rule.

Saranac Lake could not put on their meet on Wednesday and postponed it until Friday. The Board of Control of the Lake Placid Skating Association met Wednesday and decided that for the interests of all concerned, the meet should be scheduled for Saturday.

The ice on Mirror Rink was in fair shape Christmas day, at which time the Olympic team was enabled to perform their first real stiff outdoor practice work of the season.

William M. Taylor of the New York Athletic Club, who is in charge of the American Olympic skating team, expressed himself as well pleased. Skating fans, both local and elsewhere, feel confident that the American team will bring some of the laurels from Chamonix, France. The American team consists of Charles Jewtraw and Valentine Bialis, of Lake Placid; William Steinmetz and Harry Kaskey, of Chicago; Joe Moore, of New York City; and Richard Donovan, of Saranac Lake.

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Horse racing

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Phil Adler has been in Lake Placid for the past few days in the interests of the ice racing circuit which he is promoting.

His solicitations have reached the point where the community will very likely have a three-day meet on Mirror Lake’s half-mile oval. The dates have been set for Jan. 22 to 24.

The question of warm stables has been obviated by Paul Stevens, John Ryan, Walter Dashnaw and Fred J. Fortune, assuring a score or more of stalls. Of course, more stalls will be required and those having suitable stables may notify the Lake Placid News.

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Pioneer passes

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The passing of an old resident brings a note of sadness into the holiday season in Lake Placid. Samuel Merrifield Barton, widely known Adirondack guide and one of the pioneers of this place, died suddenly at 4 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 at his home on Main Street.

Born at Black Brook, Clinton County, in March 1845, Mr. Barton, familiarly known as Uncle Sam, was in his 79th year.

He was one of the few remaining Civil War veterans in Lake Placid. At age 16, he enlisted at AuSable Forks in Company I of the 97th New York State Volunteers. He was mustered in with other Adirondack volunteers at Saratoga. He was in 19 battles.

It was 40 years ago that Uncle Sam came to Lake Placid. He was associated with the Stevens House project from its beginning and helped in the construction of the first hotel building. For years he guided during the summer season from the hotel and during the winter months was employed by the hotel company. For a number of seasons, he also guided from the old Mirror Lake House, which stood on the west side of Main Street just south of the present Grand View property.

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College ski jump

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At the Lake Placid Club this week, interest is centering on the college ski jumping competition scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 1 at the Intervales jump.

This season’s entries are Dartmouth College, New Hampshire College, McGill University, University of Wisconsin, Williams College and the University of Maine.

It has been announced that money will be refunded on tickets in case snow conditions require postponement or cancellation of the jump.

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Archives

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To explore the Lake Placid News digital archives, visit the NYS Historic Newspapers website at nyshistoricnewspapers.org. Find the Lake Placid News by clicking on Essex County.