WAUPACA COUNTY POST

January 31, 1895

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

                        The following letters explain themselves.  The first bears out the statement made in the POST last week, that the Milwaukee curlers were all glad to have the great Pfister trophy go to Waupaca instead of St. Paul:

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 26, 1895

S.S. CHANDLER JR., Waupaca:

            Dear Sir – The Pfister Trophy has gone to Chicago to have a case made for it.  I had it sent to Chicago, instead of New York, so that we could get it to you quicker.  I have not heard a curler but that is pleased at your rink winning this trophy, for a finer lot of gentlemen and a better lot of curlers never appeared on the ice than your selfsame prize winners.  We all here are more than pleased that the trophy remains in Wisconsin, and we all hope that your rink will capture it often enough so that it will become your property.  It was just the right thing, too, that you won the flasks.  I will send you the trophy just as soon as it comes from Chicago.  My regards to all your curlers.                                                                                                         J.C. WALL, Sec’y Milwaukee Curling Club.

BARABOO, WIS., Jan. 19, 1895

S.S. CHANDLER JR., Waupaca:

            Three cheers and a tiger for Waupaca!  I have just got the paper giving the result in the final game for the Pfister:  S.S. Chandler of Waupaca 20 and G.O. Nettleton of St. Paul 8.  Whoop ‘er up for Waupaca!  Accept my congratulations.  Wish I was there to receive you home.  You should have a brass band and a banquet.  You have won a great victory over the best curlers in the country.  Waupaca should do something handsome in appreciation of such a victory.  I am proud that you and Hugo used to belong to my rink.  I wanted to meet you in Milwaukee, but was unable to go on account of my lameness.  I notice Williams stayed in pretty well, too.  Give him congratulations for the splendid record he made.  If Waupaca does anything, send me a paper giving particulars.

                                                                                                            Yours, ED SELLECK

 

 

            A member of the Milwaukee Curling Club, inspired by the success of the bonspiel wrote the Sunday Sentinel as follows:

            :Now that the great bonspiel has proved a success in every way, a few reminiscent remarks by a member of the home club may not be out of the way.  The work of the committees satisfactory, the arrangements complete, weather and ice about perfection, and the attendance good:  that is about the story, and our bonspiel will stand as a pattern good to follow and hard to beat.  It is acknowledged by every curler that completeness of detail and general success was due largely to the efforts of James C. Wall.  The Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba, rinks contributed much to the success of the meeting, and they are acknowledged leaders and authorities.  The St. Paul men were strong and active participants, and that they would carry away their share of the trophies was expected.  Duluth made a fair showing, and Chicago was well represented.  Our Wisconsin towns seem to contain some of the best curlers in the West, and good rinks were sent from Baraboo, Lodi, Waupaca, Arlington, Portage, Poynette, Mauston and Pardeeville.  It is reasonable to expect that this old game, dating back more than 300 years, will continue to become popular throughout this section. It is a substantial pastime and furnishes exercise for both body and mind.  Sustaining interest in the game does not come until the moves are familiar, but there were large numbers of men and women watching the games during the bonspiel.  Curling may become popular in the colleges and if it should, it would be a source of interesting sport among the college men.

            “Our local rinks made a good showing during the bonspiel.  To O.W. Robertson’s rink we are indebted for winning the most coveted prize, the Walker trophy.  It was won by skillful play and hard work.  Mr. Nelson of Selkirk, Manitoba, whose rink came over 1,000 miles to compete, was a distinct character in the bonspiel.  He seemed to exercise a sort of hypnotic influence over the “blocks” and his remarks at the banquet, together with many speeches and songs by others, will long be remembered by those who heard them.  “Jim” Hill was the most conspicuous Chicago curler and his remarks are always cheering to the other curlers.  Ald. Byrden managed to pull out one point ahead of him for the veterans prize.  Though the point contest took place on poor ice and after many had gone home, several very good scores were made.

            “In conclusion, let me mention the most remarkable game of the series, unfortunately witnessed by only a few spectators, as it happened to be called late at night.  I refer to the final for the Pfister trophy.  A modest rink is that skipped by Mr. Chandler of Waupaca.  During the week the members of it did not attract much attention, but they curled well.  It so happened that the Nettleton rink of St. Paul and Chandler’s rink were in the final for the Pfister.  The Nettleton rink had played before during the day and were somewhat tired, but came upon the ice with determination and confidence.  The Waupaca men had been resting for this their great effort.  The game began with a couple of lucky shots which partly discouraged St. Paul, but both rinks settled down to a most magnificent play and it continued all through the game.  It is not too much to say that no four men picked from among all of those assembled could have defeated the Chandler rink that night.  The Pfister trophy stays where it belongs – in the state of Wisconsin, and it is safe to predict that it will stay with our Wisconsin brothers so long as they curl as they did when they won the trophy.

            “The curlers are now taking a little needed rest in the big armchair by firesides, but soon again throughout this great Northwest will sound and echo, ;Ho! Ice There! Play the Broom!’”