The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-12-02 00:00:00

RIFLE SHOOTING AND SUPPER.

On Monday the challenge given by Lieutenant
Tiddoombe to Captain Matthews, of the Crewkerne
Rifles, that each should select ten men from their corps,
to engage in • friendly contest, in order to keep the
rifle praCtioe altve ailionget the membors during the
suspension of drill, took place at the rifle range: The
weather was very fine, and some first-rate shooting was
made by the Captain's squad, who scored an average of
forty each, and left their opponents a long way in the
rear in point of numbers. This, however, may in
• great measure be attributed to the Lieutenant loosing
two men he had selected, whoee places were sup-
plied by far inferior shots, but as this occurred almost
at the last moment, he was obliged to fill the vacancies
with the first he could got. Great interest was mans.
tested by both partie& The ranges were at 200 yards
with sit rounds. and 400 and 550 yards with seven
rounds. The follotting is thb seore :
260 verde: pts. hits
Captain isitheers ... I 2 .3
4 2 3 -- 16
Private Bird ... ... 244 2 2 3 —1/
Byant 0 2 2 3 3 2 12
„ Bullock ... 2 2 2 40 0 10
„ Clarke ... 2 3 4 2 2 2 15
Sergeant Budge ... 02 4 22 2 12
„ Clarke ... 3 3 3 2 3 2 16
Private Turner ... 2 3 2 2 3 2 14
„ Morton .. 222 3 3 2 14
„ Phelps 2 2 2 2 2 3 13
Total 139
Lieut. Tiddoombe ... 222 0 2 3 11
SeriplautStramson ... 233 2 2 2 14
Corporal Collard ... 2 2 2 2 3 2 13
Private Barrett ... 3 2 3 3 0 2 13
„ Slade ... 230 0 2 2 9
Corporal Ireland ... 2 2 4 2 2 3 13
Private G. Nichols ... 33 3 22 2
,1 Turner ... 2 2 2 2 2 2 12
„ Taylor ... 2 2 2 2 2 2 12
Mistook ... 0 2 2 0 0 2 —6
itital 118
400 yards pts.
Captain Matthews ... 22 4 2 3 3 2 17
Private Bird ... 2424 2 0 2 16
Byent... ... 3024 0 4 2 17
P.
Bullock ... 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 17
, Clarke ... 0032 2 0 2 9
Ser'geant Dodge ... 3203 8 2 2 15
claike 2 4 9 2 4 3
Private Turner ... 3 2 234 2 2 18
„ Morton ... 02032 2 2 11
Phielps ... 2222 3 4 4 19

Total 160
Lieut. Tiddoombe ... 2022 0 2 0 8
Sergeant Shawson ... 3 3 2 2 0 3 2 •15
Corporal Collard ... 0003 0 0 0 3
Private Blade ... 00 3 22 0 9
Barreit ... 00311 4 3 Q IQ
Corporal Ireland ... 03 3 2 0 4 12
Private Nicholas ... 0202 3 0 3 10
Taylor ... 0222 0 0 2 8
Turner ... 2040 4 3 2 15
PP Haslook 0022 3 0 0 7
Total 98
WO yards pts. is hits.
Captain Matthews ... 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 20
Private Bird ... 0000 0 0 2 2
„ Byant 0 3 32 0 0 2 11
„ Bullock ... 0202 2 0 3 9
„ Clarke ... 009032 3
Sergeant Badge ~. 0202 0 2 2
„ Clarke ... 33032 3 4 I
Private Turner ... 3322 2 0 2 14
„ Moreton ... 2002 4 3 2 13
PP Phielps 0223 0 4 2 13
118
Lieut. Tiddcomte 04030 0 4 11
Sergeant Shaeson ... 2 2 0 2 2 2 0 10
Corporal Collard ... 0200 0 0 0 2
Private Barrett ... 3200 3 0 0 8
„ Slade ... 2002 0 0 0 4
Corporal Ireland 4 3 24 0 2 3 18
Private Nichols ... 0 0 02 0 2 4
Taylor ... 0000 0 0 0
Turner ... 4022 Q 0 2 10
Elaslock ... 0 000 0 0 -=

. _.
It will thus be seen that it 200 yards Captain
Matthew's party left their opponenta behind by 21
points, apd at 400 yarcla they were farther left in the
fear by 02 points; and Fit the last range, sso yards, they
were 49 points behind. In the evening the flritig party
and others of the corps, numbering about 30, aat down
to a capital supper, provided by Mrs. Taylor, of the
Rings Arms Inn, and the eirsesirs manner in which the
arrangements were carried reflected great eredit upon
her. -Captain lidattheirs occupied the chair, and was
supported tin his fight by tieutenent Tiddcomhe and
Ensign John Sparks, and on the left by the chaplain to
the corps, the Rev. J. S. Stubbs, and Ensign William ,
Sparks. ample justice having been done, and upon the ,1
removal of the cloth, 1
The Otteittnatt, proposed "The health and long life
to the Queen." The toast was received in al right loyal
spirit by the company,
The CHAIRMAN next proposed 'The health of their
honorary chaplain, the Rev. J. S. Stubbs," remarking
that they had much to thank him for. He had taken
great interest in the rifle corps since his residence among
them, and now he was taking a very notice part in
raising funds for the distressed operatives in the cotton
districts, and he had given a reading from Longfellow
and Tennyson in aid of the tame good maim, and by so
doing had afforded them a thorough intellectual treat.
(Applause.) He (the Chairn:an) thanked Mr. Stubbs
for being amongst them on this occasion, and also for
the general interest which he took in the volunteer
movement. (The toast was enthusiastically received.)
The Rev. J. S. Stotita said it afforded him much
pleasure in attending such a meeting as the present,
although by so doing perhaps some of his friends would
consider him to be out of place. However, he thought
that by attending such meetings much good might be
done whilst harm might arias from being absent.
(Applause.) Adverting to his reading front the poets,
the rev. gentleman said he at first when he came
to the determination of so doing, that some would again
consider hint out of place, but he could see no harm, I
and would not mind giving a reading from Shakspeare. I
(Hear, hear.) He admired him as a man of bin day,
-and although he would Prefer some of his works to
read than others, still he could see no harm in any of
them. Neither could he see any evil in being amongst
, them. "Moderation" wan his motto, and he sincerely
' hoped that the Crewkerne Volunteers would, at all
, times, tiear this mottoin,mind. (Applause.)
Captain hiArrimwe then alluded to the recent rifle
match at Somerton, lighween the Crewkerne and
Somerton Rifle Corps, ;Log the return match at
Crewkerne, which had ca some littleXiesatisfactlon
amongst • few of the meMberi, of the co , because be
had asked Private Bird to ago .mpany him. His reason
for so doing was that Captin Dickinson asked him to
bring down five of his mno ,Undtitlirig Mr. Bird, as he
im4
was about his (Captain Di .1 seem I) age, and then he
should not consider h oler.matched. The con'
kit ,••• • friendly ens bi 11:eil hinmelf and Captain