The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-14 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT WIMBLEDON.

Saturday and Sunday were busy days in the town of
tents which had sprung up with magical rapidity on
Wimbledon-clam:ion (says the hail, Telegraph).
Bustle, however, means anything but confusion there.
Twenty-three years' experience transmuted in regu•
lation, as applied to di,ciplineri men, makes every-
thing go "like clockwork" even when the rush is
greatest. This was exemplified on Saturday as crowds
of riflemen flocked into Camp from morning till night,
weary and travel-stained many of them, but all full
of pleasurable excitement and highest hope. They
came in every sort of conv,yance from the rol
way stations, bringing with them all manner
of impedimenta, from which a good study of cha-
racter might have been made. Some were in
very light order indeed—a great coat or mackin-
tosh, a carpet bag, and the indispensable rifle being
their only encumbrance. Others, again, had as many
belongings as though a permanent residence on the
Common were intended. Shrewd old campaignsrs
these, mayhap—men who knew what a fortnight at
Wimbledon in treacherous July weather might in-
volve, and had made up their minds not to be taken
at a disadvantage. All were equally welcome, and
quickly the various "lines" began to fill, the men
settling down with practical readiness and then look-
ing about with a steady resolve that old acquaintance
should not be forgotten. On these occasions the
student of British dialects has a fine field for observa-
tion. From far Caithness to distant Cornwall the
uniformed marksmen have gathered, and now they greet
each other whom, for the twelvemonth, hundreds of
miles have severed. The Northumbrian burr is an-
swered by the slow speech of Wessex; the soft accents
of Devon respond to the sharp consonants of Wales,
and the Scottish tongue wags in reply to all, for the
chiels from across the Border are, perhaps, more
numerous than ever this year, and as keen of sc nt
for "plunder" as they are sharp of eye and steady of
hand. All is cordiality and good fellowship among
the miscellaneous throng, hand-shaking and "Hail,
fellow, well met" being the order of the day. Truly,
there is reason for high spirits and effusiveness. Who
can tell where the Queen's Prize will go, along with
the blue ribsnd of the range, or how the multitude of
trophies and purees will be distributed by Dame
Foltune as the upshot of the coming struggle?
Every man's luck is "on the cards," and every man
knows it.

Whilst Wimbledon on Saturia,y was in a state of
comparative repose, a contest fraught with important
consequences was going on at Hounslow, where, at
the rapers of the English eight, and in the presence of
Sir H. Halford, Lieutenant-Colonel Walr(nd, MP.,
and other officers of the National Rifle Association, a
number of leading shots competed for the honour of
representing Great Britain in the match with the
United States. The shooting excited more than
ordinary interest, for the reason that "any
military breechloader " was admissible. Open-
ing at nine a.m., the competition was con-
tinu.d till seven in the evening. Money prizes were
offered for the twelve best aggregates, the competitors
firing seven rounds at 200, 500, and 600 yards, and 800,
900, and 1,000 yards. The positions were standing at
200, prone at 500 and 600, and " any " at the longer
ranges. The shooting was remarkable. The highest
place on the British side at Creedmore last year was
secured with an aggregate over the six distances of
177 points. On Saturday 186 was reached, the lowest
score being 172. The total score of the first twelve
was 2,120 paints, or 145 more than the British team
scored in the match against the Americans last Sep-
tember.

On Sunday the camp presented a scene of great ani-
mation, owing to the influx of visitors. Divine service
was held in the morning at the camp of the South
Middlesex R, V., the officiating clergyman being the
Rev. Kerr Gray, Vicar of St. Michael and All Angels,
North Kensington, honorary chaplain of the corps.
The service was thrown open to all the dwellers in
camp, and there was a large attendance.

The principal competitions on Monday were for the
Humphry Cup, between the members of the two Uni.
varsities, and the Alexandra series of prizes. In the
former Oxford repeated its success of last year, win-
ning by 662 points to 614.