The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-13 00:00:00

RIFLE CONTEST AT SOUTHPORT.

The first contest in connection with the South-
port Volunteer Rifle Association commenced on
Tuesday, on the practice ground of the Southport
Corps. The prizes shot for on Tuesday were
as follow : Range, 400 yards : First prize, £l5;
second prize, £5. For these prizes there were
52 entries. The first prize was won by Lieutenant
Wood, and the second by Ensign Radcliffe.--Range,
500 yards : First prize, £2O ; second prize, £5. For
these prizes there were 54 entries. The first prize was
won by Sergeant-Major Greaves, and the second by
Ensign Parker. The firing on the whole was indif-
ferent, although many_ good shots were made. For the
second prize, however, at 400 yards, a sharp contest
took place ; Ensign Radcliffe (2nd Lancashire), Captain
Taylor (Ist Lancashire), and Private G. W. Robinson
(13th Lancashire) making au equal number of points.
On tiring a second time, Ensign 'Radcliffe won. For'
the match at 500 yards the competition was of a better')
order ; and in this, as in the previous match, both
prizes were carried off by gentlemen unconnected with
Southport.
The contest was resumed yesterday, when there was
again a large muster of volunteers. The weather -being
beautifully fine, there was also a large eoncourse'of visi-
tors, -and the greatest interest was manifested ill the
proceedings: For the first match there were two prizes,.
to be fired for at a range of 600 yards. The first prize
consisted of a splendid Whitworth ripe, with accoutre-
ments and kit complete, of the value of £25, presented
by T. R. Bridson, Esq., of Southport. The second prize'
was tin Enfield rifle. There were 43 entrjes: :lie The
volunteers arrived by various, trains, and many were on
the ground long before the match commenced
was at twelve o'clock, or shortly after. The wind blew
towards the target, and the shooting, upon the whole,
_
was remarkably good. The first prize was carried off
by J. S. Radcliffe, Esq., ensign of the 2nd Lancashire
(Blackburn), who made eight points—three centres and
two outers. The second prize, the Enfield rifle, was
carried off by Mr. IL I eaten, adjutant of the 40th Lan-
cashire. The next contest was for two prizes, one of
£5 55., and the other of two guineas, open to all corners.
For this there were not less than forty-six entries. Mr.
Henry Heaton (already named) made nine points, and
carried off the first prize ; the second being won by Mr.
Edwin Shepherd, captain and adjutant of the 2nd Lan-
cashire, who rhade eight points. The shooting through-
out was excellent, Mr. ireaton making four centres and
an outer. This match was to be followed by a sweep_
stakes in which several gentlemen, who are not volun-
teers, were expected to compete. The members of the
Southport Company, headed by their captain, Mr.
M'lnroy, appeared in full uniform, and looked remarka-
bly well. Flags were flying from the pier and all the
principal buildings, and Southport wore quite a gay and
holiday aspect; indeed, it was remarked that the present
contest was less only in interest to that larger muster
which is to take place on the 25th instant and following
days, when the different Manclester corps will have the
opportunity of exhibiting their skill. A. very painful
rumour prevailed throughout the day that Mr. Fisher,
who had competed for one of the prizes on Tuesday, had
been drowned in returning to Lytham that evening ; but
the circumstances of the accident we found it impossible
to ascertain.

IGNORANCE IN FRANCE.—It has frequently been
stated that many of the common people in France fancy
that the law does not allow assistance to he given to
persons in danger of death from hanging or drowning,
except in presence of a commissary of police or other
authority ; and the consequence is, that deaths, which
might have been prevented, occur. The Rouen journals
state that, in the neighbourhood of that city, two per-
sons in danger of drowning were recently left to perish
from that foolish belief. They say also that, a few days
back, a woman was seen by two peasants floating in a
pond at Grumesnil, and that, instead of getting her out,
they hurried for the mayor, a distance of nearly two
miles. That functionary rated them soundly for their
stupidity, arid had the woman got out. She, it appeared,
must have been dead more than an hour before she was
seen by the peasants, but if she had been alive, they
would not have aided her. She fell into the pond acci-
dentally.

SCENE FROM A SPANISH BULL FIGITT.—The Spanish
journals relate an alarming scene at a bull fight at Sara-
gossa some days back. After three bulls which did not
show much spirit had been disposed of by the toreador
Cuchares, a popular performer, a fourth was let loose,
and he displayed great violence. He tore into shreds
the bandarillas which were presented to him by the
picadores, and then all at once leaped over a palisade at
a spot where a soldier was standing, and so injured the
man that he died shortly after. A little later, the bull
jumped over the barrier among the spectators. Six
thousand persons were assembled, and with cries and
streams all rushed to the issue to escape, causing a scene
of frightful confusion. The toreador, sword in hand,
attempted to kill the animal ; and several soldiers on
duty as sentinels endeavoured to do the same with their
swords and bayonets : some of the spectators, too, fired
pistols at it, and in so doing wounded several persons.
At length the toreador got in front of the bull, and with
a stab skilfully applied laid him dead at his feet. The
journals do not say that any persons were killed or even
injured in the consequent confusion.