The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-19 00:00:00

The Wimbledon Meeting.

The great yearly premium for good shooting was con-
tested and awarded yesterday. The second stage of
the Queen's prize is always a competition of unusual
interest, and on this occasion the curiosity as to the
result was probably greater than ever, owing to the
fact that so many well-known names were included
in the list of picked shots. The weather could
scarcely be called favourable, seeing that it varied
from bright sunshine at an early hour to dull shade
in the afternoon, with occasional showers and strong
puffs of wind. Private Green, of the 4th Cambridge,
and Lance-Corporal Fowkes, of the 6th Lancashire,
did not answer to their names when the squads were
formed, and so the rival marksmen were reduced in
number to 58, but between several of these the
struggle was very narrow, the scores fluctuating
greatly at different ranges. Mr. Edward Ross,
concerning whose chance the greatest curiosity
was exhibited, shot very steadily at the 800 yards'
range, making 20 points, that is to say, five more
than the Volunteer who eventually became the
winner. But from that point onwards he was un-
successful. A remarkable evidence of the public
belief in the skill and good fortune of the Ross
family presented itself in the fact that, notwithstand-
ing the doctrine of chances gave fully 500 to 1 against
the likelihood that both the silver medal and her
Majesty's Cup would be carried off by the same
hand, persons were willing to wager evenly that
the double feat would be performed by Mr. E.
Ross. With many it
initiated,
a fixed idea that rifle-
shooting, except to the
is an exceedingly
dull occupation, and that it is useless for bystanders
to attempt to create or even to feign an interest in
the proceedings. But with a thoroughly-exciting
match like that of yesterday, where the prize is
measured by hundreds of pounds, and success leads
to world-wide reputation, it is astonishing how all
this apathy disappears. The spectators at the firing
points are seen eagerly discussing the chances with
each other, moving from place to place to ascertain
what scores are being made elsewhere, and in their
anxiety keeping utterly unnecessary registers, with
some half-formed purpose of detecting and expos-
ing possible errors in the returns prepared by the
staff of the School of Musketry. Not merely the
man who for the time being is ahead, but any other
who has a fair chance of making his way to the
front, will find himself the object of numberless
little attentions. Everybody is delighted to carry
or to hold any portion of his accoutrements, and
enviable will be the distinction of that man who
may shade him with his umbrella when he lies down
to fire. For the moment the volunteer who stands
well for the Queen's Prize finds himself as much a
favourite with his supporters as the favourite for
the Derby. But, reverse the picture, and with
defeat comes desertion. The very man who
would have been carried in by an exultant multi-
tude had he only made another bull's-eye, is
left to toil back with his own ball-pouch if he
fails to satisfy the expectations that have been
formed. At one time yesterday there was at least
a score of competitors whose chances of winning
were superior to those of private Sharman, of the
4th West York. At the first range he made only
15 points, 18, 20, and in one case 23 being recorded
against him. Lord Spencer's aggregate score of 39
at the first two ranges—made up of 16 at 800 yards
and 23 at 900 yards—looked so promising that at-
tention and, it may be added, good wishes were
widely attracted to his shooting. It certainly would
have been remarkable if, on the only occasion when
the Lords and Commons have been precluded from
shooting their usual match, a member of the Upper
House had entered the lists single-handed and car-
ried away the great prize of the meeting from amid
2,000 selected representatives of volunteer corps all
over the kingdom. As it was, although Lord Spencer
was unable to distance all his rivals, his total score
was such as to place him among the highest squad of
the competitors. Sharman's shooting at the longer
ranget3 was 'Something mamllow3. As bulni-eYes

and centres were recorded for him time after time
it almost seemed as if he and the marker must
be in league with each other. At 900 yards he
made 25 points, and followed this up with 24 points
at 1,000 yards, raising his total score to 64 points
—a limit which no one else was able to approach.
Nearest in point of merit were the score of 59
points, gained by Ensign Black, of the 22d Mid-
dlesex, and a score of 58 points made by private
llawe, of the Victorias. Several of the regiments
in camp had their strongest members at the firing
points to assist in chairing the victor home if for-
tunately he should happen to belong to them. This
enviable duty, however, was reserved for the men
of Yorkshire.

In all contests of this magnitude there are some
who find consolation in reflecting on what might
have been. And the assertion rested on highly re-
spectable authority that one competitor for a moment
was in a position to defeat Sharman, and might
have done so had it not been for the clamour pre-
maturely raised by those who were hurrying off the
presumptive victor to the Council tent. This rival
candidate had been shooting brilliantly, as may be
inferred from the fact that he had scored 57 and
had still two shots to fire. One centre and a bull's-.
eye would have placed him even with Sharman ;
two bull's-eyes would have taken the prize away.
Whether it was owing to the natural excitement of
the moment, or to the noisy striins of " See the
Conquering Hero Comes," played in his immediate
neigbourhood, it would be difficult to say ; but the
fact is that the shot but one of this competitor
missed the target altogether, and after firing the
next it was discovered that he had omitted to put in
the bullet. In the face of eagerness and triumph
such as, of course, prevailed at the critical moment
it would be difficult to lay down general rules, or
to insure their being acted on if adopted. But it
would certainly be 'well if on future occasions
steps could be taken to postpone all violent
demonstrations, greetings, &c., till the last rifle of
the last man having a chance of winning has
been discharged. Then, and not till then, the
battle is fairly won, and friends are entitled to
rejoice at the success achieved. As soon as
the score made by Mr. Sharman was known—"and
the knowledge flew about with the rapidity of wild-
fire—he was caught up by the crowd and impelled
in the direction of the Council-office. Here, while
the necessary formalities of weighing the rifle, &c.,
were being gone through, Mr. Pushy, the printer
to the Association, prepared announcements of the
result, and actually had them ready for issue before
Mr. Sharman quitted the marquee. No sooner had
he emerged from under its shade than his eager
comrades seized him, agiin lifted him on to their
shoulders, and bore him off to camp, the triumphal
procession being flanked by two poles supporting
bull's-eye flags, on one of which was pasted the final
score and name of winner.

Volunteers are never deficient in powers of
cheering, and when the friends of Yorkshire as-
sembled, pursuant to invitation, after gunfire, to
celebrate their victory with becoming honours, the
notes of triumph sent up from their marquee were
heard far and wide across the plain, and introduced
some novel effects into the play of " Still Waters
Run Deep," at that moment being performed by
the amateur dramatic company of St. George's Rifles
in the adjoining theatre.
Mr. Sharman, as a Volunteer, has been a regular
attendant at Wimbledon for the last five years ;
but, although he shot his way into the second stage
of the Queen's Prize on a former occasion, he has
never before carried away any trophies, and was
understood to take rather a gloomy view of the
general arrangements. This year, however, the
memory of previous disappointments has been
effaced, for, in addition to winning the Queen's
Prize, he has also been successful in other compe-
titions.

The principal scores in the remaining competitions will
be seen from the official list of scores :
SECOND STAGE QUEEN'S.
800 900 1,000
Yards. Yards. Yards. Total.
Prt. E. Ross, London Scottish... 20 14 13 47
Capt. liolmo, 18th Somorsetshire 19 14 Retired.
Private Frears, 2d Cumberland 14 16 14 44
Corp. Goale, 3d Somersetshire 22 13 19 54
Private Meakin, 2d Derbyshire 21 14 22 47
Private Getley, Ist Cheshire ... 15 13 15 43
Private Dawson, 4th West York-
shire 19 15 20 54

SergeautMackerish, 6th Norfolk 15 17 11 43
Private Ingram, Ist Lanarkshire 16 20 13 49
Corporal Walters, Ist Edinburgh 12 21 19 52
Colour-Sergeant Graham, 2d

Wilts ... ... 14 7 Retired.
Crpl. Danger, sth Somersetshire 15 Retired.

Sergeant Montgomery, 30th
Middlesex ... ... 19 15 9 43
Ensign Scott, 3d A. B. Ren-
f rowsh ire ... ... ... Retired.
Corporal Ferguson, Ist Inver-
ness ... ... 13 18 21 52
Colour-Sergeant Churchill, Ist
London ... ... 23 11 2 43
Private Brown, sth Dorsetshire 16 19 11 49
Private M'Lean, Ross-shire 16 13 Retired.
Private Dawe, Victorian ... 17 23 18 58
Sergeant Bellis, Bth Salop ... 10 Retired.
Sergeant Boynton, sth East
Yorkshire ... ... 18 16 13 47
Corporal Saxby, 6th Hereford-
shire ... ,„ 13 15 Retired.

Sergeant Little, 3d Gloucester-
shire Artillery ... ... 20 21 16 57
Private Hamerton, 12th Mid-

dlosex ... 20 15 22 57
Corporal Forrest, 2d Roxburgh-

shire „.
Ensign Norcombe, Ist Devon-
-

Retired.

shire ... ... ... ... 22 15 19 5G
Private Robbins, Ist Wiltshire 10 13 7 30
Private Mercer, 2d Somerset-