Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-02
from the Baltimore American
THE KENTUCKTAN IN MALTA.

A gentleman attached to the cold Ironsides"
during the last cruise, has permitted us to DIP
into his. journal, which is as rich as Calhoun's
gold mine. The following is peculiarly hne :
We passed three weeks in Malta, waiting
for dispatches Various plans were devised
TO kill time, and never did it pass so pleasant
w away. Fishing, rowing, dinners, suppers,
etc, formed our principal amusements, and
as the barbor was filled with vessels of all
nations, an interchange of national courtesies
was kept up until our anchor was weighed,
and &" Old Ironsides" again before the breeze.
At one OF the entertainments given on shore
by an officer of British frigate, the CONVEX
sation turned upon rifle shooting, which led
to an animated discussion, in which our OFF,
GERS took part.
81 have often heard,'' said the commander
of the Thunderer, " that you have some fell
lows in your country called Kentuckians, who
are reckoned great shots with the rifle
Yes, sir" replied Lieut.. N, t." their
fame is great in that line, which is easily &C
counted for. AS soon as they are able to
shoulder a rifle, they commence practising,
and in course of time, become excellent marks
men.
"They may be very clever, but believe
we have better shots Oh board our vessel
81 do not belong to that section of the coun.
try" observed Lieut. N, and have had
but little practice with the rifle; but, if | mis-
take not, we have Kentuckian in company,
who will stand up for his native State"
Yes, on all OCCASION said our purser, a
tall, muscular descendant of one OF the first
settlers of the State"
What say you, then, gentlemen, to d
shooting match tomorrow morning p
A Al I A. W.,
KEGS.
The next morning the party met in beau
tiful grove, and placed their target seventy
five yards distant The English rifle is differ
ent from the American, the barrel beng short
er and the stock heavier Six picked men
from the ThunGerer were on the ground, all
of whom fired. No one, however, cut the
paper" Uhe size of dollar,) although seve.
raj of the balls were close to it,
The shots were considered excellent; the
English and French officers present were
greatly astonished at the proficiency of the ri.
femen The commander of the ThHnderer
turning to the purser, said with smile:
What do you think of that? take i
you'll find it difficult to come up to it,
You may think so but consider it nc
shooting at ALL said the Kentuckian.
"VOus montez lie haut cheva," said &
French officer.
Je vous montrai," said the Kentuckian.
Fire away" said the Engshman.
I'll bet wine supper for all hands, saiC
the Kentuckian, " hat can make three shots
every one of which will be better than any
yet made, and each succeeding one better thar
the first
"Pll take it, said the Englishman, smiling
OThe Kentuckian slowly raised a rifle hi
brought from home, and fired. The paper was
cut The second fire was better than the first
and the third bored the centre" Nothing
could depict the surprise OF all present; thu
Englishman acknowledged the corn, and salt
he was satisfied The Kentuckian enjoyed ;
hearty laugh, declaring it was nothing to wha
he could do-that he would be ashamed O
such firing in old Kentuck. Rolling a quic
from one quarter of his capacious g receiver
TO another, he continued:
Z" must have another shot to show vol
what can be done with rifle, and 10 convince
my French friend that | am not boastng."
The whole party stood silent in a row. anC
the kentuckian .retreated about forty yards
making the distance from the tree to where he
stood, near one hundred and twenty yards
Ordering paper of the same size of the othe
TO be put up in the same place, he re LOADED
drew his broad trimmed beaver over his eyes
and after taking deliberate aim blazed away.
That was rather too low" he said, &c thu
ball is about the eighth of an inch below the
o paper; the next time I'll bring it,
On examination, the ball was found to bt
Q precisely where he said it was, which increas
ell the establishment the remarkable shot hal
produced on all present, with the exception o
the Yankees, who were "used to it,
This lick will bring the persimmon,' sail
the KcHuckian, as he raised his piece higl
up, and gradually lowered it and fired. I'll,
paper fell from the tree, the ball & driving
home" the nail which supported it! Ian
guage cannot describe the looks of the foreign
ers, and particularly the natives, who crowd
ed round the Kentuckian in numbers. Tha
night the wine flowed freely at the GO Old AID
miraPs," and more Joyous party never me
in Malta.