The daily Minnesota pioneer., 1854-09-25
Kentuckiam In Malta.

Aentucktam III NValtsSs
a gentleman in this city, attached to "Old
Ironsides" during her last cruise, has permit
ted us to dip into his journal, which is as rich
as Calhoun's gold mine. The following is Pc
culiarly fine:
We passed three weeks in Malta waiting for
dispatches. Various plans were devised for
killing time, and never did it pass so pleasant
~ away. Fishing, rowing, dinners, wine sup
pers, &C., formed onr principal amusemcnts,
and as the harbor was filed with vessels of all
nations an interchange Of cOurtesics was kept
mp until our anchor was weighed, and "Old
Ironsides' again before the breeze.
At one of the entertainments given on shore
by the officers of a British frigate, the CONVEX
sation turned upon rife shooting, Which led to
an animated discussion in which our officers
took part.
81 have often heard" said the commander of
the Thunderer, that you have fellows in your
country called Kentuckans, who are rcckoncd
great shots with rifle"
."Yes, sir" replied Lieut.. ", 'thcir
fame is great in that line they commence
practising, and in course Of time become eX-
ccllent marksmen.''
.They may be very clever but believe we
have better shots on board of our vessel
Il do not belong to that section of the coun-
try" observed Lieut.. n, land have had but
little practice with the rife, but if l mistake
not, VIC have a Kcntuckian in company who
will stand up for his native State"
"Yes, on all OCCASIONS said our purser,
tall, muscular descendant of one of the first
settlers in the State.
"What say you then, gentlemen, to shoot
ing match tomorrow mOrning?'
agreed with all our hearts" said the Yam
KEGS.
The next morning the party met in bcau-
tiful grove, and placed a target scvcnty-fve
yards distant. The English rifle is different
from the American, the barrel being shorter,
and the stock heavier. Six picked men from
the Thundcrcr were on the ground, all of whom
fired. No one, however, cut the paper, (thc
size Of dollar,) although several Of the balls
were close to it.
The shots were considered excellent by the
English and French officers present. and the
natives were greatly astonished by the prof.
cheney of the riflemen. The commander of the
Thundercr, turning to the purser with smile:
"What do you think of that? l take it you
will find it difficult to come up to it,
"You may think so-but l consider it no
shooting at ALL said the Kentuckian.
"Vous moater lehaM cheUal," said the French
officer.
"Je rous montrai," said the Kentuckian.
"Fire away said the Englishman.
"I'll bet wine supper for all hands, said
the Kentuckian 'that I make three shots, ev-
cry one of which shall be better than any yet
made, and each succeeding shot better than
the first"
I'LL take it, said the Englshman, smiling.
The Kentuckian slowly raised rifle he
brought from home, and fired. The paper was
cut The second fire was better than the first,
and the third "bored the ccntrer' Nothing
could depict the surprise of all present the
EnSlishman acknowledged the corn, and said
he was satisfied. The Kentuckian enjoyed a
hearty laugh declaring it was nothing to what
he could do-that he would be ashamed of such
firing in old Kcntuck. Rolling quid from
one quarter of his capacious receiver to an
other, he continued:
Il must have another shot, to show You what
can be done with rifle, and to convince my
French friend that am not boasting."
The whole party stood silent in a row, and
the Kentuckian retrcated about forty yards,
making the distance from the tree to where he
stood near one hundred and twenty yards Or
dcring paper of the same size as the other
to be put up in the same place, he reloaded,
drew his brOad-brimmcd beaver over his eyes,
and, after taking deliberate aim, blazcd away.
"That was rather too lOw," he said, "thc
ball is about the eighth of an inch below the
paper-the next time I'll bring it,
On examination, the ball was found to be
precisely where he said it was, which increased
the astonishment the remarkable shot had pro-
duced on all present, except the Yankees, who
were used to it.
"This lick will bring the persimmon," said
the Kcntuckian, as he raised the piece high up,
and gradually lowered it and fired. The paper
fell from the tree, the ball driving home the
nail that supported it! Language cannot de-
scribe the looks of the foreigners, and particu-
lary the natives, who crowded around the
Kcntuckian in numbers. That night the wine
flowed free at the ''Old Admiral" and a more
Joyous party never met at Malta