New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-07-07
THE TARGET SHOOTING.

contest for the prize OF the day; beautiful silver
mounted musket offered by Mr.. John Mcdonnell mot
as host Of the hotel, but an individual member of
the Continental Guards) to the company doing the
best average shooting The musket was valuable, not
so much for the silver upon it, as for its historic
interest 1t was borne through the bloodest battles
of the Mexican war; in the Palmetto Regiment; and
its first owner dying honoraby with it in bis grasp,
it passed through other hands, and finally became
the property of Mr.. Mcdonnell, who, at his own ex.
pense, had it richly and heavily mounted in silver.
Such prize was worth contending for, and each of
the three companies seemed animated by the highest
desire to win it, large concourse of spectat ors as
sembled to see the shooting the ladies being present
in strong force.
As the companies were unequal in number, it was
nice point to settle how the difference should be
fairly adjusted, so as to allow every man on the
ground chance for the prize and the honor of his
company. After consultation, it was agreed to leave
the matter to committee Of SIX two on the part of
each company. The committee was composed as FOL.
lows: Lieut. Homer, OF the Alabama Artillery, and
G. w. Hynson, Esq, for the Washington Artillery ;
Col Labuzan, ex captain of the Continentals, and
Lieut. James, of the Washington Artillery, for th
Continental Guards; and Mayor Stith and Lieut. :.
Merriam, of the Continentals, for the Alabama Ar.
tillery.
The committee reported the following arrange.
ments which were agreed to all round The distance
tobe sixty yards the bulls eye and ring of the Ala
bama target to be reduced to an exact equality with
those of the other targets the Washington Artillery
numbering A muskets, to fire three rounds or 1872
shots in all the Continental Guards, numbering 2s
muskets, to draw l6 Of their number by lot to fire
each three shots more; and the Alabama Artillery,
| numberinp ~ mUskets tn draw their har bv
lot. to fire each three shots more all in order to
give the less numerous companies an equal number
of shots with the Washington Artillery. The draw
ing of both the short companies for the extra Shots
resulted in the election Of some good and some bad
marksmen. Which company, if either, had the ad
vantage in the result of the drawing did not ascer
tain. The grove not being wide enough, the three
companies could not all shoot at once. By agreement,
the Washington Artillery and the Continental Guards
cracked away simultaneously at their targets separ-
ate about hundred and fifty yards; the Mobilians
waiting in the shade Of aliveoak, and amusing them
selves in all sorts of ways, to kill time. When the
two first companies got through, the Mobilians took
the ground and cracked away at their target !; the
other companies courteously holding aloof and
| amusing themselves in their turn beneath the UNI.
| brageous oaks.
We are not gunner enough to tell whether any par
tIcnlar advantage was derived by any company in
| their manner OF loading the guns but we notice
that each company loaded differently The Wash.
lngton Artillery loaded, each man his own gun with
the ordinary cartridges of the U. S. Army. The
Continental Guards had all their guns loaded by one
man, an experienced gunner, who used powder, ball
| and kid-skin packing. The Alabama Artillersts
loaded, each his gun, with POWDER ball, and
cottonrag packing. The Alabamians had black
target with white markings, which some seemed to
consider advantage the other targets, which
were white with black markings; but we were IN.
able to discover how that could be advantage the
bulseyes being equally visible on all the targets.
We are thus particular, because high interest was
taken in the shooting, and every possible point
taken up and discussed by the spectators the
ground and afterward. 1t was late in the afternoon
when the Alabamans got through, and all fell in line
and took up the march for quarters to dress in full
uniform, for dinner The result of the shooting was
reserved by the judges, for announcement in the
evening.
| THE DINNER-A QUICK SALUTE.
The dinner was sumptuous affair, and passed off
as might have been expected with such crowd of
men in such place as the Pass Christian Hotel, on
such day as the Fourth of July. At the close, the
ordinary patriotic toasts were quated with the hon
ors, and the compliments of the day flew thick and
fast among the officers of the companies and th cir
| guests. Immediately after dinner, the evening drill
and parade took place. The whole population of the
Pass appeared to be present this OCCASION After
parade squad of the Washington Artillery fired the
national salute in presence OF the assembled
multitude, getting off the thirty-three shots in five
minutes and seven seconds. 1t was an uncommonly
quick piece of work, and was much admired. After
that the battalion was dismissed for the day.
| RESULT OF THE TARGET FIRING.
Soon after the dismissal, Col. Labuzan announced
and posted the result of the days target shooting 1t
was follows: The Continental Guards had 20 shots
in the ring the Alabama Artillersts had SO shots in
the ring and the Washington Arterists had SO shots
in the ring the musket being thereby the prize of
the Continental Guards, by one shot. The Contnen.
tai Guards had 100 shots in the board /; the Wash
ington Artillerists 80; what the total of the Ala
bamians was, we did not learn, as they took their
target away with them that night. The exctements
of the evening consisted of public display of fire.
works in front of the hotel the preparations of the
Alabamians for departure aud the preparations at
the hotel for the ball given by the proprietors.
| DEPARTURE OF THE MoBILIANs.
| The Mobilians, having made arrangements not
to stay over the Fourth, would not remain; and
at ten O'Clock they took up their line of march
for the mail boat, accompanied by large escort Of
the other companies, and lighted their way by an
incessant fuslade Of rockets and other fireworks. At
the wharf the devastating was so cordial that mum.
ber of the Washington Artillerists were carried off
and the boat had to return to the wharf with them
one carried away after ALL but was sent back
from Mobile, right side up, with care, in time to
join his comrades on their return home.
| THE BALL, ETC.
The ball meantime was in progress at the hotel
and lasted to alate hour there being many beautiful
ladies present., glorious dance by the dancing part
OF the assemblage, and magnificent supper set out
by the propretors of the hotel. The enjoyment ap
peared TO be high and universal. After the supper
we concluded we had had enough of the Fourth, glo
rious as it was, aud went in search of tired natures
sweet restorer, balmy Sleep
Do1NGs ON TUESDAY.
The morning routine was the same as on the pre-
cedng days. At ten o'clock the Washington Ar
tierists haned their siNpounder up the shore, fo
target practice. The target, piece of tel
feet square, was posted over the water, 600 yard
from shore. The weather, which was calm and ho
enough the day before, pleasantly cool, witt
a strong east wind blowing. Before the firing com
menced, the wind was almost gale, and blowing di
rectly across the range. This determined Captail
| nIln |, l.