The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-25

according to the report OF the target mar
kers
Ranger No. WAS two inches from
the outer circle, grazing the left.arm.
Ranger No Bail struck within one
inch of the inner circle to the right. "a fa.
tai shot.
Ranger No. 3.-Put a half moon in
bulls eye-fatal
Seth Stark.-Shot perforated centre
bulls eve
There was considerable huzzaring at
the result of the first round, especially
among the spectators, and those of the
rangers who had not risked anything on
the result.
On the second round the three rangers
were scored as having made better shots
than before but no score for the young
back woodsman.
1t was now the better's turn to huzza
although several of them had lost al
Seih's first shot.
The third round resulted even better
for the rangers than either of the others,
and the score was brought in accordingly
but there appeared to be score for the
would be recruit, the shout was terrible.
aud many rude jests were made at Seth s
expense.
"Mought you not as well wait till the
umpires have decided before yeou begun
to lart at "a fellow p calculated Seth I've
seen many Il turke. trial decided agiu the
scorers"
"Why, you don't suppose to say that
you've hit the target bu, oucc 2" asked "A
ranger who had a Y s,aked on the result.
"Mebbe don't sposc SO, and mebbe |
dew" replied Seth
"l'lI 20 you two to one" said the con.
! iident soldier
Take my advice and don't you dew
| it," answered Seth.
"Oh, ho. don dare, eh ? can't 60 oae
against ter calculated the fellow
"W Waal. yeou kiE put up as many tens
as you please, and ef | can't kiver EN-
why yeou kin pick up -! sur change agiu,
that's all 3"
Try him try him he's only trying
the lrag game - cried several IF the
rangers comrades.
IN 90 my pile on that" said the con-
fdcnt one, and lie forthwith produced
sixty dollars which Seth covered with
only six, but then it must be remembered
that odds was terribly against him mas
much as the scorers report. if confirmed
would Of cougse give the stakes to his au-
tagonist.
The umpires, consisting of an officer of
the company. who had no sleciaI interest
in the result, and two civilians, who were
experts III the sports of rifle shooting,
forthwith visited the targets, and exam
ined the several hits, and on comparing
them with the record of the scorers it ap-
peared there was no mistake.
That hit in the bulls eye" remarked
one Of the civil umnires, is magnificent
shot, "but how SO small slug as that
yrceny's rife carfys could make SO large
an orlfee as that, is quite a mystery to
me."
81 agree with you there" said the oih-
er civilian.
''lt is a remarkable perforation, certain
ly," remarked the officer of the rangers,
examining the hole with scrutiny, aud
then turning the target around they were
all struck with the fact that the shot of
the smallest bored rifle had really pierced
much the largest hole through the board
''See here, too, he continued, the cor
bojo IL & Il,
against which the counterfeit semb ance'
of the savage chieftan had rested, lean il
be possible that two bullets have passed
through this orifce."
The suggestion was improbable, but
somewhat startling It was again exam
ined with more scrutiny than before; and
for the purpose of solving the least doubt
IN the matter, it was agreed to cut around
the corresponding perforation in the tree,
and to the depth of the spot where the
bullet had lodged A carpenter was forth
with sent for with Instructions to bring
the proper tools for the job. In a fow
minutes une 'yas produced, and he went
to work with morticing chisel and malIet
under the direction of the umpires, and
after tolllng some ten or fifteen minutes
he removed cube of wood from the tree
of about five inches in depth, which on
being split open carefully, three sings
pressed firmly aeaius; each other with but
little variation from true line, were ta-
ken therefrom, to the wonder and sur
Prise # the umpires. The doubt was
solved. Seth Stark's Jniietx had trag-
ersed the same Tine and lodged t'getter.
The huzzas and laughs were now upon
our side, but the contest was SO complete
and decislve-the victory so complete
that even those who had lost money in
the result. Joined with the others in rem
derinn ali hnmarn To tic eccentric hacl,