Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-18
AZ, AL,EYAN ANDRssaA Al.-.saAHETVF
TERMS OF ADVERTISING
Re,naf l,la y PlstoI ssiaoe etHsg.

Crosthwaite. ha=msstesiti came in Hn Penn
syyania, asSharon on th es2255t th nltimo. The day
being windy, and mot favorable to good~shoot-
ing. Travis shot with a pistol and Crosth-
waite with shot gun. The pistol carried IS
to the pound Crosthwaite was allowed IS
Yards rise and 10 yards boundary Travis haV-
ing 10 yards rise and 10 yards boundary
Crosthwaite was the, favorite, the betting being
100 to- 20 on the shot gun-hetsI being offered
that Travis would not kill four out Of thu ten
birds to beSshot at. (, Crosthwaite opened the
match, killing the first four birds successfully,
misseds the, fifth, s&the sixth fell beyond the
boundary, killed theseventb, missed the eighth,
and killed the ninth and tenth-making: seven
killed out Of the ten Travis then took his
stand. The. trap string was pulled; he missed
the first bird, Killed the second, third and
fourth, missed the fifth, killed the sixth, and
missed the seventh. He had three more
chances, and must kill every bird, or 'Crosth-
waite would be winner The Turf closes the.
report of the match in the, following enthuslas-
tic style: ~ ~
The word is given, the pigeon rises from the
hope Of freedom. Whiz! bang little cloud
of smoke, thud on the ground of a falling
body, and the eighth bird is added to the score
of the killed, The ninth rises, the sharp re-
port of the pistol is again heard, and another
bird drops like stone to the ground. One
more shot The last chance. The bird must
fall within the boundary: or Crosthwaite claims
the stakes and is proclaimed the victor. No
time for fsltering now. Pull the string. The
captive is free. It is leaving its prison-house
behind. frightened, desperate, it springs into
the air with the swiftness of an arrows peediDg.
from the bow tightly strung by athletic hands.
All fleet indeed must be the messenger that
arrests its flight How quiet, breathless are
the spectators. The only stoical figure OF the
picture is the man standing ten yards from the
trap, pistol in hand. The eye flashes along the
short barrel, Harkl the report-and the
winged fight of fear is suddenly arrested. The
aim was true, and the ball has performed its
mission welIl The bird falls within the boun-
dary dying dead; and the wind keeps on its
course, but now trelghted with a, hundreds OF
cheers. Captain Travis has killed his seven
birds, tied his opponent, and the judges pro-
nounce the match a draw Mr.. Crosthwaite
distinguished himself There are but few men
in the country who can kill their seven birds
out of ten, on windy day, thirty-hVe. yards
rise and ten yards boundary. What then,
must be said of Captain Travis shooting? lie
also killed bis seven birds, but with pistol
The feat is. remarkable, and, deserves to be
clsssed among the most marvellous trials OF
SKILL pr<,gg1H
THE WASHINGTON, CANAL. the Senate,
on Monday, Mr.. Harlan presented the report
Of the executive committee lately appoint
ed under resolution of the Regents Of the
Smithsonian Institution, on the influence OF
the Washington canal on the health OF the
population of Washington city, which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the District of Co.
lumbia, and ordered to be printed. ;,
Tim report is very elaborate, and IS signed
by Richard Delafield, us. A., for the Com
mittee of the Regents.
The committee learns from the Mayor of the
city that it is proposed to extend the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal from Georgetown,
through the city, to the deep water along the
Eastern Branch, with the view OF establishing
shipping port for large vessels, and depot Tor
Cumberland coal, thus sharing with George
town and Alexandria the profits of this branch
Of industry. The project IS one to which the
committee should present mo objection, pro-
vided it does not, interfere with the general
health of the city or works necessary. Tor pro-
noting the health. ,of the inhabitants. The
committee considers that a. canal for such i
purpose or any other, through the city, should
not lock down to tidewater until it has passed.
entirely through the city, and recommends that
neither the existing cana, or the proposed modl-
fcatons or transfers of the existing canal to
any private corporation, be approved by Con-
gress unless the subject of public health and
sewerage be first provided tor. and insured
against all hindrance or interruption tor all time
to come, and that no sewerage matter be al
lowed to enter any open canal whatever within
the limits of the District OF Columbia.
After speaking of the deleterious effect OF
the existing canal upon the health OF the. IT, "a,
habitants Of the city, the committee say tnat Ill
they are of opinion that the canal as It now
exists is great cause for creating and ,propa-
eating disease, and should at the earliest pos
slble moment be filed up and discontinued Tor
use as sewer and reservoir tor excrement and
waste waters of kitchens, water-closets, laun-
dries, and other sources of eontam1ustlng mat
ter"
The committee ercommend that the sewers
OF the city empty in the Potomac river below
the Long bridge to be carried across the canal,
Or closed aQueducts or causeways, at the most
advantageous levels above high water, ana
thence under the ground south OF the canal to
suitable places on the bank of the river, where.
closed and covered reservoirs may. be construct
ed to retain the sewerage until the ebb tide
makes, when gates or valves will be opened to
allow it to escape into the river under the water
surface 'lSssI o2f a. s: : 4 = = - -.
The present canal should then cease to be
used tor any otherspurposea than an escape lor
the waters Of the Tiber during extraordinary
freshets, and for such surface drainage as can
not be carried across it into the sewers leading
to the Potomac, and to this end must be re-
duced in size and form to an arched culVert.
The proposed canal; for commercial purposes,
with an outlet at.t the Eastern branch, should,
In like manner, bescarried over the valley OF
the present canal on an aquednct or causeWay' aus
aud then through or along The high grounds
to the EasterD branch. az IS