New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-06
THE WIMBLEDON RIFLE MEETING.
From an Bpsl,,h yolun,s,r.I

THE WIMBLEDON RIFLE MEETlNG'
IFrou Bngsh vOunieer.l
WIMBLEDON, July &.-We have been suffering
from an excess Of fine weather. Not drop OF ram
has fallen during the fortnight Of the meeting and
the heat has been intense, with little or no WIND.
The thermometer has registered within one or two
degrees or less 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the
glare of the sun, combined with exhaustion conse-
oueut upon the heat has had a serious effect upon
the shooting The pool and other open targets have
been almost desered-it has been too hot for people
10 come from London to see the camp and the funds
Of the Association must have largely suffered in con-
seouence. One shilling is charged for entrance to
the ground TO all persons but volunteers or members
of the Associations and the attendance Of the public
although il has been large has much fallen OIL from
the numbers in previous years On Thursday AFTER
noon we had a slight change from this uoplcal
weather so unusual in this country, and the wind,
changing TO the north and rising toward evening IL
was unite cold at sunset But this agreeable change
came too late, the presentation of prizes and the
grand review to-day winding up the proceedings OF
the meeting.
The extreme heat and dryness of the weather have
parched the earth to such degree that the furze
and underwood of Wimbledon common are like so
much timber, and spark has sufhced to cause
blaze. The carelessness of smokers in throwing
away their smOldering pipe-lights has caused
good many fires. but such has been the vigilance
exercised that although the danger has been very
great. no damage to property has been done Volun-
teer have been called at at all hours TO assist III put
ting ont fires aud the perfect discipline maintained
has been of the greatest service in speedily beating
down the fire Water is so scarce here, or at such
distance from the fire. that beating it out has been
the only preventive, and spades, pickaxes,
mallets blocks of wood; and al manner
of objects have been used for the purpose:
The pictuTesqueness of the camp Is much enhanceu
by the great variety of the volunteer uniforms IheIe
are i'm Great Britain 97 volunteer corps, gh morse
engineer. artillery, mounted Illles, anu IhIahtIy'
Some Of these cOTps consist OF but few members;
there are good many under 100 strong ana Inese
are formed for purposes OF organization lnJo adllh
istrave battaOns while there are others that count
their members by thousands. Every corps has ais
tnct unlfOrm il NAV be of the same shade OF cloth
as some others, but is varied by ornaments rtacngs.
The predominant cOlor5 are green ana gray Whle
scarlet black bl1e (tOr artillery ana other coloh IN
their various shades, form motley groups winch ada
considerably TO the gaiety OF the camp.
Rifle ShOOtinghas now become such national pas,
time here and so much attention is paid 60 1t all
the country, since the institution OF volunteer
corps that every year the standard OF good shoons
grows higher. Men begin now to understand that
rife Is something more than thing to shoot WIN
and hence the encouragement 70 the perfection OF he
mechanism OF the rife and its component parts, has
resulted in the production of many weapons. The
best rifle shot of his town or village Is now looked
upon with much reverence as the best cricket
lion of sharpshooters. Strange that the dlctuln OF
NapOleOn L. that were nation OF shop
keepers shonld be SO strangely paraPhrased oy the
people of Napoleon Ill. Those French colonies who
by their vainglOriOus letter to the Emperor brought
about the formation OF volunteer corps Tor the de-
Tense of this kingdom little thought what the result
of their epistle would be- There now in Eng
land and Scotland $4,000 volunteers, every one OF
whom is certified By Government Inspector TO be
an efficient soldier, and the majority OF them are
now wel-skilled in the use of the rife many proba-
bly,, never having handled gun III their hVes before
they joined the volunteers lhey are an armed WIN
the Enfield muZZeloading rifles which are TO be re-
placed as soon rs the Government has converted
the old weapons, by Snider breech-loadefs, bIlt
this will not take place for some time as the
army has to be first served with the breech-oadeTs
The difference in accuracy of aim Will OF course he
very great and those men who now make such excel
lent shooting with the old muzze-lOader will become
dOuble-rehned good shots The second stage OF the
QueeRs prize has been won this year with 60 marks
out of possible s4 the second stage being n shots
AT each range of 500 600 and 600 Yards COM
peted for with the Whtworh lsnall-b bore rifle For
the first time the establishment of these annual
meetings, the right OF the person who headed the
scores, at the conclusion OF the competition, TO
take the prize, challenged and the
matter being brought before the Council
was decided against him. He had made 40 marks,
t- highest yet made for this prize, but IL was
proved that in contrayenton Of the rule binding COM
p-tltOrs 10 the made-up cartridges delivered 10
them. he had cut the wad from the cartridges and
used lubricatng wads in their place Much sympathy
has been felt for tine disgTaced man, he acted in
= RECT good faith, using the contraband wads IN
had completed his firing and topped the score. The
declared winner comes from SOmeTsetshire and il is
worthy of remark that out of the nine years the
Queens prize has been shot for il has only been car
red off by London men three times. No doubt the
q Iperor stamina of the countrymen make them for
Initable antagonists to those men who live in towns
The Duke OF Cambridge presents prize for comps
tiuOu with military breech-lOadlng rifles, which has
Ile good effect of bringing forward some inventions
which without this incentive might never zee hight
The Henry rife has carried OFT the principal prizes
and it therefore is hailed the most perfect breec-
loader OF the day. Ii combines IN an eminent degree
the three great attributes OF military brecch-lOader
absolute safety, rapdity Of hiring. and accuracy.
ANY ammunition Is allowed in this contest three
minutes allowed TO each competitor at each range
OF SC0 and 500 yards in the first stage. At tine no
yards 100 points carried of the first prize; at 800
yards Q6 points. The winners Of prizes in the first
stage then compete for fifty pounds at the 200 yards
range--seven shots, any ammunition, and any posi-
tiOn. The Henry rifle was again successful heading
the score with % points. One of the most interest
ing competitions has been that of the Swiss Carton
targets. These targets Of the size and ap-
pearance az the others but are made of canvas tho
bullets performing the target and thus more eectu-
ally marking the part hit In the center Of the bulls
rye Is amOvabe carton, or circular plate of lead,
which, when hit, is removed and registered prizes
being given for the most central shots well as for
che greatest plumber Of cartons made during the