The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-28

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Wagener and received by President Arm
strong.
Irish Volunteer Rife Cuba magnificent
gold medal, with pin, already described In
The NEWS, presented by Solicitor Touhey, Of
The Irish Volunteer Rifle Club, and received
by President James Armstrong, Jr.
Charleston Social Mounted Cuba silver
pitcher, presented by President T. O'Brien
and received by President Armstrong.
The gift of the Palmetto Guard Rifle Club, a
handsome silver pitcher and two goblets, had
been presented early In the morning at
Archer's Hall, where both this club and the
Irish Rifle Club assembled before marching to
the place of rendezvous. The presentation
was made In happy manner by Vlce-Presi-
dent J. q. Simmons, and responded to by
President Armstrong.
At the conclusion of the presentations,
&C., the clubs stacked their rifles, and, under
the leadership of their whoe-souled hosts,
closed up around several lengthy refreshment
tables on the point of the grounds, aud dis
cussed substantial collation. With all the zest
which their early rising, hard marching, and
long listening had impaired. As they left the
tables the parade was considered over, and
the rifemen addressed themselves to the
amusemenLs OF the day.
The spacious grounds Of the Platz had been
brushed up and presented most picturesque
appearance From the Flagstaff on the top OF
the main building the large green banner OF
Erin foated in the breeze and cleaned
through the dark foliage Of the surrounding
pines. The pIazzas of the dancing hall and
| the hall Itself were filled with The visitors of
the softer sex, who found matter of unceaslng
interest in watching the varied panorama
| below as they took breath for another Of Null
ler's favorite waltzea, o divine polka or an en-
| tranclng quaGrille. The booths on either side
| of the grounds were open and doing brisk
business. From many the German colors were
foatina nnd-ho Inevitable lager was punished
severely. Thu children played their games
and rode on the carousal, the young ladies'
danced and walked about the grounds, the old
gentlemen smoked and visited the booths, and
all enjoyed themselves according to their
bent. Many stool watching the amusement
committee as they hurried on the preparations
for the manly sports and pastmes.
The rifemen had other work to do, and the
shooting gallery was soon filled. The line Of
targets were The same used at the German
festival, but a large shooting shed with eight
stands. and the usual bell attachments, had
been erected midway In the space between
the regular shooting shed and the targets, and
lust one hundred yards from The latter. This
was TO give the Enfield and Remington rifles
| q chance against the fine sporting and globe.
sight rides borne by many OF the old rifemen.
Several crack shots were on the ground who
drove the white with regularity and pre-
cisIon which asionished the unskilfnl marks.
man as he drew back and rubbed his shoulder
after dlscharglug four drams of powder and
an ounce ball from his smoking mnsket. A
brisk and well-drected fire was kept up dur
ing the day, and the stands were always
crowded with marksmen anxious for their
turn. The prizes were numerous and valua-
BILE. the targets seemed wonderfully near, and
the riflemau went In determined to win some
thing without the lear Of o tin cup before his
eyes.
The crowd at the grounds, which was large
during the entire day, swelled In numbers as
the afternoon came on. The long trains on
the South Carolina Railroad ran regularly up.
Mr.. Ga,es's commodous stages kept up con-
linuous and easy communication with the
street car line, and at intervals the lond Wills
tie of the Mount Pleasant Ferry boat could be
heard as she came up to The wharf on the
river. From these throngs Of visitors came
hurrylng up and lost themselves In the anil
mated me!strom of humanity TINT slowly cir.
cled and circulated among the shady grounds
of The Platz. The amusement committee
had now finished their preparations,
and an oblong enclosure had been made near
the bowling alley, with rope stretched upon
stakes driven In the earth, and strong board
fence at the further end. Into this the ath.
lellc competitors for the various prizes leaped,
and the manly sports began.
A heavy sledge hammer, Weighing twenty
five pounds, was put down at the line, and
the contestants began to sling 1t as far as they
could. After hard contest, the parties gave
in as Mr.. P. Walsh seized The ponderous mis-
slle and sent 1t flying through The air to the
distance of flty.six feet. similar contest
with the light hammer ended In the same
manner, Mr.. P. Walsh having thrown 1t a
clear distance of one hundred and twelve feet
nine Inches.
The jumping contest came next tor dis
tance, each competitor to take three jumps.
Some lengthy leaps were made until Mr.. VIM.
Powers cleared his thlr,y.two and half feet.
This feat quite dlsgusted his opponents, who
gave 1t up at once, one of them quantity OBJ
serving that Powers could ''beat kangaroo
all hollow" The hop, skip and Jump for dis
tance, which followed, was also decided In I'd
vor of Mr.. Powers, who cleared With ease
thirty-four feet nine Inches.
These contests are not decisive, and any
candidate who thinks he has muscles In the
arm 10 beat Mr.. Walsh, and in the legs to beat
Mr.. Powers, Is at liberty to enter the lists and
win the prizes.
At the conclusion OF these games, the young
people again resumed their diversions In the
dancing hall, where an
INTERESTING PRESENTATION
took place soon after, during an interval oe-
tween the dances. Colonel r. W. Seymour
In behalf of Mrs. William Darby, presented
President James Armstrong, Jr., with fine
,,n,urad by bor hrOt In -