The New York herald., 1874-08-20
RIFLE sHoOTING IN CANADA.

American Team Accom- pills n ed-rheir
Opinions as to American snd Cana
dian Rfhes-PrOspects OF Beating the
Irish Team.
The meeting OF the Province OF Quebec Ae As
sociation at Montreal which was concluded on
Saturday last, has been memorable as the FIRST In
stance In which American rnemen and American
rines have been fairly tested against the crack
shots OF Canada, and the results obtained are I'm
portant as affording estimate OF comparison
both between the men themselves and the weapons
tney use.
The match In question was held at Point st.
Charles, in the suburbs OF Montreal. 1t commenced
on Tuesday, August IL, and lasted until the follow
ing Saturday. The number attending was some
25O gathered from all the provinces Of Canada, al
most all OF whom were Old experienced shots, who
had been engaged In such contests Tor years, and
among whom were to be found quite number of
those who had been sent to Wimbledon at differ
ent times to represent the Dominion. In fact 1t
was the remark of the Americans VINO were pres
ent, that they had before seen such collec-
tion OF steady, reliable marksmen. Their skill may
be judged from the fact that In one team of five
each man averaged "a points out OF a possible 20
at 800 yards Although no formal attempt had been
made by our National Rife Association to be rep
resented few OF the Amateur Rifle Club, who
were spending their vacation near the line, took
advantage or the occasion to run over to see how
the thing was done by our Canadian brethren.
The range is located on q triangular point pro-
jecting into the ST. Lawrence, Just above the VIC
tOra Bridge. 1t Is far inferior to Creedmoor in
both appearance and convenience. 1t has 1--WE
butts placed some distance apart each OF which is
provided with two targets, making only ten targets
available. The side system OF marking is used, as
the ground is too irregular to permit the targets
to be seen by any one lying down. The friag is
conducted from wooden platforms, some three feet
high, erected at each firing point. The arrange
ments were almost identcally the same as at
CreedmoOr, and showed no little administrative
ability upon the part of Colonel Fletcher the SEQ
retary, and Of Lieutenant Colonel Worsley and
Major Honorable NJ Aylmer, the Executive Oni-
GERS, as well as of the other members Of the Ex-
ecutive Committee. buger was placed between
each set OF targets who sounded the ''CommenceN
and ''Cease firing" as the red flag was displayed,
prefacng the call in each instance by the number
Of the butt. No telegraph or other communication
with the markers was used except that sometimes
one OF the officers would ride down to settle q
dispute. Although from the experience
smoothly than at Creedmoor Yet it was noticeable
occurred from time to time as those with which
the officers OF the National Rifle Association have
one, when the targets were examined, the marx
ing was found to be correct, as has generally been
From its situation the range Is swept with great
force by every current OF air. This is the more
puZZling for the reason that the buildings ana
fences OF The Lrand Trunk Railroad on the lett pre-
vent the marksman from feeling their force, his
only metnod of fjudgng being the flags above the
familiar with the ground when G,ing at long
range. THIS aifilculty IN regard TO the wind was
contend against, and in the first competitions
with military rifles bothered them exceedingly,
the more so as i blew on different days In entirely
Qa
well as their allowance Ior wind.
The great velocity and low trajectory OF the
Mr.. Yale enabled them to always aim on the tar
get. With the rifles used by the others an allow
be made, and at 300 yards they had to allow seven
points, or fourteen ieet, even with the target
lor positions upon the Irish team had prevented
those present from practising with their military
ne fnn and nad made them al quite rusty as 70
one OF them had ever before fired his rifle ut
900 yards the distance at which several matches
had been shot, and he bat once and none had fired
Notwithstanding these drawbacks the results
ali Americans. In the Frontier Stakes (seyen
shots at 500 yards, the first match in which the
Americans partcipated), Colonel Gildersleeve took
the sixth prize, making 26 points out OF possible
%, the fact that there were five better scores show
the CITY stakss shots at yau
the superiority OF his weapon (Sharpes military "A
callorel over the Snlder was shown by hts taking
The first prize by the same score (26 out OF pOssi
bic 2S), one other competitor making 25 and no
one else more than 20. As the wind was extremely
strong and bafllng this was justly regarded as
! extraordinary, rejecting great credit upon both
the marksman and the rifle he ased.
In the Association Match tive shots at 500 and
600 yardsl, Mr.. Yale took the lrst prize with
score Of "a points out OF 4O Colonel Gilderseeve
e m1h hn w w % S e hoM ose t
shooting was The score OF the five Americans
was but ten points beyond that OF the fourth team
In this competition, and they grumbled good
deal at their carelessness In gectng to practise
before coming up particularly at 600 yards. 70
acknowledge the superiority Of the Sharpe and
even the new Springfield over the Snider as mill
tary weapons. they were decidedly OF the opinion
that for long range shooting their Metord and
Rigby muzzle leaders, such as will be used by the
p 20 sse 6ey
most decidedly; for when 1t came to the long
range shooting. the Americans were found TO
In the strangers Stakes competed for with mill
tary rifles at 500 yards and with small bore at 500
Lieutenant Fulton made seven consecutive bulls
eyes, taking the first prize. Mr.. Canfeld took the
second with score Of e out 9f possible 2s. and
used the Remington Creedmoor Fife, A calibre.
AS before stated the wind was very strong, re.
suit was justly considered remarkable
In the next match, Ladies, Cup the sniders shot
Remingtons at 500 and 900 yards. Lieutenant
Fulton here made 81 ont OF possible 56, bpll's
eyes at 500 yards and 20 out OF 2S points at 900
yards This gave him the second prize, Mr.. Bell,
Of quebec, beating him by one point. This shoot
ing was really extraordinary lar surpassing that
OF th" Irish t"".r
The hospitality with which the Americans were
received, tar surpassed their most sangune expec-
tatlons In the first instance special exemption
was made In the terms OF the programme so as TO
admit their military rifles, which otherwise would
have been excluded. their calibre being less than
the Snlder. After their arrival they were treated
as the guests OF the Executive Committee when
on the range. The use Of the large marquee used
by the officers was placed at their disposal, and
they were informed that the committee would
feel offended II they did not lunch
with them daily. In addition they were privately
entertained by Captain Esdaie. Not having con-
sidered themselves as in any way entitled to such
natter'ng attentions the Amercaa rinemen iet
themselves under great obligations for the manner
IN which they have been received. II ls probable
that quite number OF Canadians VIII come TO
Creedmoor In September to attend the fall match
OF the National Rifle Association, and particularly
to participate In tue competition for the "Bennett
Long Range Match.n II they are received with
the same cordiality as they have exhibited on this