Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-02
ACCURATE RIFLE SHOOTING.
The Irish Team Defeated by the
Americans-A Magnificent Contest
"A Match with the Result Depend
Ing ON n Single shot.


"A Match with the Result Depend
Ing ON n Single shot.
From the New York Sun. September 2S.l
The rife shooting at Creedmoor on
Saturday between the Irish and Ameri.
can teams was the most closely con
tested and skillful on record. The Wis
itors through the day must have ex'
ceeded ten thousand.
The rihemen were all on the ground
by ten o'clock. Major Leech, of the
Irish team, having won the choice Of
targets, chose Nos. l6 and II. The
Americans took the only two long-range
targets up, Nos 10 and 20. By means
of the field glasses the mark of every
shot was seen on the target
just before the firing began, Major
Leech, who is an exceedingly dignified
old gentleman, desired to present Mr..
Wingate, captain of the American team,
with badge, the counterpart of which
he himself wore AS captain of the Irish
team. A circle of men was soon formed
and Mr.. Leech began the presentation
speech, explaining the nature of the
badge and the pleasure it gave him in
presenting it. He was about to con-
clude, and said Here it is, SIR" put
ting his hand into his pocket. But he
ascertained that the badge was not in
that pocket. The words flowed from his
mouth thick and fast as he rummaged
another pocket for the badge, when all
at once its whereabouts occurring to
him, he exclaimed, "Oh, be Dad. it's in
Johnson's boxl' The speech was fin
shed mid roars of laughter, but the pre-
Sentation was postponed.
The Irishmen fred few blank charges
to clear and warm their pieces, and
work was begun. The Americans, using
breech-loading rifles, had no occasion to
test their guns. At the hour for dinner
the score stood: Ireland, 81; America,
326.
After an hour at dinner the shooting
at the 9OO-yard targets was begun, and
at the close Of this contest it was an
nounced that they had scored 3l2 to the
Americans 80. In this match Mr..
Miner, of the Irish team, unfortunately
fired at the wrong target, and although
he hit the bull's-eye, which would have
counted four had it been on the right
target, he was scored with miss, ac
cording to the rules of the match. This
accident, as will be seen by referring to
the score totals, lost the match for the
Irishmen; for had Mr.. Miner scored
four instead of miss the Irish team
would have beaten the Americans by
one point.
The spirits of the Irish team and their
hackers were higher when the final
match at 1000 yards began. The Ameri-
cans on the contrary felt assured Of
victory.
The Irish gained trife at the begin
ming of the shooting, and then the Amer
leans went ahead, leading when the
match was two-thirds over by fourteen
points. The Irish, however, rapidly
closed the gap on the last stretch, and
when their last man fred it was found
that they we're several scores ahead. Two
of the Americans, Lieutenant Fulton
and Colonel Bodine, had yet to shoot,
and on them the result of the interna-
tional contest depended. Lieutenant
Fulton asked how the score stood, and
seemed trihe frustrated when told that
the Irish team were four ahead. He was
little longer than usual in preparing
himself, and his aim was taken with un-
usual care. He scoredsa center, or three
in Che count, and the Irishmen were
then one ahead.
Then Colonel Bodine stepped to the
front to win or lose the match. If he
missed the target the victory was for the
Irish. If he scored the Americans were
champions. Few men save the riflemen
and the scorer knew that the contest was
narrowed down to the result of one
man single shot, but the riAemen thor
oughly appreciated the situation. Col
Bodine stepped slowly to the rug,
slowly stretched himself at full length
on the ground, grasped his faithful rife
firmly, and aimed long and deliberately.
he was absolutely motionless for several
seconds, and then he touched the trig-
ger. Then the anxious eyes of all were
strained toward the markers, all centered
on little spot half mile away looking
for the disk which was to indicate where
the bullet had struck. In five seconds
the little white signal was slowly raised
and a tremendous shout was raised.
Colonel Bodine had hit the bulls eye,
and had won the match.
The Irishmen, through their Captain,
invited the American team to where
Lady Massareene was standing, by whom
they were each presented with a gold
badge bearing flags of America and
England in enamel.
AMERICAN SCORES. IRISH SCORES.