The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-06

gain of two points still LETT them seveh
| 600 yard range still remained, and al this
! distance the Irish were confessedly superior.
The spirits OF the Irish hackers were raised
and at the sazae time the determination of
rzE AMERICAN RIFLEAfEN
to win, or die game. The Irish riflemen
themselves, however, did not seeRa so san
guine. From the very start, or at least as
soon as 1t was known that thew were some
points behind, they seemed to shoot with
a sullen display of grit. They consulted one
with another in whispers, aud went to and
from the firing rug without glance
/ or outward notice OF the immense
throng present. Large beads of PRESENTATION
] stood out upon their ioreheads, and at every
instants grace from loading or firing they
lodged under the umbrellas with which
they were provided. With the prospect of a
stern chase, and to them a0 unfomfortably
Il hot day, they were under a load which
/ experience could not remove. The fight
il however, was a desperate one. Slowly
Il they stretched themselves along the ground,
i steadily they took aihn, care aud elaboration
marked every step, and that they were doing
their very best is evidenced in the fact
l;tbat by their own admissions hey had never
surpassed their record of yesterday. The ex-
cenence of one team seemed to inoculate the
I other with the Eever of luck and skill, and
while the Americans forged ahead until at one
stage in the match they were Ii points
ahead, the Irishmen closed the gap, and At
! their finish, which occurred several shots
before their rivals, il was actually found that
they we're ahead. Then came the critical
! r1oment of the whole days sport. The
l Irishmen had done their work-had placed
| themselves upon the record beyond posi-
bihty of change, and the Ameri
cans had yet several shots to
make. Lieutenant Fulton asked to
know the opposite score before firing his
/ last shot, and a consequence of his
anxiety and worry made a center. leaving
the Irishaaeu one point ahead. Only the
few scorers and counters were aware of this.
In the rapidity of the closing shots the
crowd had lost track of the course of
things, and IL was not generally known
that the Americans were behind. Had
| il been so it is not unlikely that
the excitement would have run so
high as To destroy the steadiness of the one
American upon whom the national chances
now depended. Col. Bodine had not yet
shot. If he missed this his last trial the
Americans lost the prize by but one point.
If he made a "bull's eye" four would be
added to their aggregate, and their OPP
ponents would be left three points in the
rear. Knowing this, and with the
blood running across his hand
from wound received from broken
ginger-ale bottle a few moments before Col
onel Bodine stretched himself carefully out
grasped his familiar weapon with firm
hand, and taking long, steady aim fired.
The crowd stood, not one moved, several
thousand pair of eyes fixed upon one little
point, a bali-mile off, looking for the metal
disk which indicates the opening of the trap
for the marking of shot. IS There it is!
cried one and in second more
THE WHITE BULL's-EYE DISK
came slowly up, as if from weary markers
hand, and rested plainly before the bulls
eye, covering its blackness from the glad
denej eyes of at least half the crowd. No
sooner had the mere edge of the disk ap-
pesred than such shout went up as noti-
fie1 all those on the range that the match
was over. No nesd of asking
who had won-the character of tn e
cry told it at once. Everybody looked upon
Col. B0dine as in some measure the savior
of the national honor, when in fact he had
simply fired, by mere chance, the closing
shot. Had it not been for the almost
marvellously perfect score of the leading
American shot, the Americans must have
been beaten, not badly, but well and as
completely as they are now the vanquishers.
One of the usual plumbers which accompany
rifle shooting attended Gen. Dakin, of the
American side. In his fourth shot at 900
yards, the cartridge happened to he detec-
tive from hidden flaw in the composition
of the bullet. The instant il left the rifles
mouth the fact was patent in the wab-
bling flight and different sound of the
whistle" made by the missile IN its
pass through the air. The number
of cutters also points out the general degree
of perfection attained by the contestants.
The whole six Irishmen in total of 30
shots made but five cutters and six misses,
while the Americans, out of the same num-
Der of shots, have recorded ten bull's-eyes
or ciN mis- nrQdiRtlOn
World that the Irish were better marksmen
at 900 yards is verified in the result.
Starting at that range with seven odd
against them, they closed up and ran one
ahead just before the close. 1t IS fair to as
sumo That those making the best score at
900 Yards are the superior riilemen, and
are able to do equally as good work at 800
and 800 yards. The Irish yesterday actually
beat the American team at the most difficult
range. They did not prove equally success
fol at the lesser distances. Had the day been
a cool, cloudy day, with mora wind, the vic
tory would not have been so cheaply won.
At one time, when for q few
moments a cloud did cover the tar
gets, the shots made were sue
cession of bulls eyes. Though the Ameri-
cans victorious on a show of totals, the
Irish really accomplish the finest feats of
craftsmanship. As soon as the days work
was over few moments examination of
the score tickets served to convince Mai.
Leech that no error had been made In the
computations The winning team were
then called together and addressed by Mr..
Laech, in the presentation of novel badges.
These were the emblems described in the
World some days ago as intended for the
winning rihemen. In few words tine
LADY Masserene was introduced, and by
her hands were the several badges attached
to the breasts of the several winners.
SUICIDE OF a LADY STUDENT.
THE SAD DEATH OF YOUNG GIRL soPHo-
MORE AT MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
An Ann Arhor special telegram tc