The New York herald., 1874-09-26
THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST.
The Great Rifle Match To-
Day at Creedmoor.
ELAND VS.. AMERICA.
The Teams, Their Records and Their
Chances Of success.

The great rne match between the celebrated
Irish team and the American team takes place
to-day at Creedmoor This match has been so long
talked about that it is pretty certain that there
win be an immense assemblage OF spectators at
the range to witness the contests The Amateur
Rine Association, whose members have done SO
much 10 make the visit OF the foreigners thus lar
such pleasant one, have done their utmost dur
ing the past week TO put Creedmoor In good shape
for visitors, and those who go there today viii
have no reason 10 complain of the accommoda-
ti0ns Places have been reserved for ladies and
the gentlemen accompanying them where the tar
gets and the members OF the teans engaged in the
match can be seen to advantage, and tents have
been erected for the Of the invited guests and
tneir friends.
1t will be remembered that the match was
brought about by Major Leech. who organized the
Irish team in 1857, and not, as some people sup
pose, by a challenge from the Americans. In Oc-
t0ber, 1873 the MAJOR boldly challenged the Ameri
can rinemen TO a trial OF ski, he agreeing to
select team OF four or six from the eight who
won the ElchO Shield against the English and
Scottish teams, to compete with the Americans.
Colonel wingate promptly accepted the cbai-
lenge on behalf OF the r.nemen OF the
United States. Some little difficulty was
preliminaries, MAJOR Leecn being anxious 60 have
not more than lour in the team, and the ranges to
be 500, 900, 1000 and 100 yards, whereas Colonel
Wingate desired tnat the LOO yards range should
be dispensed with ana the team fixed o. six, and
possible eight. The IRISH team. through
Major Leech, finally decided not to insist
upon the LOO yard range and II was agreed,
therefore, that the team should consist at least
OF Six, the option as to whether 1t should be SIX
or eight being let with the irish. The other day
the Irish, as is already known, fxed their team at
six, and they came 10 thls decision a1ter wit
decision created some disappointment among the
Americans who had hoped 10 be OF the team
II the maximum number had been fixed upon.
This was natural under the circumstances; hut as
the agreement between MAJOR Leecn and Co onel
alter their arrival here, have the option oil making
the team consist OF SIX OR eight at their good
may have been TO two or three ambi-
tlous shots, It was IN order and nob9dy's
business but those most ntsfestedmthe irish s
that every rything IN relation 10 the contest has
been done by both teams IN the most friendly
spirit and no attempt by either has been made at
any time to take mean advantage OF the Otner
The struggle for the mastery will be carried on.
100, In the same spirit, and whichever team wins
to-day VIII win on its merits alone
THE IARGETS.
The targets and scoring TO be used IN the match
win be in accordance With the rules OF the Ma.
tional Ride Association-viz., targets six feet high
py Twelve wide having a. black ,n bulls eye three
square, the rest OF the target constituting the
.outer;' bulls eyes counting iour points, centres
lowed but telescope, magnhying and such as
conceal the target 80 as to prevent the
sGs Of ammsnit,on sn%i ' Is % to be ~ allowed WED and and
sny position will be permitted which can be
Each team is 10 consist OF six men. 1t was spe-
cidc condition when the match was settled upon
definitely that the American team should le COM
posed exclusively of men born In the Uniled
6tates, while 1t was also provided in the agree
ment that the Irish team should consist OF men
qualified to shoot in the irish eight at imDledon.
In the matter Of rifles there Is to be no restric-
tion, With the exception that the Americans must
shoot with American made rines and the Irish with
rihes manufactured by John Ngby Co., OF
Dublin and that the weight must not exceed zen
POUNDS and the pull Of the trigger not 10 oe less
Niteen shots at each range.
THE TEAMS.
The following are the teams:-
american. IRISH.
II. Fulton. DR.. d. b. Hamilton.
Colonel j. Bodine James wilson
4. S. Dakin. Captain +. Walker.
L. L. Hepburn Edmund Johnson.
+ j! \: $''ss1sss7s. $ais j: j: EisSI /. Miner.
The reserve Of the irish team Is composed OF
Messrs j. A. Doyle H. H. Foster ana a. j. m J: Kelly
Collins, +. II. SANFORD and J. s. COnln. lt may be
stated that Messrs Miner, klgoy, Wilson and
Eicho Shield in 1873. Messrs. Hamilton and Walker
being the new men.
Mr. Miner is a wool merchant. about twenty
years OF age and resides in London.
MIR. John Rigby Is OF the celebrated Dublin rine
6rm. He Is forty years OF age. He has been an
Actlve member OF the team ever since 1t was or.
ganized.
business as a merchant. he Is thirty years OF
age.
Mr. Johnson is jewerer, resides in Dublin and
ts thirty years OLD.
Mr.. Hamilton Is q physician.
Mr.. Fulton Is civil engineer 10y profession, re-
sides in Brooklyn and s lieutenant In the
Twelfth infantry, militia
Mr. Glldcrsleeve Is lawyer IN this CITY, and Is
Lieutenant Colonel OF the Twelfth regiment.
Mr.. Hepburn Is an old ri1e manufacturer, wen
known in st. Lawrence county.
General Dakln is the Brigadier commanding
the Eleventh brigade. militia.
COlOne! Bodine was colonel OF voun teers
during the war. He ism the smpping business IN
this CITY and resides in New Jersey.
Mr.. Yale Is attached to the sharpe Manufac
featuring Company at Hartford
The shooting to-day viii begin al halfpAst ten
O'Clock and will be continued with only one inter
rupton lan hour for dinner until the match is over
very latest. There is, OF course, considerable spec
ulaflon as to the result, and the sporting rater-
NIFTY, always bent on making an ''bOnest y penny
ont OF anything that has two sides to 1t In con
test OF skll, have Tor days past peen betting ther
little piles the matcn. Up to the practice be-
tween the teams on Thursday the irish were the
iavorites but the splendid shooting OF the Amerl-
those enthusiastic gentlemen who had felt all along
s'suren tnat the irish would have walk over, and
bets are even now among the Hu0wlng ones
Special trains are TO be run from Hunters Point
tomorrow lor the accommodation OF the hundreds
VINO are expected 10 be present at the match III
the weather is fine there will he undoubtedly some
splendid shooting as each team ls determined TO
win.
nrrC rnpn paAvNp,c IEUEE