The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-06
AMERICA VICTORIOUS.
THE CREFDMoOR CONTEs


DEFEAT or THE IRISH TRANSFORMS AND
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SHOTS AMI SCORES
FERMENTATION or BaHGEs, ETC
The New York World, OF the 9th inst,
contains the following full account of the
late celebrated rifle contest at the Creedmoor
Range, L. L. Wimbledon and her record
have been outdone and left far behind, so
TAR as iongnange shooting is concerned. in
the work done by the international teams at
Creedmoor yesterday. America, with a rifle
range scarcely two years old, and with.n
more than SO small bore riflemen, all toll, in
target practice has met GBG vanquish I'D abody
of British rifi emen second to none tb2teVer
graced the tournament at Wimbledon COM
mon. Long talked of, mach thought Of the
great ride match between Ireland and
America is over, and, while America IL the
victor, the contest was one which gives no
little glory to the vannusshed. No second
class work was done on either side, and
this great "shOOtn stands on the rifle
records OF the world a measuring notch
for future generations of rifiemen.
man must have the precision of
aa accurately gagged macfine to beat a
score of III in possible Use. There is no
cbild's play in suck a run. Nothing but the
most educated experience of the effect of
the wind. the light, the heat, the dryness,
and all the little details which have so ma
terial an infiuence on the swift travelling
bullet could Ia We enabled the champions to
perform such q ieat. The whole match
Was n model of order and OF fair play.
and an exhibition, aUOve all, of supreme
skill. The terms called tor ateahn of six ri
femeE from each nation, who we're each TO
fire 10 shots at the distances of SEQ 900 and
LOCO yards respectively. The time fixed for
the opening gun was H:sa O'Clock yesterday
morning By that hour fully 5000 people
Ha ri nhl of
one OF the shooting squads, and some of the
other. Ia this respect the divisions
we've about equally matched The day
was all that could be desired, so far as
country jaunting weather was concerned.
From riheman's point of view IL was not
so good. The sun shone out bright and
clear, while no refreshing breeze swept
acI oss the range. The rihemen had come to
the place of contest by several OF the earlier
morning trains, the A. N. train taking
several OF the Irish team. The targets bad
peen arrayed in groupsR two. Nos. lsand 70
and II formed a second couple, No. Is being
removed. This afforded an easy distinction
in the popular eve between the Irish and
American targets. Major Leech, who had
won the choice of targets, took Nos. 16 and
IL, toward the inside of the range, the
wisdom of his choice being manifest
at 1000 yards, where the shade
of the large tree over his position was
very refreshing to his men. The assign
ment of markers, spoilers and scorers for
each party to each target was then made.
One man each was named by Major Leech
and Capt. Wingate to go to the butts and sit
at each target and carefully see that the
marker performed his whole duty faithfully.
Others were put at the firing point with
good glasses to
SEE THE SPOT STRUCK
by each bullet upon the target, and see that
it was marked as hit, while others again
acted as scorers, duplicate tickets being
made out, and compared at the close. These
admirable precautions prevented anything
like a doubt of accuracy or fair dealing
in all parts of the competition. Once or
twice the men in the butts came out to ex-
anime target more infinitely, but the
shots were in all cases correctly signalled,
and there was no grumbling. From the
first to the last the shooting went steadily
on without flaw or break. 1t was just IL:
Ii o'clock A. M.when Capt. Wingate gave
the command 20 commence firing" John
Rigby was the first to fire on No. l6 target,
center, scoring three. Lieut.. Fulton
with a buil's-eye, giving the
Americans at the start lead of one point, a
vantage gained, which was increased to
nine points at the end of the 500
ward score. the Americans standing 326,
range Fulton, of the Americans. and Ham
ilton, of the Irish, beyond doubt the best
shots on the ground, each made IS in = pos
sible 60; that is, Is bull's eyes in 10 shots.
The crowd early resolved itself into two
factions. the Irishmen present assemb-
ling along the ropes behind the Irish
targets, while the general New Yorker
and the friends of the Amateur Rifle
club favoring the American team, were
found before the targets occupied by their
favorities. At the outset disposition to
cheer and applaud the making OF fine shot
" as shown, but the noise discOncerting the
shooters, it required the utmost persuasive
powers of Major Leecn and Captain Wingate
10 induce the crowd to repress their teelings
The greatest applause, it was
noted came from the Irish wing of the crowd.
The interest in the shooting was kept up to
the end, and the absorbing interest taken
may be judged of from the fact that nearly
1000 people, to which limit the crowd in
creased by later trains stood unflinchingly
from 10 A. NJ. until nearly II. NJ, in good
hot sun, crowded together, watching shot
after shot on four several targets at the same
time, keeping themselves we'll informed OF
the varying chances of the marksmen. The
conduct of the spectators was surprise to
the managers. Watching target is at best
but poor sport to an outside, and non-rifle-
man, but
THE HONOR AT STAKE
and the pride of nationality kept up the at
tention unilagging to the end. AS each five
shots was completed the scores were posted
ON the bulletin boards in full view of the
crowd. the finish of the 500 yard firing
recess for lunch was taken, and while the
general crowds resorted TO the eatiug stands
IN the rear, the teams and their guests par
took of an excellent lunch in a side tent
Here a new episode in the visit of the Irish
team took place in the presentation by Mr..
Leech of large silver vase to the rlhemen
of America. The speech accompanying the
gift was very neatly given by Mr.. Lsech.
He called particular attention to the fact
that the vase is of Irish design, made in
Irish silver by Irish hands, and accompa-
MED in its bestowal by the best
wishes of true lrist hearts. The gift
is very large, the lid being surmounted by
u reminder of Ireland in an exact copy of