The New York herald., 1874-09-29
The Challenges OF tho Irish Rinemen.


The international rife match at Creedmoor
was made doubly gratifying by the closeness
OF the two scores and the perfect good feeling
between the rival teams. The Americans, no
doubt, are prouder of having won by three
points than they would have been had they
won by fifty, and the Irish have gained vic
tory in beating all their own previous perform
ances and ecipsing the glories Of Wimble-
don. But "Alps on Alps" arise, and that
they are not content with the laurels already
won while the American wreath has three
leaves more, the letters of Major Leech and
MIR. John Rigby addressed to the editor Of the
HERALD will show
Major Leech, through our columns to-day,
desires to return his thanks and those of his
companions and the ladies and gentlemen
who accompany them for the hospitality they
have received from the American press and
public. In return, we may assure him that
the warm American heart is target they
could not miss. 1t is too big not to be hit by
such honorable guests, no matter how long
the range The reception of the Irish team
was to us one Of those duties which are de-
prived of any merit by the fact that they are
even greater as delights. The American pub
lie is thoroughly pleased to learn that
our visitors have enjoyed their trip,
and that they are so well satisfied with
the arrangements for the match and our
efforts to almost deprive it of an international
character by making them feel sat home"
With this assurance we turn to the challenge
which Major Leech has issued on behalf Of
the Irish team to the American rfemen. He
proposes that the second match shall take
place at Dublin, in June, 1875, on the same
terms as that at Creedmoor, each team not to
consist of more than eight or less than six
men, at the option of the Americans There
is little doubt Of the prompt acceptance of
this challenge, and we trust that annual in
ternational rifle matches will be hereafter an
established institution. The reply from
Colonel Wingate may be easily anticipated.
The letter of MIR. Rigby proposes q very
different contest. Regarding the late match
as "battle of the rifles as well as rivalry of
the marksmen, he issues challenge for a
match to be shot at Creedmoor on Saturday.
October 3, on the following conditions -Four
or five men shall shoot on each side; each
side to fire one hundred shots at one thousand
yards; the Irish team to use muzzle-loaders,
the American team breech-loaders and no
cleaning of the weapons to be permitted to
any of the rihemen during the contest. In
making this proposition Mr.. Rigby wishes
us to state on his authority that he and
the other members of the team are not
seeking to detract from the we'll won
laurels Of the Americans but to decide O
scientific question of all but worldwide i'm
portance. The question is of the superiority
of weapons, which was not tested fully in the
late match, for reasons which we have indi-
Gated and which Mr.. Rgby clearly explains.
Whether the arrangements ut Creedmoor and
those Of the American team will permit of an
acceptance we are not yet informed, but the
public interest in the national prize meeting
this week would be greatly increased by such
a contest, and we hope that Colonel Wingate,
Lieutenant Fulton and their comrades will
consent to enter it.
Rifle shooting has always been tavorite
sport in this country, though not till re-
Gently at long ranges, but the past neg
lect OF organization is shown by the
fact that the annual prize meeting this week
will be only the second of the National Asso-
ciation. The list of prizes is given elsewhere;
they number one hundred and seventy, and
their value is over eight thousand dollars.
The matches are divided into thirteen diff
the Judd prizes, which takes place to-day,
and is open to oil members. The last COM
petition will be for the long range champion
ship, and is open to all comers, and in this
some of the best Irish shots will no doubt
take part Creedmoor, for the rest of the
week, therefore, will be as brilliant as it was
on Saturday, and the presence of our dis
tinguished guests will make the events of
1874 memorable in our rifle shooting annals.
In connection with the present meeting
we have only to say that we hope better
arrangements will be made by the Central
Railroad Company of Long Island for
the transportation of the public. The scenes
witnessed on the occasion Of the international
contest were simply disgracetul. With such
difficulties thrown in the way of the public it
will be impossible to render Creedmoor popu-
lar even with the best efforts of the marksmen.
But if the railway company will not afford
proper facilities the range must be removed
to some spot accessible by railroads managed
by competent persons.