Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-29
THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH.
Origin Of the COmteSt-SOmethin ms
About the Anne ricAn Team.

The International rifle match bet-ceen
American and Irish riflemen shot at Dolly
mount, near Dublin, Ireland, today, has
naturally attrticted much attention on both
sides of the Atlantic.
ORIGIN OF THE CONTEST
This match is the result of the Irish rifle
men having won the Elcho champion shield
from the English and Scotch rifiemen in
July, 1913. The successful competitors sought
for new adversaries in the United states
and issued a challenge, through Mai Leech'
dated from Dublin on october 81, 1873.
This was accepted on December %, IS73.
OF he Amateur Rife club aud r sece
rotary of the National Rifle association
The match took place at Creedmoor, Septem-
per 20, lsii, and was won by the American
team, which scored 934 to 931, the score of the
Irish team. The shooting on this occasion
was nearly equal on both sides. The highest
ssc0Ie e.. by Henry Fulton on the Amer
lean side-was III; the lowest was I39. The
highest on the Irish side-made by john Rig
by-was los, and the lowest was IN. This
match was so closely contested that Sec
ond challenge from the Irish rifiemen was
Issued. III was promptly accepted by the
National Rifle Association and the Amateur
Riiie clubs for the American marx Smen; but
q large amount OF corresponds ice had to
take place before the team for the match in
Ireland could be settled. On April 3, 1875,
the Amateur Rifle Club issue1 an address to
American narksmen, stating the terms npon
which the American team could be SaIect a. .
ard the result of the different trial matches
was that Major Henry Fulton. q EN-. T. :.
Dakin. Col. II. A. GilderSleeve Roswell G
Coleman. OF Goshen, n. Y, Col John Bpiine
and q. w. Yale were selected as TIE team
with Az. Garfield, jr., Leslie c. Bruce and
l.. NJ. Ballard as reserve men.
THE AMERICAN TEAM
III VIII thus be seen that the American
team was the same as last year with the
exception OF Roswell c. Coleman, VINO took
the place of l.. l.. Hepburn, who withdrew
Mr.. Coleman is considered new man and
had never before shot in any important
match. He Is the president of a local rifle
cluo organized last tall. and began practice
at CreedmOor about that time He is of
middle age. and possesses the qualities of a
good naTkSman. The skill which the above
six riHemen have attained can be estimated
by The score which they made at Dublin on
FRIDAY last. while practicing ON the VIM
biedOn or round ''bull's eve" target at Dolly
mount. The following is the score as tele-
grarhed:-FultOn, 1I0 out of a possible 100:
Dakln, l6l; Giidersleeve, 1883; Coleman l5S:
Bodine, 156; Yale, 1i6; total. $50 out of a pos
sible score of l,0S0 This total is 16 above
the score made bv the American team dur
ing the match of 1874.
THE RIFLE TARGET.
Four OF the American team use the Rem
ngton rifle namely, Fulton, Bo,line Dakin
and Coleman, while Yale and GilIersIeeve
use Sharps rifles, muzzle loa ierS. The
match was shot on the old Wimbledon tar
get, with square bulls eyes," "centerS,'
timers and ''outers." The a american team
Is composed of the very best material men
of excellent habits. strong. steady nerves
anu a good constitution. The American
team, accompanied by Lieut.. Col. c. B.
Mi cEell, Of Gen. ShalerS stan "a referee
left New York on June ) and arrived at
Queenstown on June II, since which time
they have been the recipients Of many kind
attentions rom the people of Ireland On
july l. q shooting match look place 1T Dolly
mount for the Dublin Rife CiuD's long-range
chalienge cup, when the ITisa riilcmen made
q total score of rs, and the Americans scored
I59. On the 18th OF June Major Inech the
captain OF the Irish team, pres nted the All
Ireland Challenge Shield for competition by
the riilemen, and the Americans were per
mitted TO shoot for IT. This shield is to be
shot for next year at Philadelphia. On June
- the practice for the match began at Dolly
mount, and the scores were very salts factory.
On June 2l the practice was again resumed,
hut on June - the best score, to which aIiu
sion has already been made, was obtained
by the a mericanS.
RECORD OF THE AMERICAN SHOOTERS
Major Henry Fulton is p wears of age of
medium height, and weighs about Il5
pounds. His record shows him to be the
best shot i'm the world. During the war he
served as lieutenant in the 2lst New York
cavalry; has since been lieutenant of the 18th
regiment, y. G., and is now major on the
stal. G.. w. Yale is 80 years old, and is
superintendent of the Sharp's Rifle Com
pany. Col. John BOdine is t. wears old and
was formerly colonel of the 10Th regiment,
New York. He is about six feet i'm height,
ana OF good proportions. Col. GilderSleeve
Is lawyer, and was formerly lieutenant
colonel of the 18th regiment. y. G., but is now
colonel on the staff. He is 80 years of age.
medium height, heavily built. and is a cool
old, weighs 220 pounds, and has seen service
IN The war. He is major general of the
second division Of National q lard. Roswell
=. coleman belongs to Goshen, y. Y, where