The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-07-18
From Our Own Correspondent
OUR IRISH LETTER.
DUBLIN, June 29th, 1875.


DUBLIN, June 29th, 1875.
To-day was fought ont en- the range at
Dollymount, near the scene of the battle OF
Clontarf, the rife match between tho American
Team that arrived here fortnight since and
the team selected from the little band of Dub
lin Castle lacqueys that calls itself the Irish
Rifle Association. From the fret it was antici-
pated that the Americans would win. They
made capital scores during last weeks practice
Major Fulton out of Is shots made IA bulls
eyes, while the Irish never once practiced to-
gether. The only thing that told against the
Americans on the betting market was that in
their first preli minary- contest the week before
last, they were beaten by two points but it
is now known that this was owing to their nom
acquaintance with the ground. To-day, they
beat their opponents on the gross score by u
majority of four points. When the first and
second contests-those at 300 yards and 900
yards-had been decided, they less
than "a points ahead of the Irish. In the
third contest-that at q range of 1000 yards
the Irish proved themselves immensely supe-
rior, but still failed to make up for lost ground
and were conquered, as 1 have said, by four
mail ks when the day closed. I do not desire
American marksmen who are excellent shots,
when mention that somehow the two best
shots the Irish Team had at Creedmoor-
Messrs Rigby and Fulton-were nnacoountably
not in the field to-day, and that Mr.. Miner
who made the bulls eye in the wrong target ct
Creedmoor and thus YVES the cause Of the defeat
of his companions on that occasion, to day
fred four shots in succession without hitting
tie target at all and this was the cause of the
loss of less than 16 points at once to the
Irish Team. Those who preferred that the
Irish should win, are extremely annoyed at
this circumstance, and Major Leech the nomi-
nal captain of the Irish Team also comes in
for heavy censure for not having made his men
practice more. But the number of these per-
sons is small. The great majority of the people
infinitely preferred that the Americans should
be the victers. They have no sympathy what
ever, with the little clique of Irish rifemeu
who pretend in this matter to represent their
country, and the reason is that the rifemon
have no right to pretend to represent any per-
sons but.themselves, as the country, generally,
is disarmed and forbidden the use of any kind
of firearms for any purpose whatever. Con-
sequently, to-day, the Americans received q
perfect ovation from the crowds who had
assembled at DolIymount and along the road
from that place to Dublin. As they passed
through Sackvlle street on their way to the
Shelbourne HOTEL they received another ovs
tion. L should add that the range itself ~
Dollymount was enclosed to day by a wooden
barrier and was crowded although there was q
pretty high fee for admission.
Amongst the persons who came from o dis
lance to witness the contest were the Lord
Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London, one of
the Sberiffs of London and his wife, and the
Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of York. Each
of the Lord Mayors and the Sheriff were ac-
by an extensive retinue of servants
clad in gorgeous liveries-the footmen of the
Lord Mayor of London wearing blue velvet
coats heavily embroidered with gold. The |
whole party left London on Sunday evening |
and arrived at the Shelbourne Hotel, Stephens
Green, on the following morning. Here, at IL
o'clock, they were waited upon by the Lord
Mayor of Dublin, the Lady Mayoress, aud the /
members of the Dublin Corporation, all wear
ing their robes and travelling in carriages, and
were conducted in state to the Mansion House.
Though this day was very fine, yesterday
was miserably damp, and, consequently, the
spectacle was shorn of much of its splendor
After dejeunsr at the Mansion House, all pro- |
oeeded to the Pb0nix Park to witness mill |
tary review; but the rain prevented that, and
then they betOOk themselves to the Geological