The Republican journal., 1875-07-08
The international Rifle Match.


in prizes The most exciting contest is
for the Elcho Shield, between teams of
eight from England. Scotland, Ireland,
and the Dominion OF Canada. For a long
time il was almost uniformly taken (held
for Il year1 by the Englishmen, but OF late
Years the Scotch and Irish have got into
the way Of winning it frequently. The
Irish team took it in July, 1873. and con-
sidering themselves the champions OF the
world soon after began negotiating for a
match with an American team and sent
their challenge October 81, 1873 1t was
only in 1873 that long range rifle shooting
in the United States rose to the dignity of
having a suitable ground. Partly by pri-
waite subscription and partly by a grit OF
$4,000 from the State of New \ ork, a
farm was purchased of Nh Creed, about
H. miles ont on the Long Island Central
Railroad and named Creedmoor, and in
1873 II was opened for general use, being
modelled after the Wimbledon grounds.
The militia of New York. within easy
reach, are required to practice at stated
times. and the annual tournament and
various independent matches have inter-
csted many gentlemen from all parts of
the country. Creedmoor is governed by
the National Rifle Association subject
TO The rights of the New York National
Guard
Americans have for generations had the
reputation OF being good rilemen but
practice beyond 500 or possibly 400 yards
Was unknown before the war. There are
muItitudes OF men who can shoot admir-
ably with hair trigger rifles off hand, at
Too to 200 yards, or at u longer distance
with heavy rifles carry ing telescope sights
But aside from weapons made turmlitary
use after 1S5O-Sharps, the Springfield,
the Remington - there We're no rifles
made for long range, and even those
were not good beyond GOO to 500 yards at
the tartheSt lThcv would carry farther
hut not with satisfactory accuracy. Not
only was the practice new, but the rifles
We're lacking. Sharps Rifle Company and
the Romingtons took the lead in Supplying
the deficiency The American National
Rifle Association accepted the challenge
OF the irishmen with some hesitation. but
went 10 work diligently.
The Irish team that came over in 1874,
We're very popular gentlemen and capital
shots The leading shot was John Righy
OF the famous firm OF rillemakers in Dub
lin Among them was Dr. j. Il. llamil-
ton, surgeon in the British army who had
served long in India, acquiring a great
reputation rs a Shot. publishing among
other works s. Flyer hunting in India "
Captain 7. Walker was also OF the British
regular service. The match resulted as
follows Americans, 934 Irishmen, 93l
Major Fulton's SCORE III out OF pos
sible $50, or 56 bulls eye out OF A. shots
is the best on record in the world The
totals on each side are higher than any
ever made in Wimbledon match. so
that the lriahmcn had some glory, il not
all they wished After the match they
telt at liberty to ION in the testiy tiles, and
they We're overwhelmed by the most cor
dial and lratefnai inequalities The re-
turn match was a necessity.
Wimbledon rules had in view the inn
provement OF military Workmanship. In
IN ANY rifle match like this the rifles
may load III the muzzle OF the breecii,
must not weigh over ten pounds, and the
trigger pull must not be less than three
pounds. ANY Kind OF sights may be used
except telescope, OF such as obscure the
target too much, and so prevent the rifle
men from seeing markers and signals
The marksman may take any position he
chooses, THAI is to say. wholly without
-, 10Y way '''''N"'tN' ''t'eH''it4to VI
lying. that he can get himself and rifle
INTO ON level ground. OF course they all
nc DOWN - some mead foremost on thclr
breast some leet foremost on Their sides
or n'ch- distances $40, 300 ana l0o'
A"iNS 4 nan mlIe Is NSW \afd9) lliteeh
IhoIN 1T t"ch distance. me target is OF
het'S iron plaleS, ana Is Twelve ieeI wac
AND SIX feet high. A heavy black line
'NGa on thIee Iett 4, eath 'io Wilich IS
Clllcd the "outer ms leaves space
HiN rect square the white portion OF which
b called center. The bulls eye i three
lret square A shot IN the bulls eye
counts !, IN the center ), IN the outer !;
miss counts q. The highest possible
score would therefore be 4Xl3--Go at each
distance, on $50 Tor The - shots. Total
iof the team ct SIX, with their 2'0-s shots,
I'SU
ne Amrrlran team OF tins year are as
l"lIoWS: Mayor Henry Fulton, evil en-