The New York herald., 1875-07-01
THE FIRST SHOT IN IRELAND.

THE AMERICAN RIFIEMRN TEST THEIR SKILL AT
THE DoLLYMoUNT RANaEs-FIBsT DAY s
PRACTICE FOR THE BIsH-AMERIoAN BATTLE
WHAT THE TRANSATLANTIC sHARpsHoorERs
ACCOMPLISHED.
DUBLIN, June Is, 1875.
The members OF the American rife team made
the acquaintance OF the ranges at the North Bull
yesterday under circumstances which were
simply the very best possible. II any honest we'll
wlsher OF the team, possessed of strong influence
with the clerk OF the weather, could have Sc
lecled uay upon which 10 introduce them to the
theatre OF the coming contest, ne could
not have exercised wiser choice. The
day was, from ordinary point OF
view, even for rneman, simply detestable. 1t
was raining blowing haIlng, almost without in
termisston. All that was wanting was the thunder
and lightning which we had a week ago in oruer to
make 1t a vertabe tempest. No one in Dublin
had any notion that rife shooting really possesses
charms capable OF woo:ng competitors TO try their
skill on sucn a day, and the surprise was great,
indeed, this morning when the newspapers re-
vealed the TACT that match had been shot yester-
day.
NO POsTPONEMENT.
1t Is quite certain that had the American team
not been on the ground the members or the Irish
Rife Association would have postponed their ewn
Americans.
FIRST DIFFICULTIES THE PRELUDE OF TRIUMPH.
The arrangements made had fixed Tuesday
next, 22d inst, as the day for their beginning
practice. The match drew them OUT. They were
thus able to experience at once all the difficulties
with which they may have to contend on the
real day OF the connlct. One, at least, OF the
winds which usually prevail at the Bull swept
over it almost the whole day. There was an al
most continuous downpour, sometimes being a
blinding rain, nearly intercepting the view OF the
targets. Thus their powers OF endurance, their
keenness OF vision their skill in making due al
lowance Tor the detection OF the bullet owing to
the force OF the WIND, were all subjec together
to very severe les, on their nrst appearance on
the scene.
INvINCIBLE
America has reason to be proud OF the result.
In defiance OF The difficulties which enhanced the
natural drawbacks inseparable from novel posi-
ton the team made a most creditable perform
ance. They Narrowly missed winning the event
itselr, when was carried Off by an Irish shot who
is not member Of the team that is to compete on
the 29th inst
Three Amercans-Messrs. Fulton, BodIne and
Dakin-beat all the men OF the Irish International
team except one. When 1t is borne In mind that
this result was achieved the ground OF the
unacq ainted and In the teeth OF difficulties with
which the Irishmen have been long accustomed to
contend and which long practice has taught them
how TO subdue or evade-iherc is every reason to
be satisfied with the performance OF the American
team In this their first appearance.
SHOOTING FOR THE LONG RANGE CHALLENGE CUP.
The American team have been admitted hon.
orary members OF the Dublin Shooting CLUB, and
Of the Irish Ilinc Association. Yesterday was the
date nxed Tor the competition Tor the Long Range
Challenge Cup OF the Club, ana the American
gentlemen were admitted TO compete.
THE HOUR
liked was IL A. NJ, Dut few OF the regular men,
bers appeared on the ground before 1890. or even
i. NJ Tns want OF pnnctuality has been much
complained Of II postponed the beginning OF
business, and so prolonged the shooting until an
exceedingly late hour. II also prevented the dis
posa OF another competition which was to have
taken place, and IL is to he hoped that "early
hoursn will in future be the usage OF the club and
the association.
THE GROUND
was very wet Indeed, altogether the whole
scene was miserable IN the extreme. Drcncning
showers fen at very short intervals varied by oc-
casional hail. A bitter biting breeze swept over
the range nearly che Whole d. go ----.--