Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-07-28
THE AMERICAN RIFLE TEAM.

The AMERICAN RIFLE TEAM.
Of the First Victory ut Dolly
mount-Strong Sympathy Felt for the
Observation-Disclosures of the Scores
with Those of CreetmOre.
Dublin June BOY Correspondence of the London
Times.
The historic plains Of Clontarf,' as
every patriot loves to call them, are in
vested with new interest on the score OF
another international contest OF rather
different character from that In which
Brien Boru and his team won immortal
fame. The battle of the rifemen at the
ranges of Dollymount has ended in a
triumph for the proud invaders. !"
Col. GildersIeeve and his gallant band
have beaten the picked champions Of
Irelani upon their own soil, and are
preparing to carry off the spoils OF the
first and chief encounter. They have
still to engage, however, in series of
minor trials, which will be hardly
fought by their opponents in the hope
of winning some OF the honors which
have yet to be awarded. The result was
not unexpected from the proofs of
greater steadiness, higher discipline and
closer application which the Americans
have given ever since their arrival.
They have not been so captivated by
the entertainments prepared for them
as to forget the main purpose Of their
visit, and while the Irish Team were
otherwise occupied they were to be seen
practising at the targets with q dill
gence worthy of imitation. The higher
scoring which they made on Friday ex-
cited some misgivings as to the chances
of their rivals-though the Long Range
Challenge Cup was won by an Irish
rife on Thursday-and these were no
removed by the counter score of the
Irish six on Saturday. They were fav-
ored yesterday by the unexpected re-
turn of fine weather, and their oppo-
nents, who, it is said, shoot better in
bad neutrality-suspicious. because they are
more accustomed to it-were deprived
of an advantage which, Judging from
the almost incessant rain of the previous
three days, they had reason to look for
ward toe with confidence. IF the report
be correct it must have been very dis
heartening to see the sun break forth
yesterday morning from the mists
which have enveloped him for some
time, and shine auspiciously upon the
strangers.
The American victory, it may be OBJ
served, though the Irish champions ere
at it, has not produced any
very deep impression on the public
mind. There can be no doubt that the
cheers which were given when the re-
suit was known and the majority-or
gross "poll," as, in electoral parlance,
it was called-came from the hearts of
the multitude that thronged the North
Bull. It is probable, indeed, that if
they were allowed choice they would
rather give the victory to the visitors
than to their own countrymen. Their
sympathy was more generally exhibited
on the side of the Stars and Stripes
than of the Union Jack, and the flag of
Ireland does not wave as many of the
masses would desire in this Information
al contest. The visitors have shows
their power in former trials of skill, and
if they enter the lists at Wimbledon
the best marksmen in the wider field of
will have to look to their
laurels, as they will have no ordinary
to meet. At the practice on
Friday they scored Is more than at
Creedmore, while the Irish team next
day rallied to show any Improvement.
But the superiority shown yesterday
was more decided, and, indeed,
splendid. the score reaching 967 out of
a possible 1850. The competitors were,
with only two or three exceptions on
each side, the same as those who went
across the Atlantic in September last.
Mr.. Coleman was substituted for Mr..
Hepburn on the American side, and
Messrs. Pollock and McKenna for Mr..
John Rigby {the winner of the Long
Range Challenge Cup last week, }
for Captain Walker in the Irish Team.
Neither side gained much advantage
by the changes. On comparing the
figures with those of last year, it will
be seen that the Irish have not adj
while..the Americans gained upon
the whole 33 points. The shooting at
the different ranges was very unequal.
At 800 yards the Irish added 81 to their
score of 1874, and were one point
ahead of their opponents; whereas at
they were beaten by nine
points. In their score at the 1000 yards
range the conditions were reversed.
At Creedmoor the Americans marked
293 and the Irish 3O2; but at Dolly
mount yesterday the Americans scored
BOB and the Irish 300. At 900 yards
the latter beat their opponents last
year by two marks, but yesterday they
we're ousted from this, which was sup
posed to be their stronghold.
A New Enemy in the Pennsylvania