The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-31

who should Took after the general interests
of the team, and thus relieve the Captain
of much responsibility and hard work.
Col Mitchell, Inspector of Rifle Practice
on Gen. Shaler's staff, was the choice.
81 had charge of the minutia of the
match" said the Colonel. yesterday; "se-
lected the men who should stand in the
butts, gave them their instructions, and
consulted with Major Leech, who occupied
nearly the same relation in regard to the
Irish team, about all points in dispute.
You know there Is often dispute as to
the proper value of shot. The match at
Creedmoor last year turned upon Just such
a point, which will illustrate what mean.
Every bullet that hits the target leaves the
ragged edge around the hole it makes. 1t
is often found difficult to tell whether the
bullet has hit, say, line, or whether the
| splash has. The splash does not count
/ One Of the shots at Creedmoor was at first
called a miss. On examination it was
found that the edge of the bullet and not
the splash had struck the outer edge of
the target. That decisien won us the
match. We were rather short handed.
and at the match had to ask some gentle
men, Major. Holland and others, who
went over especially to see the match, to
20 in the butts. They cheerfIlly assented,
and did excellent service there. | was
talking with one Of the Irishmen who was
in the butts, and regretting that these
gentlemen had not had more experience
before taking such responsible positions.
He laughed and replied that he was glad
they had no more experience, for they
were certainly very shrewd fellows, and
quite ready to claim all their rights, though
Of course nothing more.
AMERICANS GIVEN THE LEAD.
SIN fact, continued the Colonel, 'the
Irish seemed to let our men take the in
itiatory steps in everything. If there was
a doubt as to a shot, they would wait for
our men to express their opinions and ad-
vance their arguments, to which they
yielded almost invariably. Our Yankee
shrewdness might have been of good ser
vice in the event of a close match.
"Our reception and treatment in Ire
land were all that could possibly be de-
sired. 1t was more than ordinary hospi-
tality. 1t was the most thoughtful atten-
ton and generous hospitality The ban
quets and receptions that might necessitate
late hours, and afford more than usual
temptations in the matter of indulgence to
the team, were postponed until after the
match, so that there might be no drawback
| to good shooting. There was also the ut
most friendless and unanimity Of feeling
between the two teams. At one time there
was point in dispute, and Major Leech
and myself were required at the butts to
decide II. But our men objected to los
ing time required for us to 90 the l 900
yards and back, and by unanimous con
sent Mr.. Rlgby, who ought to have been
III the Irish team, went down and decided
the point. Ii was in regard to whether a
shot made by one Of our men was bulls
eye or centre. Rigby decided against
US, giving us three instead of four for the
shot. HIS decision was received without
any comment. When the Irishmen we've
shooting, the same thing happened, and
the same decision was given, in our favor
that time. So that made thing even.
''ln discipline, said Col Mitchell, "the
American team was noticeably superior to
the Irish. They understood themselves
and their duties so well that there was no
talking nor any confusion After man
shot, he simply turned to blackboard,
registered his elevation and windage, took
his seat and cleaned his gun, without be-
ing obliged to ask or answer any questions.
After a member Of the Irish team had
shot, somebody invariably asked him what
his windage was, and he gave it. oh,
that can't be right for you, was the an
swer perhaps, and then followed discus
sion. All this created confusion and worry
among the Irish team.
The people throngeG to the match
There must have been l8, 900 or 20, 900 in
side of the range, and nearly as many
more outside. There was much excite
ment, and it was with great difficulty that
the crowd were kept back. We had to
appeal to them personally, and beg of them
not to crowd the teams 80 much. The po-
lice were almost powerless. They have
fine police force, too, but they know it is
best not to ruffie the temper of such vast
crowd.
THE IRIsHNEN's GENEROSITY.
The Irish seemed really glad that we
won. They felt that we ought to win, be-
cause We were their guests, and therefore
IN their opinion ought to have the best of
everything"
Did the team themselves expect to do
their best shooting at the short range n
II don't know that they did. The team
are all eminently practical men, and they
determined to shoot their best at all
ranges. When they were behind on the
short range they saw that to win they
must make 1t up On the long range, and
they did. ! don't think that there are six
men in the world that can beat our six
Americans under their present organiza-
ton.
'Dollymount is not so good range as
CreedmoOr. 1t does not surpass it in any
one particular, and is surpassed by it in
many. IL has the sea on one side and an
estuary Of the sea on another, and is so
low that at high tide the ground is almost
too moist for shooting. When the sun
shines sort Of light mist rises from the
damp ground, and by its constant motion
renders accurate shooting difficult. There
has not near the labor been expended on
DOllymount that there has been on Creed
moor. Instead Of the markers being sta
toned in trenches directly in front Of the
target, as at Creedmoor, and where they
instantly signal the shot, at Dollymount
they have safety houses at the right of
each target. The marker has very long
pole with which he signals, and his en-
deavors TO put this long pole on the bullet
hole is often the occasion Of ve1atious de-
lay. Then there is no bank behind the
targets. That at Creejmoor was erected
at great expense, and is a decided improve
ment. / think there has been more shoot
ing at CreedmoOr in one year than st
Dollymount In the fifteen years Of the ex-
istence Of the range But then our regi
ments shoot at Creedmoor, and the Irish
regimental shooting and sham fights take
place at the Curragh.
THE weather was bad, there bling rain
nearly all the time. but we bought water
proof clothing, and soon got used to it.
II think, said the Colonel, that the
most exciting match was at Lord Dufferins
place, near Belfast. Col. Gildersleeve and
ase. of the IPlah kaam tad Tha. -.