The Republican journal., 1875-06-10
The Coming Rifle Shoot.

The association Of American gentlemen
who understand the way of a rifle ball in
| reaching its mark, and who, under the
title of the American Rifle Team are to
try their skill abroad. sailed from New
York last Saturday. 1t will be remem-
bered similar association of Irish sharp
shooters contended with the Americans
near New York last fall, and were beaten
| by a margin so small as to render 1t bare
| ly a victory and no more. The Americans
now cross the water to meet their oppo-
nents on their own ground, and to have
one more trial of their proficiency in the
science of proiectiles. 1t will be conceded
on all hands that this shooting of bullets
at targets is good deal better and more
sensible than turning their guns on each
other, and the prayer will 90 up that "A
great many years may elapse before the
ritiemen of the two countries shall be
looking into the muzzlr> of each others
GUNS.
looked for with great interest 1t will be
| strange if the Americans shall finally be
beaten with what has been regarded as
peculiarly their national weapon. But
the reputation Of this country was made
in that rapid otf-hand shooting which was
called for in contests vita Indians and
wild beasts Firing at rest and long range
with telescope sights, is quite another
thing.
The following is the list of the Amcri-
can contestants.
The team as finally selected comprises
! five men who were in the team Of 1874,
and four new ones The former are Henry
Fulton. John Bodine, Henry A. Glider
sleeve. Thomas : Dakin and George w.
| Yale; and the latter are Roswell {. Cole
man, Ardon v Garfield, Jr, Leslie &.
Bruce and l.. NJ Ballard. Major Fulton
| served in the army with the 2lst New
York Cavalry, and spent several months
in Libby Prison in 1851 After the close
of the war he, with his regiment, was dis
patched to Colorado to fight the Indians
He has been accustomed to handle a rifle
from boyhood. In 1873 he recorded the
highest score ever made on the range up
to that time-nineteen out of a possible
twenty points In the international con-
test last year his was the best score-17l
out of u possible $50 points. He uses Il
Remington rifle, and in shooting lies on
his back. resting his gun on the Y formed
| by crossing the legs. Col. Henry A. Gil
| dersleeve, the captain of the team, served
in the army with the lJOth Regiment of
| New York Volunteers, and gained '.onor
able distinction in Sherman's command
ON the march to the sea. He has had
| good experience with the rifle, adopts
Major Fulton's position, and in the con-
test last year scored 155 out of a possible
$50. Col. John Bodlne has had over
thirty years constant experience in rifle
shooting, and his score was l5S last year.
1t was his final shot which gave the vic
tory to the American team, George W.
y ale is Superintendent Of the Sharpe Rifle
Company, and uses that rifle. His score
was ~ last year Gen. Thomas S. Dakin
served with distinction in the army. and
is now Major General of the Second Di-
vision of the National Guard. He is a
scientific marksman, though he has not
| had much practice at long range. His
best score is l57 out Of $50 Roswell G.
Coleman has had no experience previous
to this year, but has scored as high as 14S,
and is President of newly organized rifle
club at Albany. Ardon V. Garfield, Jr.,
is another amateur, and his best score thus
Tar is 1879. Leslie G. Bruce is one of the
proprietors Of Turf, Field and Farm. lie
has made handsome scores in short range,
but he has not had much experience in
| long range H. NJ. Ballard, the last man
in the team, has had some short range
practice. All the members OF the team
are New Workers, and with two eNcep-
tions all are natives Of that State