The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-05
IRELAND AND AMERICA.
The Coming Contest on the
Field OF Clontarf.
History Of The Rifle Shooting Rivalry Be-
tween the Two Nations
WHO WILL BE VICTOR?

In the month or July, 1873. the Irish team
shooting At Wimbledon against the representa-
tives or the best skin win The rlne OF England and
scotland won the Elcho Challenge Snleld-a prize
which was founded by Lord Echo IN 1862 the
event was novel, aud IL bswildered the rinemen
or Great Britain, while it exbarated al lrisnmen.
The success OF the Irish "teamn was greater tnan
had ever before been procured at the Wimbledon
butts They represented two shooting clubs Of
country in which the use OF the Tine Is unknown
to more than nine- tenths or the population; they
beat marksmen picked from among thousands
OF English aud Scotch volunteers all familiar Win
their weapon, and they made score such as had
been exceeded but once before at Wimbledon. u
was but natural Tor them 10 be proud ana
enthusiastic, AID it was but natural Tor the
entire Irish nation TO be proud and
enthusiastic for them. In the years that irish
Tnen had been allowed TO shoot at Wimbledon
they had won second places in lour contests. u
lad been some pleasure 10 beat the representa-
tives OF either section OF The British nation; but
the iulness OF JOY inundated the heart and nina
Of ireland when her marEsmen showed tnelr
ability above all the British rlnemen. me sue
cesslul members Of the Duohn and Belfast Rine
clubs determined TO cherish that SAIL winch tneJ
lad proven themselves TO possess and TO Lest ~ IN
A CONTEST WITH NEW ADvERsARlEs.
They turned to this country 70 and the latter
it's a fact thar they not sangGine OF via
ming over our rinemen They knsw that there
were thousands Or men ana some women
ia this country skilled IN tue use OF the
rine, and they considered tnat IN great
congregation or persons used 70 weapon
shere must be many adopts. Hence tney
nid not build their hopes high, but only
based them upon q sturdy determination 10 do
their best shooting II they came mere. In esti-
he nf IN afr haa
men the lrshmen paid no regard 10 the difference
between 'outtn shooting and taat "suapn shoot
Ing in which so many SOU thern men and western
ers are proficient. Otherwise they would nave
felt more confident OF obtaining success here than
shey did iee at the time they Issued their chal-
tenge. The nrst animation which the rtnemen OF
America received u the wish OF the lrlshmen TO
shoot a match with them was from the HERALD OF
November %. 1873. As The foreign marksmen did
know or the existence OF regular rine clubs in
this country, they sent their challenge TO our ride
men through tine editor and proprietor OF this
Journal The following Is a copy or the documents
which were sent hither BY Major Arthur b. Leech,
on behalf OF his countrymen. ia November. 1875
THE CHALLENGE.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT ESQ. New YorK = =
sIE-In matters Of enterprise your name occurs 70 me
issue International ride match which bog to
rine @eeng held annually az wimbledon; team q
st s9ons WIN nand md seaiIna a. ne
great American nation long enjoyed wordstde repa.
enclosed challenge from Irsa rIhemen now the cham
team Would Sc arsaa1cd HI 10 visit the Gned States in
me autumn OF 1874 enclose an account 81 tse naten
the irish eight in Dublin have The honor remain
cHALLESGE RIFLIsES OF AsERIeA TEoa TnL RITLs
OF IRELAND. RKPREsESrEp Br INK xEasERs or TIE
ASSOCIATION.
Mr. A. sennerhessea Leeeh founder IN ssI 81 the
can which be VIII match against an equal number Of
United states in the autumn q 1874 on he following
Targets scoring Ac same q adopted By ne S.tioaa
Eire Assoeanon o. treat srain ~ Is ar
the tlsho SHIELD beating sns ri and scotland
Rines-Any not sEessdiag zen pounds weight eui
Posiion-Any but ARTIFICIAL rest permitted, either
The American team 70 b. composed exclusively OF
riaemen BORN United states. 10 shoot with
The irish team viii shoot with rides BY EigbY OF
As tas challenge i pvcn decide the title the rife
ehempionship o. ne world Ar Leeca VII lequiIe =
riang pecnniary, ssln hsi - . sanrsnteS that az
Nr Leech desires 70 draw ths attention or ne Ameri-
people 70 the fact that the Jaws o. Great Britain
forbid the formation IN ireland q rne CORPS similar 70
seeiiand and hat sny an aeggrea oy II sinner IN
difficulties arising from disconTaring legislation.
IhiS COMMUNICATION remained almost unnoticed
until the middle OF December. when the Execu.
tive Committee or toe Amateur Rine Club met IN
this city. 10 was brought before that body, which,
in the absence OF any other properly formed asso-
ciatlon, ordered it 10 he answered IN suah way
a. Woud indicate . desire on the pav OF the
Americans to compete WIN the IRISH marKsmen.
The following letter was accordingly sent from
here 10 Duolln -
TIE RgsF0NSE.
1AE SMarEra EfgiK GIUs /
40 isf PBcApwAr sew YORK, Dee ~. 1874
A BLEsxkRHsxsErr f.Ekcu Esl.
DEAR sIg-four chsliemLe 10 American rife men, pu1-
iahed In the NEw OPE AKRAtp, having been brought
before the Executive Committee nave been requested
70 address you 20 the particulars q the proposed
match. with accep yogr challenge II sat
.sfactory crrauccmemts 30 made. The man items
4 your letter satisfactory The range Of the VA.
nOnAl Silc Association al Crcedmo0r H. however Inn
led TO l.C0 yards Rnd say match would therefore
be confined 70 0isiauCes not over that limit
Seasc inform the deposit yOa referred to-
whether 10 be ~ the winners.
curly that the match Will be carried out-aud what
amount Is desired Fr0I the hig rspntauoa q your
team very s1nsuinr ~ success. We WILL
- u 4. :. a. > . 80