The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-03
THE RIFLE MATCH.
America VS.. ireland.

The Americans have handsomely beaten
the Irish in the international rife match at
Dollymount, and also their own shots at
Creedmoor last year, which had been up 10
that time unapproached in the history Of long
range rifle shooting.
Their brilliant record ut the Irish range
will unable them to enter the lists in the forth
coming contest at Wimbledon, in England, in
early July, with the prestige Of champions.
They have done the best shooting that has
ever been done, and if they maintain their
supremacy in the Wimbledon contest with
the English, Irish and Scotch, they will come
back TO New York loaded with honors.
Both at the Creedmoor shooting last year
and now at Dollymount the ranges were the
same-SO0, 900, and 1000 yards; the targets,
six feet by twelve in size, with centre six
feet by six, and bulls eye three feet by
three. The teams are each six men each
man has fifteen shots at each range, forty.five
in all. The highest possible team score, is
1880
AT Creedmoor, New York, the total Of the
Americans was 9S4, that Of the Irish, OIL
thus made up AT 500 yards, Americans,
325 Irish, 8l7 300 yards, Americans, $40
Irish, 3l5i 1000 yards, Americans, 29s
Irish, 1903.
The American beat the Irish by 88 points,
and their Creedmoor score by 80 points the
Irish fell behind their Creedmoor performance
2 pointa.
The Americans shooting was indeed SPLEEN
did, and the Irish compared favorably with
the best shooting at Wimbledon, the great
English rifle range. Though beaten, they
maintained high reputation, and justified
their former title to the Elcho shield, the chief
Wimbledon prize. They had exhausted hos
pitality to the American team previous to the
match, and they gave unstnted honor to their
successful opponents when they retired victors
from the field,
At Dollymount, Ireland, the range, is on
sandy island in Dublin Bay, about three miles
from the city, called the North Bull. II is
part of the bar at the mouth Of the Liifey,
u stream famous in Irish history. The cee.
brated battle of Clontarf, fought by Brian
Boru, the renowned chief, against the inVad
ing Danes, before William the Conquerors
time, occurred on its banks. 1t was fit
place for the friendly contest between the
riflemen of the New America and Old Ireland.
The qualities required in these long range
rifle shots are endurance steadiness Of nerve !,
and careful calculation Of the varying wind
age. The contest lasts for several hours; the
men are kept up at high nervous tension by
the excitement of competition and the sym
pathetic partisanship of the vast crowd of
witnesses. Only the strongest selfcontrol,
eyenness Of pulse, and rigidity Of muscle, ear
hope to win even decent success.
The positions assumed by the different men
are many and frequently amusing-all, how
ever, depending on the one principle Of the
effort of the man TO find as many points of
support for his body on the unyielding ground
as he can secure, and at the same time to
bring the rear or peep.sight of the rife as
close to his eye as possible. The target at
these great distances looks of about the size
of say one inch by half an inch at three yards
length from the eye. To put shot after shot
in the bulls eye-a just appreciable black
spot-at 800, 900 and 900 yards, and to keep
up the fire through forty.fve consecutive
shots, is to test the endurance and steadiness
of the marksman to a marvellous degree.
The fact that the American team never
fired at long ranges until last summer, though
their opponents have been in practice for ten
years, gives added merit to their victory.
They have put themselves at the head of all
long range rifle shots. Next month they will
have an opportunity to carry off the champ
ionship from Wimbledon likewise. The team
have certainly done us honor, and the Irish
team and people have given further proof Of
their chivalry in accepting honorable defeat
without modification, and spending unstinted
praise on the victors.
ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE AMERICANS.
Dublin, June 50h.-There was shooting
to-day at Dollymount for the Spencer cup,
free to all corners, Messrs. Bruce, Yale
Dakin, Gildersleeye, Ballard, Coleman and
Garfield, Of the American team, and all the
members Of the Irish team and Shooting Club
took part. The contest resulted in another
victory for tho Americans. r. c. Coleman
won the cup, making q score of Al out of n
possible 90. The range is 1000 yards, Gil
dersleeye and Yale also won prizes during
the days shooting.