The New York herald., 1875-08-17
NARRAGANsETT GUN CLUB.


THE CHALLENGE PIGEON SHOOTING MATCH
FINE SPORT AMID UNAVOIDABLE WEATHER
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN PREsENT-AlR.
GRUSD THE WINNER OVER MR.. HEcKscHER IN
A SCORE OF 80 TO IA.
NEWPORT, r. l., August 16 1875
Great preparations had been made by the resident
and transient population Of Newport for the sport
which took place day the grounds Of the Nara
Eansett Gun Club As n horse racing and yachting 50
the gun clubs always have their chief prominent days
and this was Of the good days Of tho
year at Middletown. Unfortunately the wea-
ther was unproptous, for from midnight
OF Sunday it seemed though this place was to be
centre Of gentle showers which have been so disas
trous elsewhere at home and abroad Had the weather
been favorable Of gentlemen would have been
present, fact well established by the premium asked
ON carriages on Sunday evening While the many we're
disappointed however those who did reach the grounds
well repaid for the trouble Of combating rain and
mud The challenge
was TO commence at twelve O'Clock The contestants
Mr.. J. P. Grund of Philadelphia, and Mr. j. G.
Heckscher of New York II was lny bird match, dis
tance thirty yards, English niles governing 81, 500
side. The birds started from English ground traps
the five traps being in line and arranged that none
opened By noon quite large company had assembled.
Among the gentlemen beneath the little tents at
tho traps His Excelency Arsarche Bey, Minister
Penpotentiary of the Turkish government at Washing
on; the British Ambassador Sir Edward Thornton, ac-
companied by his host Mr. L. Norton the ex Minister
10 Vienna John Jay Majors Randolph and hcComb,
United States Army, and many others AT ten minutes
past twelve the little crowded. and the rain
continued fall heavily it considered useless TO
delay the match with the hope that it would clear up
fhere a spirit Of impatience manifested, indeed
A TEST
was put into one of the traps for Mr.. Grund who
quickly brought it to the ground. This served
celent method for fixing the elevation and the
time tried the effect of the dull light Mr. Heckscher
did not take test for his practice on Saturday
proved him capable Of killing eighteen out Of twenty
Ave birds In the absence Of any Rhode Island Bergh
and the little BeTghs that cling to tho central figure,
Ihe toss was made for first shot, and
won by Mr. Heckscher At fifteen minutes
twelve Mr. Heckscher stepped forward and received
As gun from Ira Paine and turning TO the man at the
lever attached TO the traps asked
care you readyY Pull"
In an instant the report of both barrels ratified and re-
echoed from the neighborng trees, the second barrel
bringing down the bird though had been struck by
lightning. As Mr.. Grund advanced to take
There was the most profound silence Everybody
was anxious 10 know how he would commence, espe-
ciay as some friend OF his opponent offered TO hazard
considerable sum against him. He fred however, and
the first shot sufficient to kill that bird. Now they
started for the second birds Both Mr. Heckschers
barrels failed to retain his second bird within the bounds
and this was declared
THE FIRST ''BAD BIRD~
Mr.. Grund only brought down his second with the
last barrel Now they went earnestly to work. ard
each took the mark as rapidly as the guns could be
loaded. At the fifth bird Mr. Grund was ahead, as
his opponent had missed twice while he had only missed
pnce or the next five birds Mr. Heckscher missed the
arst and Mr. Grund the hith SELL leaving him one
ahead II would be difficult describe the sudden change
IN Mr. Heckscher's firing from this time TO the end of
lhe match Whether was the increased darkness that
suddenly seemed TO overspread everything the deep
shadows from thick and murky clouds interfering
with his aim, whether his training had been little
severe and his nerves were yielding under the excite
mcnt, seemed able 10 divine As before stated,
he had made some splendid shooting during the Satur
day previous shooting that would have induced many
sporNng men to speculate on him to the last cent
The birds in some cases were GHOSTS"
that IA to say birds that Seemed TO under
stand iae rapidly with which shots travel after
them and that dart direct point in advance of
the lead But considering everything, the birds were
sponsibie. Bergh would doubtless say
GLAD THEY GOT AWAY, POOR THINGS"
comfort to the phianthropist Mr. Heckscher killed
his eleventh and fourteenth missing his twelfth, thir
fifteenth bird making him three ahead of his competi
cor. Mr. Hcckscher's good fortune had apparently de-
serted him. for he killed but two Of the five BIRDS
thus giving his opponent steadily increasing advan-
Age. At the twenty nth bird
THE SCORE STOOD
Heckseher, ID; Grund, 20
Mr. Heckscher missed in succession his twenty SIXTH
twenty seventh twenty eighth and twenty ninth birds
Steadily and cooly his opponent continued making
excellent record though he missed in succession his
twenty ninth and thirteth and also his thrty-sixth
and thirty seventh birds -
Mr. GrInd was in excel condition, and it is ex.
Iremey doubtful " any anReur could have succeeded
with him any better than Mr. Heckscher did.
Rain shine dull or light, that gentleman will hold
gun with any member of the club, said gentleman
your correspondent and the record Of this match
will place him foremost in the ranks of pigeon
shooters as will be by the suboned official
He killed thirty out of forty birds while Mr. Heckscher
killed but nineteen. The match declared finished
ht the forteth bird, the referee observing that Mr.
Heckscher could not win after that.
SUMMARY.
CHALLENGE MATCH BETWEEN Mr.. JoHN G. HEcKsCHFR,
NEW YORK, Mr.. j. 2. GRUSD, PHI.ADRLPHA- |
81 500 a side; 80 yards so birds each
Mr.. j. r Grund 80 yards l 0, 0111lO |
l1O11 1O111, 1110O, 1101I, 0O11L Thirty |
killed.
Mr.. John G. Heckscher 30 yards O110 O111I
1901 0, 10000 lO1, 000O1 10O01 1101OL /
Nineteen killed
After this the members Of the club ndnged in seyeral