The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-05

1
Major Leecn is the chairman. The nrst target
ever erected in ireland was set up on the de-
mesne OF Mackree Castle, in 1859, before the visit
| OF the Irish team to Wimbledon.
ON THE OLD SOD
The diflcuty OF carrying on his arduous sup
port OF the noble science OF rife shooting in Ire
! land and MS regimental duties in London were
! too much for Major Leech. so, as he preferred
the real material In Ireland to the half Dred stun
In England, he abandoned the Irish regi-
ment In London and, returning 10 Dub
! lin, threw himself with energy into
the work OF organizing rine corps at home.
The winning OF the Elcho Shield az Wimbledon
by the Irish, p 1872. Is mainly attributable to his
exertfons, aud, on the occasion OF their victory,
the successful team presented him with hand
some copy of the shield TO keep alive In his men,
| CRY the gratitude which they owed MIN. Tne pres
entatIon occurred at the Mansion House, In Dub
| lin, and banquet was aiterward given by the
| Lord Mayor TO the "Irsh Eight" Earl Spencer,
| the then Lord Lieutenant, who was present
! at the banquet, paid Major Leech a handsome
| compliment IN a speech In which he said that
! "he saw before him the man TO whom they were
! principally indebted for their victory. There was
| no man at Wimbledon who not proud TO
Nreckon MAJOR Leech among his friends.n After
! 1872 it was natural enough that the Major should
nave looked toward America with longing eyes,
seeing there new laurels for his pet rlnemen.
Every one now knows how he sent his challenge
through the NEW YORK HERALD and how grace
fully and CALAMITY he accepted the defeat which,
he admitted, he had not expected. | asked MIN
II he thought that Miner, who made BULBS eye
! on the wrong target
AT THE CREBDMooR MATCH,
! was really the principal agent in the Irish teams
defeat.
Not at all, he answered hastily. 'Theres not
a better shot in ali Ireland than Miner, and he
| goes en- the team here. sure twas Walker who
lost the match. The idea of the man making q
J miss at 500 yards 1t was an objectionable
offence; past all lorgivtng entirely. Pm sure l
can't see, for the life o. me, what led him 20
NIT such heresy.n
The Major recounts with glee the story OF the
Irish porter who, when preceding him up stairs
with trunk on his shoulder, suddenly turned
and safe mysteriousy:-
We'll. Major, yez did that well ~
WHAT" inquired Major Leech, somewhat as
tonished.
"Telhng Miner to make the BULBS eye on the
wrong target to let the Americans VIM
And the captain OF the Irish team had great off,
hculty to persuade his enthusiastic Icllow-coun-
tryman that the rIdemen from the Emerald Isle
could be beaten.
HIS WRITTEN FACTS.
Major Leech assured that the Americans
would not only be allowed 20 compete at all the
! principal matches IN Ireland and England, but
would be heartily welcomed. In his new DOCK he
says -" 1t would be graceful compliment to the
American nation If the gentlemen composing the
| American team were invited TO compete tor the
| Elcho Shield at Wimbledon. Unless in future the
| Americans are allowed TO take part III this match
the Wimbledon people will be very much in the
position OF the man who ran race by himself,
and who consequently came in first. l
make little doubt" ne adds, 81 that the
/ Wimbledon authorities VIII consider any
| application on the subject and that what
! In future might seem an ungraclous eXclu-
SION will readily be avoided. In this case fund
might be raised Tor the purpose of contributing 10
| the cha pions expenses across the Atlantic The
honor OF place in such a team may, perhaps, by
| some beaconsidereu a SUFFICIENT lnducement 10
gentlemen to compete; but it should be remem-
bered that the process is expensive, and that any
| one who comes forward to snoot 1T an interna-
tional match is expected TO keep up a certain po-
;sision."
| "REMINISCENCES OF TRAVEL IN AMERICA.
! Not the least interesting portion Of the Majors
volume is that which contains the account written
| by MIR. Waterhouse concerning his journey to Dem
yer, and Mr.. Johnson about his excursion INTO
| Kansas. Missouri, the Indian Territory and along
| the Texas border, when the Irish team was in
America The adventures OF Messrs. Johnson,
| Rlgby, Bagnel and others are recited in piquanr
ana entertaining fashion, and the comments OF
our visitors upon what they saw and heard are as
just as they are kindly and conslderate.
THE EXCURSION IN DUBLIN BAY.
| Yesterday goodly number OF the American
party accepted the cordial invitation OF the Irish
Lights Commissioners TO take SAIL in Dublin Bay;
but, even had Colonel Gildersleeve and his men
known that the rain would have prevented them
| from practice, they would scarcely have ventured
! any excursion by water just at present, for
! sea sickness Is a rare demoralizer or nerves,
and rlneman's Will must control every thread In
| his body at an instant's notice. In the evening
large and merry party went down oy train from
Dublin to the Royal Marine Hotel at k;ngstown,
where the Port and Docks Board had prepared a
/ delightful banquet. The LORD Mayor, the High
Sheriff and many other distinguished gentlemen
! from Dublin were present There were nearly one
hundred guests and the addresses and toasts were
prolonged until the sudden announcement OF the
approach OF midnight frightened every one from
the table and forced them 10 hasten to the train.
Colonel GiderSleeve and Alderman Cole maze
excellent short speeches, the former receiving
hearty applause when he announced that he and
his fellows had come 30 win the rife match.
| Alderman Cole gave short sketch OF the rise and
! progress OF the Irish element In America, and
mentioned many INDUSTRIOUS names, whose owners
went out from tiny namlets in the Irish noun
talns ana valleys not more than score OF years
ago.
| ALDERMAN MANNING
enlivened the festivities with some sketches OF
MS journey. very charming feature or the ban
quet was the singing OF Latin grace "Non
! Nobis,n by a quartet Of excellent voices. The
music was EXQUISITE, and one might almost
nave fanced himself for moment in the refec-
tory ofsome antique monastery where tue monks
we're praising heaven over their food. After each
course came gees, choras and madrigals truly,
these modern Irishmen are as luxurious In their
repasts as the ancient Romans were. 1t needed
but the introduction OF some bard with flowing
white beard and hair, with harp in his hand and
singing the praises OF the rife OF to-day to revive
memories OF the tune when MINISTRIES at the tables
OF the Irish mobiles sung songs in praise OF the