The New York herald., 1876-09-03
The International Rife Matches.

The international Rifle Matches.
Popular interest in these contests has
been steadily on the increase since the first
meeting at Creedmoor, when our riflemen
won their famous victory over the Irish
marksmen. The effect Of this triumph was
to stimulate lovers of rifle shooting in this
country to new efforts toward the attainment
been popularly termed our national weapon,
and the Dollymount victory formed sequel
to that of Creedmoor, which was satisfac-
tory evidence of their success. For the third
time an international match between the
best marksmen of Ireland and America
is about to be shot, and to this event
is added another of equal if not su-
perior interest in the public estima-
tion--namely, an international match, in
which representative teams from five
countries will compete for the palm
of victory at the butts. For the first
crack shots of Scotland, Ireland, Canada and
Australia will strive to snatch from the brows
of the keen sighted, steady nerved Ameri-
cans the laurels which they have so splen-
didly won in two great contests. 1t must be
admitted that if Uncle Sans boys are to
the world they will have to win it against
foemen worthy of their best efforts, and
while we entertain high hopes that the
result Of the coming matches will be q
glorious victory for our team we nor they
must not forget that it will be won against
men confident of their own powers
An analysis of the chances based upon
the results of the practice of such Of
the teams as have had en- opportunity
Of testing their skill at Creedmoor is,
of course subject to such errors as are
created by circumstances affecting indi-
vidual shooting. But it is, perhaps, possi-
BILE to arrive at something near correct re-
suit by comparing the aggregate scores made
by the teams on their days of practice, for it
is certain that these vary but slightly,
and that the relative averages remain
almost unchanged. The element of mere
luck must be entirely ignored in the calcu-
laton, for the contestants are all too skilful
to permit of such q consideration. We find
that the practice of the Australian team--the
first to arrive at Creedmoor-has furnished
the following general results Assuming
the highest possible score to be unity, the
Australians made at their four practices.
0. S447, O.843S OS4O5 and 0.7927, respec-
lively. The Scotch rifemen in their home
practice made 0.8092, and at Creedmoor,
during two days work, 0S34S and O. 1922.
The Irish team, at practice in Ireland, made
an average Of 0.821O, but as the men have
not yet arrived we can form no correct
idea of their work at Creedmoor ex-
cept from the foregoing The Ameri-
can team has been singularly irregular in
its averages, but may be set down as worth
from O.S45O to 0S5OO. The Canadian team
have been practising assiduously, but they
have not made public the result, so that we
must set them down Us an unknown guam
tity in our calculation. From present ap-
pearances the victory lies between the
American, Australian and Scotch ritlemen,
the chances of winning being in the order
of naming the teams. Our Canadian friends
may, however, treat US to an unpleasant
surprise, for there are plenty of superb
marksmen in that land of the beaver and
the pine. We are satisfied with our, own
men, and are content to leave the honor of
the country in their hands, feeling assured
that it will be gallantly defended If one of
the visiting teams wins the battle of the butts
they may congratulate themselves on having
won famous victory.