Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-12
Long RANGE SHOOTING.
The Y ears 0Feas Event NJ CreedmO

The Years 0Fe0s Event 1t CPeedmOOR
The International long range rife contes,
at Creedmor, which is 70 Ike p ace Tuesday
Wednesday, and Thursday OF this week, will
attract. 1t is thought, much more attention
than any previous match, aud an oppcrtu-
nifty will be afforded to witness an exhibition
In rifle shooting never before DISPLAYED In
any country. the chief interest is in the
lsct that there Is TO be competition at long
range rifle shooting by representatives OF
several countries for the championship OF
the world. On November 8, 1875 resolutions
S.sere adopted by the board of directors of the
National Rifle Association toucnfnx upon
the subject OF grand international ride
match for The championship of the world
and series OF other matches, to take place
In the United States during the Centennial
year. Letters of Invitation were sent to the
rife clubs OF England, Scotland, Ireland
Australia, Canada, Germany, Francs, Italy
countries where rifle association was
known TO exist. The invitation has been re-
sponded to by Australia, Scotland ireland
and Canada, each of which countries has
sent representatives or teams, each team
consisting OF eight men and two reserves.
who were chosen by q series of competitions
at long. range shooting. and who are acknow
LEGGED to be the best the world can muster in
the way CT small-bore, long range marks
men.
THE GREAT CONTEST
Of Wednesday and Thursday is ostensibly
for q trophy, given by the National Rifle
Association, and the championship OF the
world, though the teams indi vidually nold
4 f5s inc. in ssnd s Which T. tae hope
competitive rifle shooting throughout the
world. Most OF the marksmen hold the re
suit of the match itself to be Insignificant as
compared with their visit and the incentive
to more closely cement the bond OF friend
ship which existed between Great Britain
and America prior to their visit. The for
far exceeds nything they anticipated. In
addition to the pleasures OF the past week, q
long list OF entertainments has been arranged
for future days, including visit to the Cen
tennial at Philadelphia, and to Washington
where three days shooting will take place
for gold prizes offered by the citizens OF
Washington. The foreign rifiemen are much
THE RANGE AT CREEDMooR
and pronounce 1t, for making good scores, far
superior to any range they wers ever on
Wimbledon, the English range which is SO
often quoted as beautiful AMI perfect
range, though of much larger area, is not as
perfect In Its details as Creedm ,or, AND
CLeedmoor has not yet reached the perfected
plans OF Major Fulton and Colonel Wingate.
Every rfheman VINO has been At Wimbledon
speaks Of its treacherous winds, AMI account
for 1t being affected by the deep gullies
veptences for shooting at Wimbledon are su-
periOr to those at CreedmooY, as ft has 1I5
targets, and no single target used al two diff
ferent ranges as AT CreedmOor. Creetmoor
contains about ninety acres, on which are
erected thirty targets and q running dec, ten
OF the targets being used at long range sno Dt-
Ing. 1t is claimed to be the finest range in
the world, and there is no difficulty In detect
ing the direction of the wind. The clock dial
Tor indicating the direction OF the wind is q
Lovel idea, and when the wind is blowing At
all is perfectly trustworthy. The range h
level, and no gullies run through it. The
targets are erected on the northern end OF the
range, SO that instead OF having the sun
glazing in the face of the rthemen the Target
is always distinguishable.
THE CONTEST TO-DAY.
Ihere Will be two competitions on Tue
day. The fist will be the International
yards, using any rifle not exceeding ten
pounds In weight, aud the position standing
hrlpg ten shots. This Will be for tive lty
prizes, the first four winners to receive
medals OF the United States Centennial Cum
n1sslol ana prizes in money varying from
s25 TO s1O0. The other prizes will be in CASH
varying from sl5 TO s. each, given by the
National Rifle Association. The second com-
Petition will be the IT ternational mid range
match, at 900 yarus for military rifles aud
GOO yards for other rifles, ten shots to be dred
The same class OF prizes will be given in this
competition as In the first. These matches
are 10 be open TO all corners, aud already
pearly oae HUNDRED marksmen have entered.
Some OF the foreign rtflemeu will enter in the
match, though very few from the teams
proper. Mr.. Slade, of the Australian team,
Will emf er; some OF the reserves OF the Scot
IN team Will compete, and probably some
OF the others, though IL is the general inteu
ZION TO rest on Tuesday for the
GRsAT MATCH OF WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY.
This Is known as the International long
range m atch for the championship OF the
world, and open to rtfemen Of all countries.
IN this match each team Is to consist OF
eight men, who must be native-boru citizens
and residents OF the country they respec-
lively represent, except in the case of teams
representing provincial territory OF q gov
eminent, in which case q residence in the
province will be sufficient, provided the
member IL native born subject OF the
parent country; 70 use any rifle not exceed
a1e 10 POUNDS 10 weight 80 shots TO be red
ttor, at 800, 800, and 900 yards, In any posi-
ton without artificial rest. The prize Is TO be
an American Centennial trophy, to be shot
1t Is won, and each member OF the winning
team Ii TO receive medal representing the
trophy and also the medal OF the United
States Centennial Commission.
THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE TROPHY
ls q unique work, both in design and In the
remarkable effects produced By combining
diheIent metals. the general Idea is OF 2
feet high, and is wrought iron, inlaid with
gold, silver. and copper. The STAFF is Of
plain FURNISHED iron, with nllets OF polished
copper eagle with raised wings. In the
eagles claws Is held the fulmen, indicative
of power, and from thence barDed shafts Of
this, on an oblong plate Tin lieu of the 8. p.
Q. r upon the Roman banners) is the word
"Pelma," signifying prominence, valor, and
victory, and hanging over 1t is a silver laurel
wreath. A fasces Of copper is attached to
the plate by two strong links, and from it
hangs the field of the banner, which is co !.
riched with delicate scroll-work OF gold in
laid in the iron, and across the surface Is the
legend: "ln the name Of the United States OF
America TO the Rihemen of the Worldv In
silver inscrustation. At the bottom of the
held Is q fringe Of tnlaid gold. A chain fas-
tened at either end OF the fasces falls In
semt-circle across the iron field, and attached
to 1t at intervals are nine small laurel
wreaths Of silver. each inclosipg plate OF
copper In which the dates from 1876 to 1884
are tucrusted. This trophy, from its or gil
nality, Will attract attention In whatever
country II may be held, and cannot fail 10
excite admiration for the marvellous mani
pulation Of metals which it presents. Many
OF the methods of decoration employed in its
construction are new In this country, and IL
illustrates In q marked manner the taste and
skill of the makers.
THE CONTESTING TEAMS.
The American, Irish, Scotch, and Cana
dian rine teams were At Creedmoor on
Saturday fer their final practice prior to the
international matches. The Australians
prefer red II rest at home. The following are
the totals OF the scores: Scotch feam-Mc-
Vittte, 204; Frazer, 1876; Thorburn, 1872; White
NlQYk fQo. RovA 1oo. D..