Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-27
THE k1FLE CONTEXT YESTERDAY.
fenton, OF the Irish Team, Makes the
Best ScOF0-PecullArltne OF tho DIFF.
ferent ktnemo1 IN Shooting -Aa-
other Match TO.MOrROW

other Match TO.MOrfOW.
As stated in yesterdays STAR, the long
range rife shooting yesterday at Benning's
range, was for Individual excellence. To
make the match as equal as possible, the
twenty eight men that were willing TO shoot
were divided by lot into six squads-four of
five men each, and two OF four. Owing to
the late hour OF commencing the shooting,
the number of shots apiece was limited TO
ten. AS there were two targets, two squads
were shooting at the same time, finishing
their entire score before the next two squads
began. The final score OF the first two so Ais
was published In The STAR Of yesterday
but by mistake the first squad" was called
the inc Irish SQUAD" Fenton, of the Irish
making is out OF possible 90 The follow
Ing is the result OF the shooting by squads:
FIRST s9uad-Overbaugh, American, II,
Men zies, Scotch, 50; Gee, Australian, 81; GoR,
irish, 81; Miner, Irish, 40.
second Squad Greenhill, Irish. 81; Rgby,
Irish, Al; Evans, Irish, 80; Anderson, Ameri-
can, Sc; Dyas, Irish, Al.
Third Squad Rae, Scotch. Al; Rathbone,
american, A; Fenton, Irish, 4S; Lynch, Aus
Fourth Squad Garfield, American, 40;
Luke, Scotch, 81 Allen, American, So;
Mitchell, Scotch, 10, having retired after the
Fifth squad-Bodine, American, IS; Boyd
Scotch, As; King, Australian, 81; Ballard
American, IL; Weber, American, II.
sixth sausd-Joynt; Irish, So; Blyden-
Slade, Australian, IS; Thyme, Irish, ~.
The members OF the Irish team scored 35l
out OF possible 800. Scotch, 1871; possible,
90; australian An! l6l; possible, 200. Ameri-
Averages-Irish, 80; Scotch, 50 Is; Aus
tralian, 40; American, 81 10.
The Americans low average was owing to
the unusually poor shooting OF one or two of
Its members.
Persons not familiar with the conduct of
rife matches would find much to interest
Them In viewing Lot only the system of
team shooting, the arrangement of the tar
gets, &c, but especially the peculiarities of
teaiw,anal maIssmen. or those who were
spectators yesterday was Colonel Botine,
better known as cold Reliable" He Is q
remarkably fine looking man, tall, aud
straight as an Indian, and with the stead
lest OF nerves. He wore yesterday q long
rubber coat and Scotch cap. His position
is changed this season from the prone to the
back position. He lies somewhat on his
right side, resting the gun on the left thigh,
and holding 1t firmly by the barrel with the
left hand. Major FultOn did not shout yes
teiday, but acted as umpire. His position
is known as the "Farquharson," lying Nat
on the back with his feet toward the target,
al the butt OF the rtde grasped firmly, with
the fore arm acts as a support for tue heal,
and cushion is used as a rest for tbs cheek
against the stock OF the gun. The barrel OF
the gun rests In a crotch formed by the cal YES
of his legs. Col. Gildersleeve aud Gen. Da-
kin were unable TO be present yesterday.
Mr.. Weber, whose score was next In excel
Ill
the American team. His position in shoot
Ing is to lie on The bac; with his left
srm and hand thrown back and under his
head. He fires with very little delay. In
the International mate 7 he made the sec
ond highest score in The American team,
Mr.. RathboDe making the highest. Mr..
Rathbone is especially noticeable for the
popularity OF his preparations for firing.
He is small, thin faced, wiry man, seem
iDgly all nerves. When his turn comes he
steps quickly to the firing stand, drops on
M ~ lnfr - "A ..
his head, grasping the butt of his rifle con-
vulsively. He wriggles all over like an eel,
as IL trying 10 find as soft a spot as possible
In the boards. When his position sui Is hi m,
however. he lies like a rock not moving a
muscle, and fires very quickly Afterwards
AS soon as he has fired he jumps up quickly
ana walks with a raj Id, springing step to his
seat and begins cleaning his gun without
looking TO see the result of his shot Fenton
who made the largest score yesterday
throws himself upon the stand lying D his
race, and diagOnally with the direction OF
the range, 81 that when he aims he points
the gun TO his left. Mr.. Millper, of the Irish
team, who made the remarkable score OF Or
ten bulls eyes at CreedmoOr lately, was
also The object of good deal OF interest.
bis position In shooting Is lying upon the
back, with the legs well drawn up, the feet
resting perpeDdicularly and the head g lightly
elevated. The muzzle of the ride rests upo1
the knees with the butt end clutc1ed against
The shoulder. Rigby, of the Irish team, takes
the same position as that OF Milluer. He
does not twist his body muca In getting
into position, and is ready to take aim
almost as soon as his body touches the
ground. His aim is deliberate, and when he
nres he remains In his place until the mar
ker signals his shot. There is very little diff
ference In the positions OF the Scotch team.
spreading their legs apart, and throw one
leg up Immediately after firing. The Aus
tralian team were small In numbers, but
footed up handsome average.
The cor test was very Interesting yester
day 10 those present, and the remaipder OF
the shooting will doubtless bs witnessed BY
much larger crowds, largely com posed OF
ladies', for IL IL an amusement in which thew
would take great interest in and one worthy
their attendance. The shooting will be re-
snmed 10 morrow morning over the 800
yards range.