The New York herald., 1876-10-30
Scientific RIFLE Shooting.
Major Leech, of the Irish Team, on
international Matches.
SQUARE AND ROUND BULL'S-EyES.
Why the Centennial Match Was
Won and Lost.


During the interview Major Lecch expressed his views
many points that interesting to the rifle shoot
ng portion OF tho American public.
Major Lcech sad thar the idea of a worlds rifle
match originated IN Ireland In July, 1873 the Irish
eight won at Wimbledon the Elcho challenge shield
and thus became the champions or Great Britain They
were, therefore, for the first in the history OF
Irish rife shooting, in position to challenge their
American iricnds. Major Lccch, On behalf OF the
Irish long range snos, addressed chaepgc To tho rifle.
men OF America, which ommunicaton was first pub
shed in the NEw YORK HERALD OF November -, 1874
In this letter the writer said that the challenge was
gwen 10 decide the title to tho championship OF the
world lie also drew the attention OF the American
people to tho that laws OF Great Britain
bade the formation Ireland OF rifle corps similar to
those which exist in great numbers in England and
Scotland, and that any skill acquired by Ir,shmcn in
rifle shooting is the result oil individual under
difficulties arising iron discourasins legislation With
respect TO the results OF the international return
match Major Leech fully Endorsed the views of Mr..
Rigby, as lately published IN the Irish newspapers,
wherein he points oat the following significant facts-
That TO lose the match by eleven points of total
OF l63 cannot be termed IA defeat iraught with dis
grace" when II is considered tina, tho Irish made but
THREE MISSES
during the whole day, whic tho Americans missed
eleven times. BY constructing out of the bulls s-cyc at
present square like that used in 1874 and
1875 IN the Irish American matches the result islre.
land ?63; America 95s Ii giving maturity OF points
favcr OF the lrsh Applying tho same ruo to the
days shooting in the Ccntcnna nrd the
rish missed the target only times in 720 Shots
square Duis-eye target the grcat match would stand
thus:-Irsh total IN both days shooing 5S3; Amer
lean total a.57s; Irish majority, points Measur-
ing the results the return match the 2Is Of Sep
tcmOcr, when teams oil SlX men a side
tended. the calculation would show a majority
Of 10 23 points in favor of the Irish. II it be
ask how this curious arises the answer
is that in both matches tho Americans had many more
misses than the IRISH and these are more detrimental
to tho total>under system OF scoring than under
tue other In the three days shooting the Americans
had thirty three misses against only ten that were re-
corded TOR the Irsh
Tho mode Of selecting the targets 10y lop for tho
teams IN the great Centennial match was perfectly
fair but the good luck OF the Americans them the
right of the line, from whence the wind was
blowing both days, and in addition to this they had
the advantage OF using the samc targets at which they
ordinarily practiscd. Major Lesch believed
matter OF his personal opiaon, that this advantage
which fairly obtained by tho Americans, was equiv
acnt 10 certain number OF points, which It would be
impossible 10 fix. The passage OF smoke across the
ranges was hardly worthy OF notice, this
cumstancc beng OF very little disadvantage to
gam al the first two distances insured their
ultimate success. The falling oil tho part OF the
Irish at the arst two ranges Is perhaps to pe attrb-
utcd to some slight error IN judgment In calculating
tho force OF the wind, and therefore preventing them
from
GETTING on THE BuLL's-Krn
the Americans whose shooting at these dts
tances was closer Tho hitherto unequalcd superior
y OF the shooting made by the Irish at the last DIS
tancc insufficient TO reduce the majority against
them lower than tho twenty-five points by which tho
match was won; not very decided victory after all,
considering that each tenn could make possible
OF $500 points; tue Americans making 126,
and tho irish 1Oi The breaking down oil the Scotch
and other .eamsespecIally the sco,chon the second
days shooting is one OF those calam!tcs that unac
countably enough visit competitors who most
hopeful, and VINO iaii when they least expect 1t.
TO THE WEAPONS
and ammunition, Major Leech believes that the initial
velocity and consequently tho pcnctrative power OF
tho projec,ilc thrown from tho mnzzo-loadcr su.
view Of the MATTER and ID not shared in by gentlemen
using the Amcrioan Preech-oader. The American
OF is class and, in the hands OF skiliul marksmen
has always been able 10 turn the tide OF battle favor
be undue superiority
target practice to the arm chosen by the Irish team but
merely expressed tho result OF HIS personal experience
and observation The powder used by the Irish team
Is quicker and we'll suited Tor bresch loacers as
the American slower burning article Tho Irish use
a charge OF IRON ninety nnety-nvs grains of pow
q cylinder conodal hardened bulletwhiie tho Ameri
cans generally employ $50 grains OF lead OF softer
composition with driving charge ranging from 100 10
lis grams Of powder.
Here the writer said that it would seem the claim
loading rife in view of tho splendid individual
smanshp OF the Irish team. might be ask cd
what circumstances did Major Lccch attribute their
four successive failures.
Major Lecoh said that the match In 1874 was
LOST By ONLY THREE POINTS;
the one last year at Dollymount failed because good
man OF the Irish team broke down, making seven
misses In his account OF the leading OF his
rifle. similar catastrophe happened 10 member Of
the American team IN the return match, which took
place The 21st OF last month, at Crccdmoorwith,
however, more fortunate result for the Americans,
who afier all won the match.
Mayor Lscch stated that during his entire intercourse
with American gentlemen, not alone has there been
misconccption-to say nothing OF misundersiaud ng-
between them; hut tnc greatest curdialty has sub
sisted and siill subsiss he happy tosay between
the gentlemen with whom Il had been his fortune IL
come contact, his friends and seif The arrange
mcnts made ior the convenience and comfort OF tho
visiting teams during tho days OF the match werc OF
the most thoughtful and consdcratc character "And
now, said the gallant Major, ION the eve OF my de-
parturc, am obliged for the opportunity which tho
HERALD affords me OF repeating my acknowledgements
for the courtesy ana consideration with which
were received aud ormy treated during Ibis TIE
second visit Of the Irish rifle team to America
The next match will necessarily take place IN Amer
tca and there should be an annual contest IRON
unt 1884. Oticr countries In addition those which
represented this year Will probably participate
In the future In general conversation which took
place during tho late visit Of the Philadelphia
the Americans sought an expression OF opinion from
the team captains as TO tho roprcty OF having the in
tcrnatona match take place every Two years. Major
l.cech declined being party 10 making any sugpcs
tiops 10 the Americans on tho SUBJECT believing that
such suggestions alterations should come from tho
Americans These WILL doubtless. invite the co.
operation OF the worlds rincmcn the formation OF
rules II they see t and u ~ understood to be the
intention OF the National Rc Association to invite this
express sion o opinion.
il docs not seem that the size Of the bulIs-eye
at prcscDt In could be conveniently reduced;
but II Is worthy OF consideration whether 1t may be
iudcous dispense with the 500 yards range and sub
sttu,c 100 yards for the 900 yards the
distance.
ii ~ considered by some that The great American IN.
tcrnatonal match should be OF a migratory character
even In the United states or that ~ Is always TO he
shot Tor on The same grounds the ranges should be
used only Tor the purpose of this match, as at wmblc-
don, where the annual match Tor The Echo shield is
shot, and tho ranges arc then closed to all practice
until the next annual meeting takes place.
rho wrter drew tho attention OF Major Lecch TO the
statement Of SIR Henry Halford who said that In case
tho Americans should beat the Scotch Irish they
woulu only conquer defeated teams.
Major Lcech thought that the well known English
rilcman might as well have said, when the Irish won
the Echc Shield in 1873, that the English and scotch
wcro defeated by beaten team, for In previous years
the IL. sh and scotch had
ByArES THE ENGLISH scorcH
alternately, but had not defeated them both In the
same year until 1874 And the zane argument applies
TO the Irish victory In 1875, when they the