The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-05
What Our Rifemen Have Done During
the Past Few Years.
A BRILLIANT RECORD.
lreland's Gallant Efforts--Amerca Beats
All Creation
THE COMING AMERICAN TEAM.

The telegram sent few days ago by Captain Mild.
may to the American National Rife Association. ad-
ysng the directors that United Kingdom rife team
would DO sent TO Creedmoor this fall, mas caused a
good deal OF excitement and comment both in and out
side OF shooting clubs, and, as below Indicated our
marksmen already busy preparing to put another
team in tho field 1T to uphold tho American champion
ship
The three great international rine Matches which re-
hected much credit ana honor all parties engaged
in them, have occupied larger share of public atasn-
on than has been accorded 10 sporting events for
many years back, and the lovers OF rife shooting as
national sport much gratied to feel that II has
become permanent institution in the United States
as well as IN Europe
INTERNATIONAL MATCH
Although there had been flying visits Of French
and Belgian rlemen to Wimbledon Common, and also
Of British marksmen TO tho shooting tournaments Of
Belgium, France and Switzerland yet the nrst inter-
national rifle match. properly called, did not take
place until three years ago This great idea originated
among Irish ricmen, and in country the vast MAJOR
ny OF whose inhabitants prohibited the use OF fire.
arms. The organization of the English and the
Scotch volunteer forces and the establishment
OF tho Wimbledon ranges. where much
excellent craftsmanship was first exhibited
in the years 1869 and 1860, gave
impetus to the sport which at established its
popularity. The initiation Of the long range team
match tor the celebrated Elcho Challenge Shield was
the first OF its kind that had been attempted In 1856
the Elcho Shield match, from which Irish rilemcn
had until then been excluded, thrown open to
them, and in 1873 they carried off the honors Of the
day OF ], 1876 out OF possible LAO points,
beating England by twenty points and Scotland by
sixty-scven. At this time the American Rife Asso-
citation in small clothes, and the delicate con-
,liti,c
qaire the most unremtting tho part Of it's
early guardians-colonel Church. General Da-
kin, Mr.. "A. Afford, General Shalor, Major
Fulton, Colonel Wingate, others The ANA
teur Rifle Club then las, indeed, it
may still be considered yeD the only association
OF considerable note to which tho country could look
for team Of long range marksmcn who would dare TO
face the butts in a contest with European Experts Tor
II must DO remembered that British long range crack
shots had experience OF at least dozen, the
Irish eight years. practice before the Ameri
cans had anywhere established long range target.
We had to perfect American weapon that would
compare favoraby with the best guns OF British man
lind drill the men 10 use them.
American mechanical skill soon furnished a rifle that
ut least equalicd the best weapons Ut Wimbledon and
the Amateur Rifle Club provided the whose un-
errng and iron nerves havc thus far been able
command victory against all corners.
THE CHALLENGE FROM IRELAND.
The Irish OF 1878 were SO eated with their
that, like Alexander they sought other worlds
qucr, and, like the Immortal Columbus, they found
that new world IN America. The challenge OF
Irish team to the riicmcn Of America first appeared
In the HERALD Of November ~, 1878, anu the
match came oil at Creedmoor on September 20
1874 Toe Americans believed tnat with team or SIX
mcn their defeat would be less nglorious than with
ono OF eight the usual number and accordingly
they set about preparing SIX men for the
struggle. The anxiety, attention and hard work
that were gone through by Inc men engaged in the
contest can only be appreciated by those who wit
lion
toe American team found themselves the twilight
OF that first memorable day at Creedmoor masters Of
the field by majority OF three points. Both they
the Irish team had surpassed all former
In the excellence Of their scoring, and tho first
national match well earned victory for America.
On that occasion Major Fulton made score which
has never since been equaed, recording total of
Ill out OF possible $50 pc ns, and showing record
OF SO bull's-eyes and centres out oil as scoring
shots. Mr.. John Rigby headed the Irish score
with a fine record Of l63 points. The American team
total 934 ana that Of the Irish 93l points OF
possible $50 As the match was SO close, and the
Captain OF the Irish team, while admitting victory
be ON tue American side, said that but Tor the msior
tune OF Mr.. Miners making AZ tho 300 yards range
buliseye vn the wrong target the victory would have
been theirs the Irish were not satisfied with tho re
suit, ana resolved 10 lose time challenging the
conqucrors to another trial OF skil-this in Ire
lard The day utter the first match, September ~,
1874 Major Lsech Captain oil the Irish team addressed
new challenge on behalf OF his ccuntrymen 10 the
Americans. He said
The match which cnaed rday would have Just been
reversed by one point II one q my friends ccua have
ceved the advantage scoring air Tor bnilseye on the
81 the irish emen TO threw down the gauntlet
shot in Dublin In the month OF June. 1879
AMERICANS UP GAUNTLET.
This second challenge OF tho irish rifemcn was, Of
course, accepted, ana JOINT committee OF the Ma
tional Rifle Association and the Amateur Rife Club
appointed make all necessary gements for tho
proper carrying Of II out A series vi ompeutions
In the spring 1875 was uslltuted Tor the purpose OF
selecting u representative American team. Donations
poured IN from all SIDES 70 Mr. Rooer. Johnson, tho
treasurer whose personal efforts contributed greatly
make up the considerable sum necessary 10 send
abroad nine men on such an expedition as tins was.
THE DoLLYMOUST
The second meeting OF the American and the Irish
rifle teams, six mon aside took place at ollymouut
near Dublin in the presence OF immense con-
course OF people, on tho goth or June 1915 On this
OCCASION rs Will DO remembered the Americans were
again tho victors by 30 points There was no dspu
Ing this time the superiority OF tho Americans The
winning team made a total OF 96S points in 1876,
against their 934 in 1874. thus bettcring their FIRST
record by "a points, whuo tho Irsn team made but
DO points their own range In 1875 against 931
achieved by them at Creedmoor tho year before In tho
American score on hne total OF 164 points,
and Mr.. James Wilson led the Irish ON a good
total OF 1853 In the first mach ut Crccdmoor the
Americans had misses and III cutters IN their score
and the Irish tile same number OF misses with
ou,crs. AT Dolymount the Americans had misses
and outers against IA misses and only cutters in
TIM GREAT CENTENNIAL MATCH
Through the efforts General Hawley and the Ma
tonal Rifle Association oil which he q member, the
Centennial Commission awarded magnificent
tonai trophy TO be shot for by tho long range
the world might see III 10 compete Tor
it, Tho winning team, by tho conditions Of
the match, empowered to name the time and
place Tor tho subsequent competition. Five teams
tered for this celebrated match last year. these being
the representatives Of America, Ireland, Australia,
Scotland and Canada. England did not send a team
her rinemcn would recognize no distinct nationality
the part OF the scotch and tho Irish, and the men
representing these two peoples would not waive Their
right 10 shoot Tor tho trophy II appears. how
ever, that the soclcd Irish and Scottish have
merged thor nationalitics with tho Engsh ana VIC
wi roo liz I'M
British Islands this year.
Tho Centennial match a most trying ordeal, and
severe test oil skill as remen might wish 10
dergo. The teams consisted eight men each the
struggle covered Two days shooting aggregate
ninety rounds for each marksman; the target used |
being tho then new method oil counting with cIrcu-
lar buseyc, instead oil the square which was for.
mcrIy employed Al tho end OF tho first days con.
test were Scotland, 1,6S6 ireland, l5S2
America LOTT; Australia 1916, and Canada, L. 400
out Of possible ls0O points. The work OF the scot
tsh team was splendid, and that OF the IRISH and the