St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-09-28

KEEs-POPULAR ENTHUSIASM - WHY
WE BEAT AMERICAN VS.. ENGLISH
GUNs-THE SINGLE CHAMPIONSHIP
Contemplate SwINDLING-THE Ell
EyATED ROADS u TWEED AND TAM
MANY.
New YORK, Sept. 81, 1877.
To the Editor Of the Caledonidn
The sound of the firing in the great
rifle match had hardly died away, when
nv last letter was mailed, so that had
no opportunity to speak of the enthu-
siasm which ran like wildfre through
the CITY when the result was announced,
and it became known that, for the
fourth time, America led the world Ill
an international match. The President
of the United States could not have
been more of lion for the time being,
than were Bruce and Blydenburg, and
the meeting at the Hippodrome on
Tuesday evening, when the various
prizes were presented, amounted to il
perfect ovation. The immense building
was packed, and such cheers as only an
excited multitude can give, electrified
the neighborhood for two hours. The
foreigners, too, came in for their full
share of attention. On Sir Henry Hal
ford's appearance the very roof shook
with applause, and cheer after cheer
was given for the captain of the British
team. Sir Henry addressed the multi
tude, paying the tribute of warm
hearted Briton to his opponents i'll the
late match. aud to the American peo-
pie in general. In conclusion, he said
that .'the only drawback under which
we labor is that we will go back to our
country defeated men," From here tne
teams adjourned to DelmOnicO's where
they were the guests of the National
Rifle Association at an elegant ban
quet.
So brilliant a victory not only over
formidable adversaries who strained
every nerve to wipe ont the memory OF
last years defeat, but over all previous
records, has naturally excited inquiry
into it's cause, us well as admiration for
| itself. With regard to these causes, 1t
is certain that the Americans did not
beat Oh account of any one advantage.
| They were on their own shooting
grounds for one thing, although the
victory of the Americans in England
three wears ago would seem to prove
that that item need not be taken too
largely into account. More important
was the superiority of the harmony, the
discipline, and the method of the home
| team. Then again ''nOthing succeeds
like success" and this fact, too, may
have had something to do with the I'M
paralleled 1919 of the second day.
| But more than from any of these causes,
or than from all of them combined, our
riflemen wOrsted their trained cOmpetl-
tors on account of the vast superiority
of their guns. The American breech-
leaders have proved themselves on this
occasion, as on many others, ahead OF
all previous achievements in gun max
ing, in accuracy at long range.
This ver-tO-be-fOrgOtten contest
has proved the Sharps improved long
the world ever saw, and has made 1t
acknowledged the standard. Bruce,
the hero of the American team, who,
on the last day, made the unheard-ot
record, 219 out of a possible 225, used
this wonderful gun, and, at the conclu-
sion of the match, made the emphatic
remark "That Sharps rifle made my
record; l only happened to be behind
it." Lieut.. RhOades, the accomplished
military and rifle editor of the Tribune
said to a friend of mine after Fridays
work, that there could be no question
but that the improved Sharps is the
coming gun. But more convincing than
that testimony is the actions of the
British marksmen-seven of whom
bought the Sharps for their own future
use. Among this seven is VIM. Rigby,
of VIM. & John Rigby, Dublin, now
and for many years the most celebrated
Iifle makers of Great Britain. If any
thing more than it's record were needed
to show the shooting world that they
mast use the Sharps gun hereafter to
stand any chance, it strikes me this cpl
sode furnishes it.
On Tuesday last occurred what is
known as the Esprit of the Times
match, for prizes aggregating $1,000 il
gold and the championship of the world
1t was open to all Corners, and in view
of the the large number of high scores
made the previous week was a very
exciting contest. There were seventy
nine entries embracing almost all the
best riflemen in the world. 1t was full
ly expected that Bruce, Blydonburg oil
Selph, would win the highest honor but
fates turned up new man for the $500
prize in the shape of Washburn of Con
necticut. Blydenburg came second
Selph fifth and Bruce nowhere. Thi:
match practically closes the rifle sea-
son of 1877, the most exciting one ever
| known.
The Savings Bank system has receiv.
ed some more singing blows this week
four of five new failures being chrOni-
cled. 1t begins to look as though oul
state superintendent, Ellis, who has re-
Gently quietly removed, was either one
of the most rascally, or else most thor