The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-09-13
THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE
MATCH.

To-day the international rifle match
begins at Creedmoor, Long Island, for
the "Centennisl trophy" AS there is
much interest attached 10 the match, u
concise history OF the teams and matches
from the beginning up to the present
time will be of interest. We therefore
append a sketch from the Cincinnati
Times:
The Creedmoor rifle matches began
yesterday, and Thursday and Friday oc-
ours the match for the Centennial
Trophy and the championship of the
world. 'fhe only Contestants are the
American and the British teams, each
team consisting OF eight persons. IL Is
required MS condition o! membership Of
the team that one must be native-born
citizen and resident of the country he
Is to represent. AS we explained, the
other day, the targets are placed at the
distance, respectively, OF 800, 900 and
1000 yards. Each target consists OF n
central disk, cslted the bulls eye, yard
in diameter This is within circl',
called the centre, which is fifty
four inches across. This, in IT'S
turn, is within square, the "lnner,
which is six feet by SIX feet; ard, lally,
this is iuclosed by what is called the
"outer,' which is i feet by 22 feet A
shot which strikes the "bulI's eye" counts
five; one which strikes the centre" out
side the bulls eye. four; an sinner,
three, and al "outer," two. Fifteen shots
are allowed at each range. The highest
possible score at each range, therefore, is
rs, being that which is counted for tit-
teen successive "bulPs eyes, The high
est pos slble score for the entire day, At
the three ranges is 225, and the total pos
sible score tor team of eight is 800, or
$500 for TWO days shooting.
The National Rifle Association OF
England was organized IN November,
1859. Under substantially the same
rules which now obtain the association
has been shooting ever since. LORD
ElchO WAS chosen chairman OF the first
meeting that WAS held for organization,
and the Hon. Sidney Herbert, NJ. P,
WAS made President of the Association.
Wimbledo was selected rs the site for
the ranges, and the hrst match WAS shot
ON the "a Of July, 1860, the first gun be-
ing fired by the Queen. About sixty
four county and thirty colonial ssSocla
tons are connected with the National
Association.
Ten wears later the Nationa! Rifle As
sociation of the United States was organ
zed IN New York, General Burnside
being the first President. Seventy acres
OF land were purchased on Long Island,
of Mr.. Greed, and the range was named
after him. 1t was in 1872, we believe,
that the first match WAS shot. The same
wear the Amateur Rife Club WAS organ
ized, and 1t affiliated 1T once with the
National Association. 1t WAS this club
tnat accepted the challenge OF
the Irish Rifle Team, which
WAS the first match TO decide the cham
pionship OF the world. The story OF the
success of the American Rife Team at
DolIymount and CreedmOor has been 50
often toId that it is unnecessary to re-
peat it here. Last year the American
Elhe Team instituted the Centennial
Trophy, and teams came To contend for
Il from Australia, Iceland, Canada, the
United States and Scotland. There were
two DAYS shooting this year, and the re-
suit OF the two days work was MS follows: