The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07
SELECTING THE AMERICAN TEAM.

On the 23d Of last July the committee of tho Ma
tional Rifle Association 10 whom Is intrustod the duty
of selecting American national rife team to contest
the international match next month Ut Creedmoor,
addressed the following letter to Mr.. Dudley seph. OF
the Crescent City Rife Club, New Orleans
DEAR snIn view Of the recent extraordinary scores
been conded to the National nite Association
coming rifle match for tbs championship Of the world re-
that We should make spee. effort to induce you
1t is that the competitions for that team have
places ap"n can be ed by mSorsy Vote Of the
ss XIII the . 1 highest sst % o
pettors and committee that in this the first long
Britain and especially against English riemsn IS is
Of national Importance and is superior TO all personal
display the same skin upon the range a. creeamoor
placed upon the team b. unanimous vote. we desire,
therefore 10 urge you in the strongest manner that. # :.
All OF these compositions as to show what do
will appreciate how :,uch more nation the team viii be
With on = than Il it y " made W 'o.yIsi lsmsn
union in national contest will help to
south Which are ali and %s
rieman, you know better than do whether you
the eStsnt . which your xii viii s.renr.9ss It. Is an
Cns should allow any wns;s st
therefore in the strongest manner come North
sstance in Pleas lie. hear from
II there any considerations which influence you which
1t is In our power to remove please inform u.s.
To the above urgent and somewhat illogical letter
Mr. Selph replied rs iollows-
MR. sELrns REPLY
NEW ORLEANS La, July 30 1877.
TO ayo1 Of 81 h ga s
Saturday 2sth and is contents discussed BY the officers
psna,0S Etc d NJ n When we 70
skill entities me to such an honor-and to your
q our State, team in my arrival II New York,
,hsrsSy granting me time to sHns s. for
the club DESTROYS that shou remain and accompany
feel the regret thar operate SO strangely
agains. our desire Like yoarsSelyes Gentlemen j" the
fde American rihcmen VIII be pitted against the
Southern friends as we'll as the writer are as dscus Of
success you gentlemen of Creedmoor and would feel
Whether or no a member from our Pelican State or OF
the coming m.teh and join our Northern e,eth
Tsn il their desire tor victory Il is rue we would IKE to
him TO tue honor o. position on ne american ssnm and
ieve best" As is we wish you success, aud when
little on inc % as md wa yGd win h
end Of the Gye row and .S.rs 0'her ets
e''''' nun DUDLEY sKLpH.
MR.. skLPH's SHOOTING
A well known New Orleans daily paper says that Mr..
Selph takes "a very proper view Of The matter IN de-
Ginning the proposition to shoot on tho American team
eau be little doubt that Mr.. Selph is the nrst
marksman In the world,' &c care
tul pcrusal OF the correspondence, which Is
given above, Will show that, however good a marks
man Mr. SelDh may be, he was lot offered any place
the American team until alter he should have
demonstrated at CreednoOr the skill which would On
title him 10 that position.
The shooting of the Louisiana State rifle team at
Orleans reported by the press OF that city. Is SIMPLY
magniG cent. IL must be remembered, however, that
In those lower attitudes ana more genial clnes they
have days 10 which there Ia hardly breath OF ar
stirring and such occasions, when STEADY marks
has got the proper elevation he can 40 nearly
anything he wants. There no such happy days
ut Crecdmoor Here there Is always an ugly, uncer
tain little breeze blowing, for which the best marks
men have 10 look out. 1t must have been In such a
wind as this at Frogmore that Mr. Selph, not long
alter completing his greatest record made score that
only went W. high the oDe.litcs or onc.sixties-
THIS Is only mentioned to show that even tho
best of marksmen have their poor days Perhaps the
New Orleans rihemon are playing Tor the worlds
championship. II the American team should como oil
victorious and the New Orleans men should defeat the
vcors would not that leave them virtually to DO the
worlds champonsS The ambition Is a noble one.