The New York herald., 1877-09-16
cREEDMooR VS.. WIMBLEDON.


While the memory OF the great contest ofls77 for
tho Centennial Trophy Is still fresh IN the minds OF
your readers may perhaps, be interesting glance
a few of The salient features in connection with the
famous rifle range at Wimbledon, the headquarters of
the British National Rife Association, accompanied by
a bref record OF the several triumphs achieved by
members OF the visiting team during tho last meeting
inJuly OF the present year.
Thirty or forty years ago Wimbledon was simply
known tract OF moorland, covered with purple
heather and yellow gorse. but otherwise sid and
interesting II IL oblruded any claim at all public
notice from the fact that 1t shared with Houns.
low and Hampstead the unenvable distinction Of being
q iavorile lurking place for oopads and higbwaymen,
VINO wero wont to levy black mail ON Her Majcsty's
liese subjects with charming mpartialty. Bow street
in those days with IT'S slender orco OF and It'd
antquated watch was well enough In It's way, but the
system demanded an establishment more in keeping
with the necessities OF the times, and justice worked
but slowly. The Introduction however, OF the modern
police due in great measure TO the untirng Efforts
OF the late Sir Robert Peel bcttcrcd very
bad state OF affairs, and Wimbledon Common
lost Its only notoriey, because outwardy respectable
In OF years tho growth oil London population
led speculative builders and land agents to their
eyes about them in search OF advantageous building
SITES aud of he former class shrewdcr quicker
than his neighbors suddenly discovered that there
not plcasauter healthier spot IN the whole Of
the county OF Surrey than tho aforesaid Wimbledon,
and straahtway the fortunes Of tho preseut beautiful
suburb were laid II was not however until 1859 that
the inaugural meeting of the National Rife Assoca-
tion was convened Tho Crimean campaign, the In
dian mu,iny and more than all an ovcrestimatng fear
OF foreign invasion had given Enslishmen cause Tor
reflection and opened their eyes to the inadequate
turc of the national dcieuces, and call made for
IA L..,.o
nobly answered and IN the first nearly two
hundred thousand responded, and from that day TO
this, with slight lucua,ion, the number of the force
has continued the same. AL this naturally gave
great impetas to rifle shooting, and what had before
been regarded simply as pastnc became an occult
science
Tho range is Of great extent, probably nearly ten
times than Creedmoor but to tho credit OF the
American ground It must be admitted that Wimbledon
lacks tho perfect level SO noticeable in tho former
The targets are almost countless ana no matches
fired without having separate ones for each range. Be-
tween the butts and at other points tho grounds
whero interference with the shooting can be
caused, handsome growth Of young trees has been
planted, contrasting admirably with tho white and
parti coored tents Of tho competing squads and when
It IS stated that during the meeting, lasting nearly
three weeks, some three thousand under can
vas it may readily be supposed that considerable
commodation is ncedcd The space at the back OF tho
firing points is devoted to an open square, formed by
the Offices Of tho couucl tho social club tents the re-
ircshment paw on and the prize tent, where the OBJ
jecs Of art arc duly exhibited " the gaze OF the
public. In the centre Is an immense circular
marquee called from its shape the umbrella tent aud
here OH pleasant evenings tho various bands dis
course sweet music TO crowd Of fash.
able one, and this probably arises from tho fact
that the association renders every head Of department
personally responsible Tor the conduct OF his subordi
nat ~ n nj a n q un
may DO dismissed at pleasure Tho Presidency Is filled
by His Royal Highness the Duke ot Cambridge, the
Commander Chef of the British Army, ana II may
safely DO stated that the OF the Dukes interest
very active one aud reaches tar down into The do
tails OF the work In hand In a this Ii. Ia ably seconded
by the Duke OF Tcck, Lord Elcho, Earl Spencer Sir
Henry Wlmot and others, while the post OF Secretary
weather at Wimbledon exercises no influence whatever
gu tho competitors Wet or dry tho programme Is
rigdly carried out unless In special cases. such as
the interest OF tho contest presumably heightened
Ivy the presence OF ladies' whose charming toilets arc,
however, very seldom absent IRON Wimbledon, whore
the tasty surroundings OF many oil the tents attest their
Interest," in the success OF their husbands facss
On gaia days. such those devoted to the contest Tor
the Quceu's prize Of ESQ and gold medal and badge
OF the assOcaton the grounds throngcd by tnou-
sands OF eager sightscers, and to one who has
| Wimbledon CrcedIuVor must appear very tame in
this particular. The ''runuing doer' always at
tracts q large number OF marksmen, and This
year diversion introduced by the substitution Of
capital figure Of Bengal tiger, who progressed
the range with all the appearance Of cunning
!
the targets also nted with detouating cartridges
ana marksman striking the buiPscye discharges the
"orpedo," and has this audible proof Ct his
The social aspect OF tho camp deserves passing no.
ticc. Tho kindly hosptalitics OF hc nrc freely ex
tended 10 large circle Of friends by Lord and Lady
WharnclIe, who occupy charming retreat erected
several years back and denominacd srhe Cottage"
Here every pleasant afternoon the aite OF London
society meet and partakc OF nm early tca during which
tho topics of the dAy generally aud or tho range
particular freely discussed during the intervals Of
rcireshinent. Outside tho circle OF ssrhe otage
good story has been rccounted or joke per-
| Sctruted 10 an approving circo within the limit
Of tho pleasant hour boloro gun-hrc. To sum
| up all, Wimbledon has done more under the
pices OF the National Rlic Association ~ foster
love of the rife than any kindred institution, aud
the meeting OF tho present year shows no dimnuton
either IN he number OF competitors or the quality OF
the shooting. la concluslCn suboin complete list,
as tar as possible, Of the successes oil tho men com
posing tho visiting team during the contest in July OF
| the present year at tho home range.
SIR HEYEY HALFoRD, Leicester Rihcs.-Took a f5
prize in ertAggrceate, Secretary vi State Tor Wars
Prize, f3; nrst pri2e whit~orth contest, aud also
scored 1876 Tor England In the contest Tor the Elcho
Challenge Shield.
Lieutenant Colonel FESroy, Twenty fourth Lanca-
shire.--won the Any Rlc Wimbledon Cup, Albert
Aggregate, G5; Tho Henry, f3; Pavilion, 93,
ana scored l99 for England III the Echo Challenge
contest.
MAJOR WALLER, 81. Georges Rifles, London.--stood
second in winning team Tor Donegal Challenge Cup;
| won Carton Prize, 81, and also Carton Prize, IS.
| EVANS Inns Of Cour. Rdes composed chiefly OF
members OF the legal profession and popularly de-
nominated The Devi,s ownh won Henry Prize.
tlO; Iri2u, tz Mlllturv bfcocnl0aucrs'
| Purse, e. 9s. Cd 900 Yards sweep, 81 2s I'd.
HUMPHREY, Cambridge University Rifles. Won Soc
rotary oil state Tor Wars Prize. f2o Grand Aggregate
fi5; Duke OF Cambndgc's Prize, E5o; Pavilion prz-,
G3; Alfred, Second Stage, Co; Tho Henry, f2, Fourth
in winning Tor Donegal Cup Q, rton Prize, 81 9s
od snot Tor Queens Przo. but withdrew at 200 yards
range.
| PluGorr, Iuns o. Court Rifles s--Albcrt Aggregate
fl0 this prize almost lost TO Mr. Pggott by hi,
omttng To send IN bs score card IN scnson; Pavilion
c.; 900 Yards sweep, IL los 6d shot Tor Engand In
! Eicho Challenge contest, ~.
! RIGBY, Irish Rifle Associaton.-Shot for Ireland IL
winning team Eicho Challenge Shield, 193 points; 9Ot
| Yards Sweep, f3 l6s I'D.
MiLSEa, irish Rifle Association.Scored 202 for Ire
land in Elcho Challenge Shield contest,
cquacd al Wimbledon: Albert Aggregate Gl0
| FgRGCssoS, Color Sergeant First lnverncss.--Won
st Georges Vase; Miniature piece and fio; Ne Plus
Ultra, f25; Albert Aggregate $40; Grand Aggregate,
fl0; shot Tor Scotland in Eieho Challenge Shield con-
test, Isl.
Lieutenant FEXToN, Seventy seventh regiment In
faDtryW Rifle 81 Leger, second prize Albert =
| grcgatc E5; Secretary Of State Tor Wars Prize -
Alfred Prize, second stage %; Pavilion Prize, t.;
Carton Prize, 60; Windmill Prize, 81; stood ninth Tor