The New York herald., 1877-09-15
out much benefit Indeed. the superiority OF 'thA
gray-sycd nation" WAS maintained all through

out much benefit Indeed, the superiority OF ''thA
gray-syed nation" WAS maintained all through
rnE
Those who sstonished at tho results OF Thur
days shooting at Creedmoor were yesterday Afforded
reason for opening ther eyes still wider when they
eamc 10 examine tho scores recorded by the
American team. The figures that appear this
morning under tho diagrams OF tho targets indi
cate advance toward absolute perfectlon IN m.rks
manship that believed could only be attained acs
long years OF patient Practice But at leap AZ aston
ishing a. m was unexpected the American tcam
has advanced to where Il will takc some
years before the present skiifui Brit
ish reach them. This may be
regarded opinion Influenced By enthusiasm over
the magnificent victory achieved by America but the
records sustain IL beyond question. The diagrams
proclaim true. for they present faithful picture OF
the work done at Crecdmoor. 1t Is not In ths
nero making Of . good string OF bulls eyes
that the skin OF tho msrksman is to
be Judged. Il 10 In tho manner In which they are
made, thsir grouping the target and the relation
their positions thereon boar Ia proper allowances
for wind and elevation. These when good
show that not only II the rinsman skul
IN hitting the bulls eye, but also In holding
to Il with unwAvsring cxactness. They rbow
perfect coolness under the oxcitements attendant
international mach. on tho result Of which
millions Of people havo set their minds in anxious
expectation. They show . high stato OF discipline
In the team because OF the uniformity Of the
individual scores and illustrate tho value OF the
complete system Of coaching adopted by tho American
rincmen All this was proved at Crcodmoor yesterday
in manner sufficiently clear TO satisfy tho most sx
acting critic. ana example was furnished TO the
uncdged rneman aiming a grcat things In tho future.
which he may probably study during his hours oI
leisure.
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Again The teams and tho attendant throng or Wis
itors were favored by day that might well delight
tho lover OF ordinary rural sports and even more
bilious pastimca Tho morning log which hunl
80 thickly over New York and its immediate
vicinity Was banished by Oid Sol's rayi
before tho hastily swallowed breakfast woll In
place Tor digestion, the Indications OF warm and
cepiionaiy hnc day were very marked. During tho
summcr and autumn Creedmoor Is generally tho
centre Of = warm section OF the county Of
Queens Its light sandy surface absorbs heat
rapidly, and each minute grain OF It's soil
acts ike lttlo TO reflect back onc's face
the s,insng rays Of . MONDAY sun. Light neecy
clouds that assumed oil manner Of shapes voyags
sailed tho sky with slow but percsptible
tion casting and patches Of shifting shadow
over the broad groom fields and gildcd woodlands
These clouds play important part In rine matchos
and not unfrcquont remark on tho range Is, "Only
Tor that ooniounded cloud might have had burs
eye thera" Just tho marksmau's eye and hand
had brought the distant black disk In range
his rife sight, he the points Of touching she
dslicatey balanced trigger tho whole aspect Of the
tracst changes under the shallow Of passing cloud,
and the slaring whiIe pAraIelesram. with the black
spot In lis centre, seems snt its position. II
that moment the rilsman nres the probability 10
thsth ha will IN n cd I'M
and may not even get "centre" Yesterday many
cloud shadows passed tho r,ngc, and, while they
brought grateful though temporary shelter 10 tho
nero iookcr-on who sat In tho scorching sunlight,
they cost many point to the competing teams Tho
temperature rose very decidedly townri noon, and
caused that peculiar shmmering OF tho atmosphere
which s distrac,ing to tho marksman. Tho Intensity
OF this effect was always noticeable when tho cloud
shadow had passed over the foreground and suddenly
changed tho light tho target from dull TO Q
glaring white Then tho black bulls eyc seemed TO
contract In size and 10 dance q little around ITS
centre with puzzling and sigh, distressing vsor. On
. measured range and With accurately sighted
rines n miss scarcely possible TO good
markham. even under such adverse conditions Of
light but tho open neld, and with the Shapes
Of objects distorted by rcfrsction, would not DO
an essy to hit surface largo tho thrco-
foot burs cye at tho Croedmoor range. Tho eye,
however, Is much relieved by grassy
foreground for tho landscape and = setting
OF green woods such that presented "
the nno grounus Of the National Rifle Association.
Yesterday tho very light wind that prevailed wan.
dcrca all around the points OF tho compass. con-
vcyed no cooling balm tho scorched iacos and backs
Of the on lockers Al tho me tho firing ss 800 yards
was commenced tho wind blew toward tho
hring points IRON . few degrees east OF north.
The turned slowly If Il were troubled with
uncomfortable t Of Inzncss and moved ts spindle
only to Kill time II shifted from twelve to halfpast
ton and back again, compelling the cautious marks.
mon consult their wind gauges worry frequently and
make slight but necessary allowance Tor tho change.
Gradually tho wind began 10 SHIFT IRON twelve to
O'clock and tho shooting progressed, to tho
nve O'Clock point. But periods Of perfect calm
intcrvened between the shifts OF the vanc. which gave
those ready to nro chance OF testing ,hcir
calculations and allowances. As reference will
be made to the wind direction and vc-
locity both in connection with certain stages
OF the shooting ana the regular OF meteorological
observations specially mado by tho HERALD IL is un-
necessary 10 state here the various changes that
Cured from hour 10 hour during tho match The con-
ditions were similar those prevailing Thurs
dry that the Of that day might Tor that
Of yesterday.
THG SHOOTING AT 800 YARDS
At fourteen minutes past eleven A. M General
Daktn, captain oil tho American toan, nrsd tho first
shot, which scored a centre high to tho loft of the
bulrs eye. Each member OF his squad followed with
a centre his first shot, and all four hitting at very
near point The target The opening Grc Of
tho other better for ihoy scored buips eyes
Hero was evidence OF the remarkable accuracy Of tho
rincs as too high elevation caused Dakin miss tho
bulls eye his squad, each OF whom naturally took she
same elevation, missed II In the very same manner.
The ofhss who had tho ecvaton made 6ne hits.
Daein, however louni the BULBS eye and held TO
II with considerable steadncss being followed In his
score shot Tor shot BY mis- squad composed oi
Messrs Allen Hydc and jackson. II Is also remark
aplo that three OF this four inade tho same total
at 800 yards--namely, 10 points, Mr.. Hydc gaining
two points his companions ny steady holding when
he found the bulls eye. But the squad composed
Of MessrS jewell Weber, Blydcnburgh and Bruce,