The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-10-03
CAPT. SCOTT, THEGREAT MARKS
MAN.
From Southern N. o. Sportsman.

In former issue Of this journal ourcoi-
respondent, "hyanderer." treated IFS rea-
ders TO Il brief sketch Of the peculiarities
Of the renowned marksman and brave
soldier, Capt. Martin Scott For those oi
our readers who may feel interested in the
life of this veteran sportsman We quote
from California exchange the following
interesting letter.
This gentleman, from his being 80
famous shot, was the hero Of the coon
story, which il so well known that il need
not be here related. The gist OF the matter
was, Of course, this, viz: "AIe you Cap
tain Martin Scott p said tile coon. "The
same, was the answer "rhen,' said the
coon, you need not shoot; I'llcome down.
Ills reputation for accurate and wonder
ful rifle and pistol shooting was richly
deserved, and wea are not aware that he
was ever excelled-if, indeed, lie was ever
equalled-by any Of his contemporaries.
One of his performances with the pistol,
which has been fully vouched for Us per>
fectly true by his fellow army officers who
witnessed IL. and which strikes us ~ re-
quiriiIg more skill lithan almost any other
feat we have heard of, was in taking two
potatoes, throwing them into the mir sue
cessively, and putting apirtol ball through
both olthem rs they crossed, one going up
and the other coming down.
Some Of his performances In rifle
shooting We're very extraordinary. Upon
one occasion lie and another officer took
an old-fashloned United states yager that
he had, and il was deternined which
could load and fire three shots In the
shortest space Of time, and make tile best
target. Accordingly, a playing card, with
spot o. bali's-eye in the centre about the
size ofa dime, was attached 10 log OF
wood, and placed at % yards from where
they proposed To stand. Captain Scott
:hen took the rifle, unchanged, with the
powder flask AZ hand, and the balls and
patches Ia his mouth, and made the three
shots. ''oil-hand,n In one minute and
twenty seconds. The other officer then
went 20 the target, and found one round
hole directly through the centrc Of the
bull's-eye. His companion was surprised
ut the precision Of the shot, but observed
TO the Captain that the other two had en-
tirely missed the target. The Captain
shook his head aud called foran AK, when
he split the log, and found the three halls
IN one mas, NIL having passed through
the same round aperture directly la the
centre nf the card.
The Captain was also very excellent
marksman, with bird gun. and although
he was seen 10 make numerous shots. no
one ever remembered to have known him
10 miss his bird.
Although Captain Scott possessed his
firmncss ofnerve aiiaccuracy ofsight u,
10 tile day OF his death, yet his qualities a.
a hunter were seriously impaireibya age
While III lis prime, we remember rea-
ding and seeing the account lalso the en-.
graving) la the American Turf Register
of lis killing successIsely willis pistol,
while on the eallop on horseback, on
either side Of him Two running deer.
Capt. scot was at one time stationed at
Prairie du Chien, aad In possession ofa
wonderfully sagacious d0g-a cross be.
tween the sciterand painter Thisanimal
performed some astonishing feats. Tie
Captain would, for example, while sitting
III Ills quarters at tile iUn, with the dog at
his feel, say 60 him: Mark, want you
10 70 over 70 tile island aud ascertain II
there are any wo0dcocks there. and cone
back aud tell me- The dog would in-
stautly 90 70 Tile river. swim 70 the island,
aud, ufter having hunted IL over, return,
and, ifhe had fuuid birds, run up 70 his
nnstcr, then to the gun, wag his tall, and
make other demonstrations ofjoy, which
made IL perfectly apparent that he had
Uccn successful. Scott would then tell tile
dog TO get tile canoe ia readiness, aud,
strange as Il may appear, he would take
tile cushion III his mouth, carry Il To the
river bank where the canoe was nuored,
place II upon the scat, return for the plsl-
die, carry that 10 The canoe, then 90 back
to Scott, and.look up in his face with All
expression whicn indicated that all was
ready.
All those who are not .ami.ia. with the
history OF Captain Scolt--so astonishing,
aud almost alone for the accuracy Of his
shots with rifle, SHOTGUN, aud pistol
may have some desire TO know what be-
came 81 him. Wewlll add, for their In
formation, that he was killed while
gallantly leading forward hiscommand Ia
that most sanguinary battle of the Mexi-
can war. "AIolIno del Rey.'
Although. like most Of us, he had his
faults. yet, upon the whole Chptain Scott
wns pleasant companion, an honorable
man, kind brother, and gaIlant soldier.
DO I believe 10 second love? liumphl
n man buys pound of sugar, isn't il
a -. 4. -. al