The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-04
SKILFUL SHOOTING.

CAPTAIN BoGARDus BREAKS FIVE THOUSAND
GLASS BALLS IN FIVE HUNDRED MINUTES AT
oILMoRE's GARDEN.
Captain A. H. Bogardus tried to show clear title to
his claim OF being the champion wing shot Of the
world ~ Gilmores Garden yesterday. Al forty min.
utes past two O'Clock p NJ he entered the spacious
enclosure, which but few days ago was the central
aroma Tor the display Of the astonishing pedestrian and
equestrian cats OF the London Circus and at thirty
one minutes ten O'Clock p NJ he had accomplished
his sefmposed task OF breaking 1000 glass balls in
500 minutes. Such exhibition that presented
yesterday unique in the sense that II combined
great physical endurance with phenomenal accuracy
ofaim. "The champion wing shot Of the world" as Mr.
Bogardus designated person Of strong bud, long
In the arms, broad In tho shoulders deep in the chest
and with a solid, arm toothod. Taken all In all no Is
nne specimen Of muscular manhood ince that
denotes resoutc spirit and small blue, twinklng
eye. keen and bright sunbeam. The terms Of
the match--ior match It was inasmuch 1t q test
Of skill and endurance against time--demanded that
5000 glass globes should be broken 500 minutes
the globes being sprung from two traps placed
at eighteen yards rise, and the balls are
IN mid-air tho marksman takes aim and
in quick succession follows the discharge from his
doublebarreled shotgun and the told in flying
sprays OF glass The glass globes about the size
OF hen's egg of u dark brown color, hollow, with u
small aperture in end This orihce hts into cup
TO which attached string, The latter being held By
n man seated by the side OF the marksman There are
TWO OF these traps, which are manipulated BY pulling
string, tho balls spin into the
air IN elevation of about eight feet
they burst into spray like soap bubbles
the unerring aim OF tue marksman explodes the
shining baubles Men were stationed at each OF the
traps, who were kept busily engaged putting the
globes In place as each double detonatlon proclaimed
upir Ill.
vested Of coat aud vest and as he rapidly manipulated
his piece and put u into position tho terrible strain
upon his nerves and muscle apparent In the man.
ner his sturdy iralnc was shaken ut each recoiL His
body was completely swayed To ana fro and at times
Between tho loading and firing there scarcely any
ntermssion, except when exchange OF barrels was
deemed advisable, aud then tho space consumed
rarely exceeded moro than halt minute.
THE FIRST REST
At the breaking OF the 2000h glass globe no rested
for AZ minutes aud 10 seconds Tor refreshments
and menced shooting at oh 46m. lbs He rested
again AZ the end OF the 5000 score, at 6h 54m l5s
for 20 minutes and Is seconds ana resumed al III.
lam. 13a, most Of tho time Dong taxon up In adjust
ing the stock of his shotgun and IN oiling the bar
res which were OF SCOTS manufacture, the
weapon weighing ton pounds, the cartridges used
beng charged with ia dracnms OF DItmar wood
podwer and ~ OUNCES ol lie Roy's Ma shot,
At the second recess It found necessary to re-
habisae the wooden partition which prevented dls-
charges doing damages 10 the Fourth avenue side OF
the building by inlercepting tho shot, 1t was draped
with white sncctng 10 throw the dark brown balls as
they wore spun into tho air from the trap, into bold
~
large calcium light situated, which threw Its
br cnt rays in the direction OF the sheeting marking
the course OF the flying balls.
EFFECT ON THE MARKsMhN
Captain B0gardus showed painful traces OF his labo-
rlous task the blackboard recorded tho by
tho thousand. His right arm was swollen and panied
HIM very much His assistants bathed and rubbed
the injured member with arnica and brandy and he
again resumed his work with great spirit, whe his
indomitable will was traceable IL every line OF his
strongly marked features. After he had broken 200
balls, he took another recess, and expressed himself
feeling very much iatgued. Ho was chagrined al
the frequency OF the misses Of his 1avcrie weapon,
but accounted for 1t on the principle that from TOO
long the point which perces tic end OF the cart
ridge became ounted aud IN several cases, Jailed
10 explode tho cartridges.
OFFICIAL SCORE
lie completed the breaking VI his hrst 900 balls in
H. 5n his second 900 IN In. 2m 30s, when he rested
for Al minutes 70 OH 46m los uc continued
his abors with slightly slower results 10 tho end,
making six rests oil short duration in the last 900
score he was SO exhausted toward the end that he
obliged 10 complete the last 900 points sitting on
cnair he finally completed bis TASK al lou. 40m. $685.,
thereby having l9m 25s to spare In the total score
16S misses wore recorded against him.