Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-05-16
A DEAD SHOT.
Especial Correspondence G!oebe-Demo-
aratl

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E. Carver, the wonderful rifle shot
stopped here couple Of days to Wis
it relatives, en- route to New Yor
and England. His skill with the ri
fie is almost incredible, and re quire
ocular demonstration to be believed
Your correspondent visited him on
evening and Iassed an interesting
hour. His life History is full of re-
markable events and romance, but he
has already prepared it for publica.
tion in book form, under a copy
right. Appended is general out
line of it:
THE DOCTOR DESCRIBED.
Carver was born in New York, but
when a babe was stolen by Indians
and carried Off to Western wilds,
where he was kept until about nine
teen years of age. At ten years OF
age rifle was put in his hands, and
with it he was forced to gain his own
subsistence. 1t was his constant COM
panion. He never used any other
gun, and he became expert with it..
When nineteen he escaped from his
captors and for a time wandered
about the frontier picking off Indians
until he became q terror to them. He
drifted back into civilization. again,
and in Stephenson county, ILL.,, stud
led the profession of dentistry, but
owing to his lifelong habits, could
not endure confinement. He went to
Oakland, California, where he was
challenged by the crack shots of Cal
ifornia, vanquishing them all. He
then resolved to take his rifle and
seek fortune. lie is nearly six feet
high, weighs about 100 pounds; has
red hair, smooth face, except light
mustache; fair complexion, gray
eyes; quick, and ever alert to catch
every object about him, however
small high, square, broad forehead,
with the organs of perception, weight,
size and form largely developed. He
is gentlemanly and courteous in man
ner, without affectatIon or boasting,
but rather reserved. In fact, it re-
quires pumping to elicit information
from him, yet he will reply to all in
terrogatories. He is strictly temper
ate in all things, uses no tea, coffee,
tobacco nor liquor. His profession
requires strict attention to his physi-
cal and nervous condition. BY invi-
tation of the Sportsmen's Club, of
this city, he gave an exhibition Of his
skill. He uses Winchester rifle.
caliber a., for glass-ball shooting,
and Ballard, caliber %, for shoot
.ng at small coin. They are fitted
only with plain, common sights.
FEW OF HIS FEATS.
Here is what he did with as much
ease as most sportsmen would shoot
a duck with shotgun. With the ri
he upside down he hit glass ball
thrown in the air the first time; also,
with the rifle upside down, while ly-
ing on his back. lie then placed the
rifle over his shoulder, back to the
ball, taking aim from mirror, and
hit the ball the first time. With the
rifle on his hips, taking no aim, four
balls ware thrown, two of which he
hit. One hundred balls were then
thrown, of which he hit eighty-four
A ball was ther. thrown high in the
air. when he loaded, and shot three
times, purposely missing the first and
econd, but hitting it the third. Eight
silver half dollars were then success.
lively thrown up, of which he hit sew
en-. A silver 25-cent piece he missed
three times. and hit It at the fourth
attempt. A nickel he hit the first
time, knocking it out of sight. Four
of the silver coins were recovered.
the remainder lost. Forty PAGES
we're measured off, and glass ball
was thrown swiftly straight at him,
the thrower ducking to the ground.
The Doctor was obliged t, wait for
the throwcr to get down, when he
broke the ball. This he COZ 81 lers
the most difficult of all his wonder
full fcats. Two balls was then thrown
together. The Doctor loaded and
shot at each ball. At the first ten
trials he hit one ball each, and at the
eleventh and twelfth he hit both balls.
The height of tie balls was about
thirty feet and eight feet distant.
Ten balls were thrown in rapid sue
cession, which he hit in twenty
seconds by watch.
HIS FUTURE MOVEMENTS.
He never shoots ut stationary
object. Flying balls and silver coin
have been his only targets for the
past three years. In response to a
query, whether he was in the habit Of
hunting game, he replied it was but
seldom, and only to please a particu-
lar friend. When he did, if two or
three ducks arose he seldom failed to
get them, or, fro n flock of p-a'r'.,
chickens or grouse he was su.o -
three Or four before they got away.
He goes to New York, and thence to
Europe, where he will visit England,
France, Germany, India, and Aus
tralia, giving exhibitions with hIs
rife. Since he left here, match has
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