Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-03-18
TALK ABOUT SHOOTING.

They had been talking about the remark
able performances of DIR. Carver, the
marksman who shoots with a rife glass
balls which are sent the air as fast rs man
can throw them. Presently, Abner Byng,
who was standing by, said;
That's nothing"
"what is nothing,"
"wby that shooting. Didyou ever know
Tom Potter
NO"
"Wen Tom was the best hand with n
rife | ever saw: beat this man Carver all
hollow. I'll tell YOU what I've saw this
man Potter do You know, maybe along
i'm the cherry season Mrs. Potter would
want to preserve some cherries; so Tom
would pick 'em for her and how do YOU
think he'd stone en-
Il don't know How"
"why. he'd TN his gun with bird shot
and get hoy to drop half huShcl of
cherries at one time from the roof Of the
house. - they came down he'd fire and
take the stone clean out Of every cherry in
the lot, It's positive fact He might
occasionally miss one, but not often. But
he did bigger shooting than that when he
wanted to-"
what did he do;'
''why. Jim Mmer-did You know him?"
No"
..Wcn. Tom made bet once with Jim
that he could shoot the button of Of his
own coat tail by aiming in the opposite
direction, and Jim took him mp"
did he do it,
.'Do il. he fixed himself in position and
aimed at a tree in front of him. The ball
hit the tree. caromcd, hit the corner Of a
house. caromed, struck lamp post, car
omed and flew behind Tom and nippcd the
button of A. slick as whistle. You bet
he did it,"
That was fine shooting"
'YeS, but I've seen Tom Potter beat it,
I've seen him stand under flock of wild
pigeons. billions OF them coming like the
wind and Kill EN- 81 fast that the front OF
the flock never passed given line, but
turned over and fell down, 80 that It looked
like a Kind of brown fcathcry Niagara.
Tom did it by having twenty-thrce breach
loading rifles and boy 10 load EN-. He
always shot with that kind"
you say You saw him do this sort of
shooting"
"Yc>. sir; and better than that. too
Why, IN tell YOU what I have seen Tom
Potter DO. SAW him once set mp an India
rubber target at three hundred feet and hit
the bull'>-cyc twcuty->evcn times q minute
with the same ball! lie would hit the tar
get. the hail would bound right back into
the ride barrel just A. Tom had clapped In
a fresh charge OF powder, aud 80 he KEEP,
her a going backward and forward until n
last hc happened 70 move his gun and the
bullet missed the muzLlc OF the gun. II
va, the biggest thing | ever SAW; the very
biggc>t-eXccpt one.
what was that
why. one day was out with him when
he was practicing. and It came on to rain.
Tom didn't want To get wet. and we had no
umbrella and what do YOU think he did,
WHAT"
Now what do YOU think that man did
10 keep dry"
Il can't imagine"
We'll sir. ne got me 10 load his wcap
Gus for him. ami pledge YOU my word,
although il began to rain hard he hit c'-
cry drop that came down. 50 that tho
ground for abou, eight feet around NJ WAS
"a, dry a. punk 1t va, beautiful. sir
beautiful"
And then the company rose up slowly
and passed ont one by one. each man eye
ing Abuer and looking solemn As he went
hy: and when they haG gone Ahner looked
quccrly for a moment and said 10 me:
There's nothing hate 80 much a> @
liar. Give me = man who is friend OF the
solid truth. and III tie TO him"