The Portland daily press., 1879-09-27
That Pine Grove Shoot.

NORWICH, Sept IS, 1879.
Mr.. EpIToR:-Although [ am Maine boy,
1 never expected to become a correspondent Of
Maine newspaper, but it appears that L am
in for 1t now. I am in receipt of your issue of
the 9Th inst, in which "E' makes some state
ments relative to one Of the Pine Grove glass
ball shoots lin which his ''schoolboy' Cum
mnes entered but failed to stay which de-
mands attention. He refers to me as umpire;
it, therefore, naturally devolves upon me to
correct his mistakes.
First match was never finished by
Mr.. Cummings, who was withdrawn by his
father on the twentieth ball, two-ffth of the
number agreed upon before the shoot. Mr..
Mediation and DIR. Evans of Norway filled the
bill. There were no other entries.
Second,-Cumming was not declared win
ner by the umpire, who is too well acquainted
with the rules of shooting to declare any one
the winner in the middle of a match. The
game is never out until played out. Moreover,
Cummings made two glaring fouls which no
umpire would fail to challenge.
To particularize, Preparatory to the shoot
measured off twenty-one yards straight away
from the shooting-stand for the location of the
trap, as is the usual custom Cummings OBJ
iected to the direction and also to the distance
saving, 81 have never practiced at anything
EXCEPT cross balls, and eighteen yards is far
enough to shoot"
Mediation claimed that it was unusual to
change the position of traps in match, but
they might be made to throw the balls in any
or all directions from q fixed point He said
he would make no objections to shooting at
cross balls although his weak point was shoot
ing from left to right, if Mr.. Cummings would
afterward shoot at straight-away balls and
balls thrown from behind him. 10 these con-
ditions Mr.. Cummings agreed
The shoot began with ten balls for each man
from right to left, at Is yards rise. Mr.. Cum
nings broke nine o. Mr.. Mediation ten Q0),
and DR.. Evans eight (S). They then shot from
left to right-same distance. Before shooting,
Mediation offered Cummings the odds of two
balls if he would omit the shooting from left to
right. and proceed at once with straight-away
Shots Cummings declined, giving for his rea-
sen that his strongest point lay in that direc-
ton. Mac, said, go on, ~ }, make ON the
homestretch what you gain here.
The shoot proceeded. Cummings scored ten
40, Mediation eight (S). He missed the and
10 balls. Evans scored seven %. The third
and fifth shots of Cummings were declared
foul by the umpire-hfs gun resting on his
lips, at which time the butt of the gun should
have been "below the elbow (ride Bogdrdus).
Mac waived both fouls, saying, "This is only
friendly Shoot let it pass" According to
rule, Cummings scored eleven QD in a possible
fifty (50). The trap was next placed in posi-
ton for straight-away balls. When all was in
readiness, the umpire was informed that Mr.
Cummings would shoot no more When urged
to do SO his father said he must go home.
When reminded by DR.. Evans that he was to
take the trap home, he said he would wait,
but his son was out of cartridges. Mr.. Me-
Hatton, who had an abundance of ammuni-
ton, very cordially offered to supply the
deficiency. The offer was declined. Cum
mings, however, remained until after the
shoot was finished By Evans and Mediation,
and took away the trap. 1t is but fair to Mr..
Cummings to say that everyone present
thought he would gladly have finished his
score, had his father not objected.
CHAs. M. CARLETON.