National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-27
OUR HOME SPORTS.
Closing Contest in the Hardness
Badge Match.
Colonel burnside Makes the Three Highest
Scores and Wins the Trophy-An Anna
teur Pedestrian Contost-Arrang-
ing for the Twenty -six-Hour
Match Crews for Next
Fridays Regatta.
Colonel Burnside Wins the Badge.

The twelfth and last contest in the Hardness
badge match was held by tho Columbia Rifle
Association on the Bcnnings' range on Satur-
day afternoon last with four entries. The
day proving very unpropitious for fine rifle
practice at long range, the scores wero very
materially knocked down below the usual
high averages slot by this club. The after
noon was chilly and rough, although the sky
was clear, the thermometer being down to $50
when the firing began, ut 1870 o'clock, and was
go at the close at Ais o'clock. At the begin
ming the wind was stiff unsteady "12 o'clock
fsh-tail" the very worst TO shoot on at long.
range, for the reason that nominally the wind.
gauges on the front cnd of tho rifles are ut
zero, but are liable to require changes of from
one to three or four points to the right or left
in seconds time. This was the case at 500
yards, aud during part Of the time ut 900, aud
aitrrwird II increased in strength and changed
direction to 2 and 3 o'clock Oh the great dial,
and good scores were simply out of the ques-
ton owing to the sudden freaks of its gusty
nature. Tho figure 200 was not reached by
any of the riff during the afternoon, aud
the scores really have the appearance Of those
of old times before our District club achieved
its great reputation by its improvements in the
manner of loading and by careful and con-
slant practice.
The scores were so poor on Saturday tho
club desires that the usual shOtlor-shot record
he not given. The following aru the aggregates
made:
Colonel ]. o. P. Burnside-sOO yards, Gs I;
900, 60; 1000. 63-19G.
e. II. Laird-S00 yards s. 800. ca 1000,
62-101.
A. a. Adoo-sOo yards "a 900. 81; 1000,
60-ISS
P. J. Lauriiaon-sOo yards, G1; 900, 80;
1000, 66-155.
General John Coughlin acted as range officer
aud umpire, and DIR. John Parsons as scorer.
This last contest did not change the leading
scores in this match which was begun on the
18th Of July aud closed on Saturday last, there
having been twelve contests shot, the highest
three scores of each contestant, which are
counted in the match, being as follows:
Colonel J. o. p. Burnside--2l4, PIG, 2lS-
GAS.
Charles II. Laird-214, 2l5, 217-G46.
p. j. Lauritzen-203, 2l7. 222-6i2.
DR.. S. l. Scott-2O9, 2l0. 2l4-633.
A. A. A,lec-lSS 1917, 0S--593.
Colonel Burnside shot in ten of the twelve
contests, aud averaged for the whole 207 $40
G. III Laird shot in ten contests aud averaged
2O6 10. Mr.. Lauritzen entered and shot in
eight, averaging 1854. DIR. ). l. Scott entered
and shot in six, averaging 205i. Mr. Adee on.
tered and shot in Ave, averaging 1879 i-5. J.
NJ. L. Particle shot in one contest, and made
205. Walter Scott entered and shot in one
making POI. The average of tho lea,iin :
scores is very high. The wonderful improve
ment recently made by Mr.. Lauri.zem Ivy II
decided change Of position in firing aud u
slight improvement in loading now places the
Columbus on "A footing TO put four men against
any other four in tho world-but that means in
America, for our country beats the world in
long-range rifle practice, England, the inventor
and starter OF the pastlnc, now being in ccsta.
cics over u man who has recently made PIG at
Wimbledon. 1t is safe TO say that the Colum.
| bias now have team OF four that cannot be
vanquished on average shooting at 500 800
| and 1000 yards.