Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-03-06
CARVER OUrDONE.
Extraordinary shooting by "a Culrfor.
mia Mark sman.


mia Marksman.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The celebrated DR.. Carver, who left
California about a year ago, and has
since perforated the temple of fame with
bullets from his little rifle" has now a
most formidable rival in the person of
DR.. John Ruth, who yesterday gave an
exhibition of his wonderful skill with
the rifle at Shell-MOund Park, Berkeley,
in the presence of about 100 spectators,
largely composed of local "crack Shots"
with both the rifle and shot gun. There
was also fair sprinkling of ladies in
the assemblage. The Doctor was accom-
panied by his wife, a prepOssessing lady
OF medium stature, who also entertained
the company by brief display of her
skill in the manipulation of the rifle
and pistol This was Mrs. Ruth's first
exhibition in public. and she manifested
considerable perturbation at first, or, as
the Doctor expressed it, "she was little
skittish on her first appearance" but.
after the first two or three shots, the
nervousness disappeared, and the glass
balls were shattered in quick succession.
The balls were thrown i'm the air by an
attendant, Mrs. Ruth breaking six out
of nine. She then perforated a glass
ball held in the attendants hand at a
distance of about 20 feet, and repeated
the experiment with the hammer of the
rifle held downward. She also shattered
with pistol several balls thrown i'm the
air, and also ball held in the hand.
Mrs. Ruth was loudly applauded for her
steady nerve and wonderful marksman-
snip. Dr. Ruth then proceeded to give
an exhibition of fancy shooting at
glass ball held in the hand of his at
tendant. he taking aim through his legs
with his back to the object. He also
held the rifle with the butt resting upon
the top OF his head, the hammer point
Ing downward. He also shot with his
back resting upon table. In all these
experiments he was successful on the
first attempt. He also performed the
Austin brothers mirror trick successful
ly. Turning his back to the attendant,
he sighted the rifle by the aid of small
hand mirror, and broke the ball at the
hrst trial. Perhaps the most wonderful
reat that ne accomplished, and one re-
curing considerable nerve on the part
OF himself and attendant, was shooting
cigar out OF the mouth of the latter.
an experiment which led many to pre-
dict that the doctors assistant would
not live to very green old age. Anoth-
er interesting experiment was shooting
without sight, that essential adjunct
being covered by piece of card board
placed around the barrel at its extremi-
W. The absence of the sight apparently
made no difference, as the destruction
OF the vltreOus spheres continued una
Dated. The following experiments were
also successfully accomplished: Shoot
Ing ball from the head of an attendant,
the latter being blindfOlded; the same
feat with the bandages removed from
the attendants eyes, and the latter look
ing Into the muZzle Of the rifle. One
hand shooting with small rifle, man.
ipn!ated In variety of difficult ways,
holding the rifle with hands placed back
vi the neck. In none of these shots did
the doctor fail to shatter the balls from
the head OF the attendant. One of the
most marvellous feats performed was the
following. Placing a glass ball upon
the ground, the doctor shot in front of
II, and blowing under it, sent it flying
several feet in the air by the force Of
the conclusion, and, before it reached the
thousand pieces. An exhibition of rapid
ShOOeAh6 "oo oioO 6iNCu, tHC
breaking the balls as fast as the attend
ant could throw them into the air. The
exhibition closed with a display of short
range pistol practice, in which the
marksman was not as successful as with
the rifle, having, as he remarked by way
OF an apology, had but little practice
with the weapon. ALI those present ex-
pressed establishment at DR.. Ruth's won
derful skill, and it seemed to be the gen.
eral verdict that Carver's proficiency
with the rifle was secondary to that of
DIR. Ruth, who uses A caliber Winches-
ter rifle. which was presented to him by
the manufacturers. He will soon depart
for the East, it being his intention to
make a tour of the states with his wife
and give exhibitions during the coming
summer, and i'm the fall he will either
depart for Europe or Australia.