National Republican., 1880-08-09
NOME AGAIN.
Return OF Charley Laird, the Riflcman-Tro
phics from Foreign Lands.


Mr.. Charles II. Laird of the Columbia Rifle
association returned TO the city last Saturday
afternoon after his two months stay in Eng.
land and ireland. lie was mci at the Balti.
more & Potomac depot by Mesirs. Burnside
aud Adec of tho Columbias, aud Mr.. john A.
Ellingcr, carriage being in waiting, in which
bo was driven TO the residence OF the latter,
No. COB II street northwest. Here quito q
party had assembled TO greet him, and lie was
the lion of the evening. Almost the first qucs-
tion was as 10 what he had brought home with
him, and in reply he uncovered 4 handsome sl-
yer cup, god.lined and chased, bearing the
following Inscription Irish Ride association,
comp't. D., won by Charles II. Laird,
July 1, 1885, 800 yards-5, 8, 8, 5, 3, 5, 3, 8, 8,
$50; ties, 5,5-65." "This, said Charley, ''is
tho Martin cup. presented by Messrs. Martin,
Hall g. Co., of Sheffield. There. woro thirty.
eight competitors for it at 500 yards, tons shots,
any rifle. Tho following extract from the Irish
Tines will tell the story better than | can {"
Charley then handed out newspaper slip
reading as follows: ''rhc thrct competitors
who mado the highest possible seores-M2ssrs.
Murphy, Laird aud Cogllan-fi,y each, fired
three additional Shots the result beiog that
Mr. Laird mado three successive bulPs.oyos,
Mr. Murphy an inner and two bulls eyes, aud
Mr.. Coghlan a bull's.eye, magpie and q
bull" Besides this cup, which is valued at
910 1885," continued Charley. Il won several
handsome money prizes but am afraid to state
tho amount before / can deposit II in bank, rs
it might excite the cupidity Of come burglar"
"Well, Charlie" he was asked, "what kind
of time did you haye~
Splendid in every respect, except tho ocean
| voyage. was sick going aud coming and the
noxt man that suggests trip across the big
pond to me I'll draw q bead on him with old
Standby here, tapping his gun on the stock.
When Preached England | was compelled to
nniI Irp, t.t,f at nd
through O mistake all my luggage was
sent to London, and 1t was fully q
week before / received it again. Mean.
while / was forced to practice with new
gun, which did not suit me, aud whom two
shells burst in IL l lost confidence in it. The
highest scoro / made with Tie new gun was
202, but when old Standby arrived l made
2l4 the first trial. The now gun prevented
my being chosen in tho team, and you may
be sure l was not pleased with this. We
had grand time though ia Ireland. Every
morning we rode to the range in an Irish
Ijaunting.car and had great times flirting with
the bellies. As was the only bachelor in the
party somo fair unknown took pains to have
a handsome bouquet left at my hotel
every morning, which 1 always took to the
range for luck. Before and after tllc
international match we were feasted and
toastod by lords and ladies, who seemed very
proud of their American cousins When We
went to England tho same programme wa:
carried out, ne pains being spared to make II:
feel that we were among friends ln the prac
ticeEshooting at HouuslOw, prior to the match
with the Englishmen, made 210 out of pos
sible 225 at the three raoges, which was tllC
best score ever made In England. made Z;
at each target l forgot to add that before
leaving Ireland / saw the barney stone, bu
did not kiss IL. left England for home or
the City Of Brussels July q, aud WAS tho only
member of the team aboard"