New-York tribune., 1880-06-30

of 100. In the return match at DOllymount'
these averages rose to 1918 for the American
and 1896 for the Irish team. In the great con-
tests of the next two years, in which 30 many
teams took part, the highest average was
2O97o ont Of a maximum of 225. In the last
contest. with ak instead OF eight men Defore
the targets, the average Of the Americans IS
| 2151a and that Of the Irish team 2lSl3, out OF
the same maximum. While the weather does
not seem to have been especially favorable
inasnuch as there was considerable Tind' the
scores ON each side are unprecedented
The team which the Americans have beaten
was the strongest which has ever faced them
| in an international contest. It comprised Fen
ton, William Rigby and JOyNt, who shot at
! Creedmoor in 1879 and 1875 John Rigoy,
| who crossed the Atlantic in 1874 to make one
Of the best scores In the first match the famous
Miner, who has taken his place before the tar
gets at every meeting Of the teams and only
| one new man. On the other hand, RathbOne
was the only member of the American team
who had taken part in an international contest,
and he had only shot once before. The Irish
team was not only made up Of veterans In
thorough practice, but no pains had been
put together in the United Kingdom. John
Rigby was convinced after his first defeat thar
the muzSle-loader, which he used to consider
the best arm for scientific practice before the
targets, was inferior to the bIeech-lOader which
was 80 effective In the hands of American rifle
men. The rife which he and four OF his asso-
ciates used at Dolymount was one of his own
| breech- leaders, with every American improve
ment added. The scores of the Irish team In
their preliminary practice and in the final
contest have been the highest ever made In
Great Britain or the United States. In the
first two Ilish-American matches their scores
were, respectively. 151 and 149 below the
maximum, and their best days work In the
great contests of 1915 and 1877 left them III
points in arrears. On Saturday last hey were
within 102 points Of the highest possible score,
and yesterday they reduced this default to TO-
With all the crack shots I" mustered into SER
vice, with an arm patterned closely after the
American rifle, and with continuous practice
ON their own ground for many weeks, they
have done what they could to win. Yet with
score that has never been approached at
DoIlymount, Creedmoor or Wimbledon, they
have not won.
The triumph of the American riflemen is I'M
doubtedly due to the superiority of organization
which has carried them through 80 many close
contests. When at the end Of days shooting
| the difference between the scores Is only a
dozen points, It Is scarcely worth while to COM
pare tho craftsmanship Of the teams The
Americans have always won by virtue of their
discipline and dependence upon one another.
One man gives another the windage allowance
and vertical variation, and under the direction
of the captain all work together as one man.
This superiority of organization was apparent
in the Centennial contest at Creedmoor, and,
we venture to say. has given rhem the victory
in Ireland. Colonel iodine and his team have
done honor to their country, and will be
heartily welcomed when they return.