The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
CARVER OUTDONE.
Extraordinary Shooting by California
 Marksman.

Extraordinary Shooting by California
 Marksman.
 The celebrated Dr. Carver, who left California about 3 year ago, and has since perforated the temple of fame with bullets fl om his C little rifie,' has now 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 shotgun. There was also a fair sprinkling of ladies in the assemblage. The doctor was ac- companied by his wife, q prepossessing lady of medium stature, who also enterr tained the company by brief display ot her skill in the manipulation of the rifle and pistol. This was Mrs. Ruth's first exhibition in pubic, and she manifested considerable perturbation at first, or as the doctor expressed it, she was q little skittisn upon 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 into the air by an attendant, Mrs. Ruth breaking six out of nine. She then perforated a glass ball held in the attendants hand at distance ofIabout twenty feet. and re- peated the experiment with the hammer of the rifle held downward. She also shattered with pistol several balls thrown in the air, and also ball held in the hand. Mrs. Ruth was loudly ap- plauded for her steady nerve and won derful markmanship. Dr. Ruth then proceeded to give an explanation of fancy shooting at a glass ball held in the hand of his attendant, 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 bis head, the hammer pointing downward. He also shot with his back reclining upon a table. In all these experiments he was successful on the first attempt. He also performed the Austin brothers mirror trick successfully. Turning his back to the attendant. he sighted the rifle by the aid of a small hand mirror, and broke the ball at the first trial. Perhaps the most wonderful trick that he accom- plshed, and one requiring considerable nerve on the part of both himself and attendant, was shooting a cigar out of the mouth of the latter, an experiment which led many to predicbthat the doc- tors assistant would not live to very green old age. Another interesting ex- pertinent was shooting without sight, that essential adjunct being covered by
 
 barrel at its extremity. The absence of the sight apparently made no difference, as the destruction of the vitreous spheres continued unabated. The following ex- periments were also successfully accom- plished: Shooting ball from the head of an attendant, the latter being blind folded; the same feat with the bandages removed from the attendants eyes, and the latter looking into the muzzle of the rifle. One-hand shooting with small rifle, manipulated in a variety of diff cult ways, holding the rifle with the hands placed back of 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 @ glass ball upon the ground, the doctor shot in front of it, and plow- ing under it, sent it flying several feet in the air by the force of the concussion. and, before it reached the ground, another shot broke it into a thousand pieces. An exhibition of rapid shoot ing was also given, the doctor breaking the balls as fast as the attendant could throw them into the air. The exhibition closed with 8 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. All these present expressed much astonishment at DT. Ruth's skill, and it seemed to be the general verdict that Carver's proficiency with the rifle was secondary to that of Dr. Ruth, who uses 8 forty four-calibre Winchester 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 in the fall he will either depart for Europe or Australia.-Su Frn7aciSco Chronicle.