National Republican., 1881-08-05
BECKHAM TROPHY.
GARD FROM ONE OF THE REFEREES,
which Gives Complete History OF All the Onlcial
Correspondence In Regard TO the Tie Be-
tween the Light Infantry aud
the National Rifles.
To the Editor Of Tnr RrrunLicAS,

iNS'lhB tlluJ lllc puDllC uO uOt luily uu-
derstand the circumstances attending the match
shot at Glymont some time ago take this oppor.
tunity to state that the match was governed by
the rules md regulations OF the National Rife As
sociation and other rules prescribed by those hav-
Ing the match in charge, one Of which defined the
duties OF the referees and umpires, and read as
follows:
Fourth-The referees shall be the commanding
othCers OF each company, or such member OF
their companies as they may designate in their
stead each company TO be represented by but one
person. In case of the failure Of the referees to
come to unanimous conclusion upon any ques-
ton. submitted for determination the same
shall be referred to the umpire, whose deci.
sion shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon
all parties
THE; RErERTEs HAD CHARGE OF THE MATCH,
determined questions ns they arose and at the
conclusion Of the firing took the scoresheets and
retired for the purpose Of rendering decision.
When we found there was tie much discussion
ensued, and many minor objections were raised
by the ereferee OF the Washington Light Infantry to
rendering decision at once. Finally II was unani.
ously agreed TO submit these questions, with the
scores, to the National Rife Association of Amer.
lea, and ask for q construction Of the rules. Mr.
Beckham, having been present and heard the
points raised, was requested TO prepare the letter.
which he did in fair and candid manner We
afterward met at Mr.. Beckham's office, in Alexan.
cussion all points heretofore raised were with
drawn, but one, and the communication with the
score and this one question: lei with Mr.. D. 10
forward, and
WHEN THE ANswER WAS RECEIVED
VIC were to be called together by him and then
render a decision Nothing was heard from the
letter. ] learned from an Alexandria paper that
1t was addressed 10 Judge Gildersleeye, who, am
informed In Europe and is not the present presi
dent Of the National Rife Association, and this
may account for the absence Of a reply. Anyway,
Mr.. d. grew very impatient, and without notice to
the referees declared the match of. To this pro.
tested, and stated that If such arbitrary action was
adhered to the National Rifles might be counted
out in future contests. In the meantime the scores
had been sent to the Spirit Of ne Times paper, New
York, and the rife editor Of that paper addressed
a note to Major Frank j. Donaldson, secretary of
the National Rife Association asking for a do.
cision, which the secretary promptly gave and
which was published in the Spirit of recent date
to the effect that the National Rifles team had won
the contest at Glymont. did not feel content to
take this decision without all the circumstances
were known TO the secretary Of the National Rifle
Association, and therefore corresponded with him
as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 49,
+. J. DONALDSON, Secretary NJ II. A. of A.:
DEAR SIR: inclose herewith a score as made by
the teams named In match shot under the rules
of your association the 10th of June, near this
city. However, your rules were In one respect
departed from, viz Instead Of the competitors
firing two by two alternately till they had fired
their number Of shots" II was agreed by those
having the match in sharge to have the Nos. of
each team fire one shot each, then the Nos. 2, 3,
&c, commencing again with the Nos ], and so
on, till the required number of shots had been
fired by each man. The match resulted in a tic
on which your opinion was asked by the Spirit Of
Me Times. But what want to know Is this
Did the varying Of that rule about the order Of fir
ing, done as 1t was by unanimous consent, in any
way affect the validity of the match2 Did either
team have right to raise this question after the
match, having consented in the beginning TO the
changer Taking this question into consideration,
will thank you 10 tell me which team, from this
score, won the match; and such other information
as you may desire 70 give will be'most thankfully
received. II possible, should like TO get your re.
ply by Tuesday, August 2, 1881; Very respectfully
In reply received the following:
THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA,
Mr.. JOSEPH MANSON Washington, d. c.:
DEAR SIR: Yours Of Goth ultimo received In
reply would say that no official decision can be
with the Printed rules. The Theb OBJECTION M S raised
against such departure aftera unanimous agree
ment simply becomes a question of honor and
FRANK J. DONALDSON,
Secretary Of the National Rife Association.
So 1t will be seen from the above correspondence
that decision is given only in accordance with
the rules of the association, and that having been
given in favor of the Rifles, the matter Of varying
the order Of firing is left to those agreeing to the
same, becoming question OF honor and principle
when objection is raised after the match is over.
The Rifles, at their monthly meeting on the I'd
instant, unanimously sustained the action have
taken, and as Mr.. Beckham adheres TO his de-
cision the National Rifles will not again contest
for the Beckham cup. We believe we are justified
in this resolution, for the umpire has no right to
exercise arbitrary power in matter before 1t has
been submitted TO him for decision by the referees
Further OH this subject, some one signing "Ah
Sin has addressed note to the New York Clipper,
the reply to which is in the issue dated August G.
as follows
"AH SIN" Washington:
Although the letter written by Secretary Don.
aldson may not have been sent at the direction of
the committee Of the National Association, It is
probable that It wasso sent. 1t is not reasonable
to suppose that the committee can be brought to.
gethcr at any moment, especially at this time of
year, TO settle such questions, and a note from the
committees mouth piece, the secretary, should be
considered by the umpire rs authoritative.
Such is the opinion of another sporting paper
which is good authority on this subject Very
respectfully, JOSEPH o. MANSON,
Referee for National Rifles.
A NEW MATCH PROPOSED.
Colonel Burnside, the commander ofthe National
Rifles, has addressed q letter to Colonel W. @.
Moore proposing q military rifle match, to take
place next October and 1t is to be hoped that Com
pany will promptly accept II. The letter is as
follows
DEAR SIR: The National Rifles has the honor to
propose military rife match between teams OF
National Rifles for team trophy Of the value OF
$780, or individual badges or medals of that value,
as the winning team may elect, the match TO be
shot under the following general conditions, viz;
First--The match TO occur at any time during
the month Of October next on ground On which
second-The precise date and place of shooting
to be hereafter mutually agreed upon by the rep
resenatives OF the teams
Fourth-Two sighting and seven scoring shots
to be allowed each rineman.
Fiith-Distance two hundred yards.
Sixth-Position, on. hand
Sevcnth-Amy regulation military rifles, TO be
loaded with the ammunition prescribed by the
Ordnance Department, United States army.
Eighth--The National Rifle Association rules
and regulations 10 govern the conduct and shoot
Ing OF The match unless variations lherefrom are
teams before the firnE begins
Nlnth-Each team 10 be represented by one
referee,
Tenth-The two referees TO select au umpire.
Eleventh-All further details and regulations TO
be arranged by the umpire and referees.
The National Rifles has made an appropriation
OF s9o dollars toward the purchase of the trophy, or
badges II chosen, and that the teams may be on
equal footing IN this respect we invite your corps
70 make similar appropriation TO make the prize
Of the value suggested.
Trusting that this proposition may be received
IN the kindly spirit in which II Is made, and that
the shooting in the match may bc cTediable 70
both organizations, ! am, very respectfully ana
truly yours
what IL 20 Become OF IIimT
OF course, if the President recovers,
Guitcau cannot be hung, but, after serving few
years, will be turned out into the great world
again What then will hpcnma a him Whnl will
be his condition. No man will receive him into
DO hn,p t.Na nj Ne mill