The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-29
e VENERABLE SHOT.
A Companion of BOone still Living
and Handy with His Rifle.

Frankfort (Ky.) Special to Gin. Commercial
again encountered yesterday morning
the venerable DIR. Graham, of Louisville.
He was assisting his daughter, the widow
of the late Gov. Bramlette, to the railway
cars. After the departure of the train, we
entered into conversation. / inquired of
him If It was true, as l had often heard
stated and seen published, that he had at one
time, and when beyond the age of three
score.and-ten, offered to shoot against any
man in the world with rifle for the sum of
$4,000.
"No, sir" he replied, :" l am not n betting
man. / do not think / ever made a wager
in my life, though was once sorcly tempted
to do so, and this furnishes the foundation
of the story you have heard. A gunmaker
or drummer of concern In st. Louis,
named Dimmick, visited Kentucky nearly
thirty years ago, and challenged everybody
to shoot with him. 1t was done to
advertise the superiority of his rifles.
lie did have several shooting contests,
and was invariably successful, nearly all
the old hunters being dead, or unfit from
age to compete with him, while the younger
generation were accustomed only to hunt
ing small game with the shotgun. He is
sued printed circulars headed, Kentucky
Humbug," and Dragged loudly of his
achievements. | had heard of this, and
when he visited my town, Harrodsburg, /
felt disposed to try conclusions with him,
although was very busy at the time, hav.
ing at least 800 guests ut my springs to look
after. He kept at his boastings, and one
day shouldcrcd my rifle and hunted him
up. / found him at u gunsmith's shop and
was introduced TO him by the proprietor,
who said Here's an old man that can
4 n1I ,a,I, 10,
have been his grandfather. He laughed,
and said he thought not then told him
that has specially sought for him, having
heard of his boasts that he could beat any
man in Kentucky with rifle. would
now shoot with him and settle the point in
fifteen minutes. He asked what amount
| wanted TO shoot for. replied that never
shot for money that was not q blackleg,
but was willing to test our respective skill
and attempt to maintain the ancient credit
of Kentucky for rihe-shooting. He said he
would not shoot, unless for stakes. / got a
little riled and asked him what amount of
money would induce him to test his skill
that would shoot him for $50. He said
that was not enough. Then make it five
hundred said /. Il haven't that much
with me- he answered. Well, SAID !, i
don't know you from Adams off OK, but
will put up $500 cash against your note for
that amount, if you will shoot with me.
He again excused himself and said lie was
not very WE'LL and he would see me again.
l noticed that he was pale, and that his
hand trcmbled. and, although / had never
seen him fire, knew that had him.
"The next day Beriah Magoiiin, after
ward governor of Kentucky, who was a
member of the Boone Shooting Club. Of
which was president, met the fellow, and
made a wager with him, the amount of
which have forgotten, but a forfeit Of $50
was put up, that could beat him at 100
yards. On the day fixed for the match he
called upon me and explained that his
business was to sell guns; that to beat me
would not be particularly advantageous to
him, but to be beaten by me might greatly
injure him, and he had IL wife and children
to support he could not afford to make the
trial nor to lose the forfeit money, and he
begged me to let him Off. told him l had
nothing to do with the wager, but would
consent, as far as i was concerned, to let
him off. Magofiln. believe, returned him
his forfeit.
"After he got back to St. Louis he pub
lished boastful account Of his practice in
Kentucky, never abiding to his affair with
me, when the Boone Club publicly adver-
tised that it would back me to shoot against
any man in the world for the sum of $10,-
900.
"The challenge stood for long time
without acceptance, when it was announced
in San Francisco paper that an expert of
that city had taken it up. AS soon as the
intelligence came East, ] was beset by
gamblers and others, for points as to the
match, and fearing some rascality and the
disturbance Of n mob of roughs, purchased
lumber, and was about to erect an inclosure
to accommodate the judge and myself and
opponent, and few invited guests. Near
the time the trial was to take place the
Californian arrived, and who do you
imagine it was? My son jim, the scamp,
who had emigrated to the Pacific coast in
1913. He had played itas n joke upon me-"
'What jim?
You emery young limb
The Doctor is still able to handle his
rifle, but of course with little of his earlier
skill. Boone, according to Byron, lived
hunting up to ninety but he lived in a
region of game. Here is man who hunted