The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-19
A Crack Shot.

Capt. W. j. French (otherwise known As
" Wild lin }, Il frontier scout and hunter,
gave al exhibition of his skill with the rifle
ut the Fair grounds, on Thursday after
noon. He had exhibited in Wilmington,
on Monday, and created considerable stir
among the Sportsmen. Quite Il crowd of
curious people gathered to witness the per-
for,nancc and among them there was Il
number Of incredulous individuals, who
thought there was some deception i'll the
matter Before the shooting was over, how
ever, all were thoroughly convinced that
the Captain is wonderful man with the
rifle. Before the Captain began shooting,
several gentlemen tried their hands at glass
balls with Il shoi gun. They broke fifteen
balls out OF twcnty-tour-.i. l.. Wells max
Ing the hest score by breaking five straight
balls. Capt. French then shot at the same
number with rifle, and broke q ont of "a
balls. He then gave an exhibition of fancy
shooting. He placed Il number Of balls
upon wires stuck into the ground at a dis
tance OF about thirty feet. AZ these he
shot with the rite upside down, the butt
against his forehead, and also with the rifle
in the same position, pointing it between
his legs, breaking his balls in each instance
He then tired I'll a bah, placing the rife
upon his bead with the nuzzlr pointing to
the rear, sighting by means Of looking
glass held heior" his face. and after a cou-
pl, of misses, broke the balls. He then COW
cred his sight hy placing a piece of card
board upon the muzzlc, and broke the balls
thrown in the air with ease. The next ex-
hibition was break ing 4 ball thrown into
the air, his gun lying upon the ground,
which he would pick up after the ball was
thrown, and break three out of five of the
balls The hardest shot, apparently. was
when the hall was thrown toward him
He would. however, shivcr more than hall
these halls lie then broke ten balls thrown
into the air in i:iteen and three-Guartc sec.
onds, unlocking his gun and throwing I
fresh cartridge into the chamber each time
Another wonderful piece Of shonting, which
the Captain does, is 10 knock n glass bal
into the air by shooting hencath ii as it lies
! upon the ground, unlock and reload his CUR
and break il, baforc it reaches the eartl
! again. 4. playing card, the six OF spades
was then set up Il distance OF ah0ut Iifteei
feet, and with small Galley rife, lie placed
II ball square in each spot
! All of his shooting was really wonderful
| and called forth many expressions Of sur
! prise from his audience. After the eXhibi
! tion Wa over, Capt French gave an oppor
| tunity for an, one wishing tn try his skill
! with the rifle TO ,io 80. 4 match was made
! the contestants shooting af 4 glass bal! Sc
| upon 4 post at 4 distance Of about fifty feet
! five shots each. The following was th
! score made:
! VIM. Ward ..-...- III. c. Hurn. .......
! j. L. Wells. S........ o w. Fl. MAY y........
! \. r. Sh""i,iey. > Dr. Il. J.. Tu!l.
! Winter Wilson. . | Geo Booth, ........
/ C. W trnkshanL. &C T.. linlry........
Total ............., :, Total ............i
/ This match proved that the Captain conl'
break great many more balls thrown int
! the air than any one present could hrea'
while they were stationary. a great man,
! sipnip shots we're fired Dv different ipdi