The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-23
BFiTINe THE BEST.
Texas Boy Who fxcels tho Noted, Rife
shots OF the world-Marvelous Markham
ship While Blindfoided and Turning
Summersaults.

SINUS OF tue Nofiu-harNetous Marl.man-
ship While Blindfoided and Turning
summersaults.
For'years past everybody, ON both sides
ofthe Atlantic, from the humblest peas
ant TO the crowned heads of royalty, have
stood amazed while witnessing the .skiu OF
experts with the rifle, and exhibitions have
been given by Bogardus, Carver, Erb and
numerous other familiar characters that
have ELECTED the plsudits of multitudes
at their wonderful performances in steadi.
ness Of nerve and accuracy of vision. Glass
balls, marbles, and other mhnitessimal oh.
jects have been hit and perforated in a man
ner as wonderful as TO appear almost in
credible, even while being observed by the
most critical eye. But the most wonderful
feat in this line was witnessed in this city
yesterday, the principal actor being young
obscure Texas boy, from near Aurora, Wise
county, who had visited Dallas to attend
Barnum's circus. He brought with him a
iirearm that from his childhood had
been as a boon companion
An old-iashioned, long-barrel, small
bore Kentucky rifle of the powder.
ball, cap and muzzle-loading persuasion,
This youth, whose name is Robert patten
attracted the attention of the crowds in
East Dallas early in the morning by turning
hand-springs and picking up various small
objects during the evolutions. He finally
drttcd into party OF men shooting at a
target and engaging in the sport, he aston
iShed all present at the unerring accuracy
OF his aim, as he uniformly
hit centre and rang the boil every time
he pulled the trigger. His youthful and
ungainly appearance, coupled with such
marvellous skill, began to elicit questions.
and it was soon discovered that his Ken.
lucky rifle had been brought with him, and
that il was possible to obtain from him
some exhibitions with it, About dozen
or more parties, especially interested in
such matters, finally carried the boy to the
SUBURBS, and then began tho marvellous
ieats of the day. Among those present,
requested to be there by one OF the party
above alluded to, was the reporter and the
facts detailed can DO vouchcd for.
What was most noticeable was
the boys surprising agility. But
very few of his attempts failed.
Among the dozen or more feats only few
of the more extraordinary need be men.
toned The first shot was nj dime, sus-
pended from limb by very light Irvine.
Standing Off twenty PAGES, with his back
to the mark, Patton, ut a command of
Turn and fire suddenly wheeled and
fired without effort or aim, apparently, and
the dime was struck and thrown an in.
credible distance. After this another small
piece OF money was attached to and sus-
pended by the string Us the former, and re-
firing and reloading he again took his
stand, this time u trifle nearer. He then
laid his rifle, cooked, upon tho ground, and
stepping back step or so turned somer-
sault, grasping the gun as he camo to his
feet, and firing almost instantly. On
examination the string was found close cut
and the money lying directly underneath
But the most remarkable shot Of the day
peculiar manner. very small piece OF
elder brush was cut, about the size Of q
pistol barrel, and the pith pushed out
large and sharp blade Of q knife was then
placed against a tree. edge outward and on
| either side nickel stuck against the tree.
The elder was then fastened horizontally
against the blade, perhaps q quarter OF an
inch in front, and the marksman seizing
his rifle again took his stand twenty PAGES
from the objects He took long look at the
mark, drew the gun up and took aim as il
to fire, but took down the gun and re-
quested to be blindfOlded, which was done.
Then waving his hand to the crowd,
| quickly drew the piece to his shoulder and
| fired. A rush was made for the tree and il
was discovered that the ball had passed di.
rectly through the elder, had been split in
halves upon the blade, and that each half
had buried a nickel in the tree nearly
quarter of an inch deep, and fallen fiat
| tened upon the ground at the foot. This
was a dcadener, and, in their enthusiasm,
the party made up a purse for the boy of
$40, and he went on his way rejoicing
We have not seen him since, but
can find him, and will simply back
that boy with the rifle against
the sporting world. Among minor exhibit
ton shots, glass balls We're broken at n
Tho knowledge of this new-found genius
soon spread through the crowd, and com.
| ing TO the ears of one of the side-show-
men, he attempted, il is said, to engage the
lad, but he could not be induced to try
circus life prefering the freedom and ease
of his prairie home.