Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-05

condition to fire upon them would endanger the
lives OF the markers, as the tops Of the bullet
the splash" from the bullets which strike against
the cast-irOn targets directly above the mems
| heads would cut them to pieces.
These rules and precautions are observed the
same when boats are coming down the stream.
The sides of the targets and uilet-proOfs toward
the river are always open, and the markers can
easily see every approaching boat. When the
grass is tall and small boats are passing, the
extra precautiOn is always taken by the boat
men to halOO when nearing the said curve in
the stream. There is not day when shooting
is done at the long-range that the targets are
not opened from one to dozen times and kept
open several minutes each time for passing
boats. This precaution is taken to cover the
possibility of some shots missing the targets
for all bullets that strike the heavy cast-iron
plates of the targets or buet-proofs directly
underneath are ground into small atoms the
splash being dangerous only within the dis
tance OF a few feet. Notwithstanding the fact
that the . misses" are few and far between. the
invarlable rule for the governance of the mark
ers is to always open the targets for passing
boats.
This does not apply to the practice at the short
and mid-range targets, which are so situated
that the missing bullets bury themselves in the
ground at a great distance short of the river.
PRO Bono" Is very unfortunate IN his state
ments Two years ago the 30th of May last he
says boatnan was seriously wounded while
passing our long-range targets No one was
wounded there on that date Four wears ago
the 30th of May last boatman from the navy
yard landed on the marsh at the side of the tar
get, at point several hundred yards below the
danger line, and deliberately walking around
to the open sides of the targets and to within
oil yards OF them. he gave each one of the two
colOred markers, who were then in the targets,
charge OF shot from his double barrel gum and
seeing that they were not killed on the first
round he instantly extracted the exploded shells
and relOading his gun. he gave each man another
shot. This was the unprOvOked and wantOn
act ola cowardly, drunken bOatman, who was
out for q holiday. The markers at once opened
targets and displayed red flags. when it was
seen through the telescope at the firing point
that they were both wounded, and the
party of gentlemen there ran to their as
sistance, the bOatman, in the meantime
having made his escape by crossing the river.
Both markers were wounded with bird-shot-
one seriously, the work of extracting the shot
from them requiring the services of two sur
geOns for several hours. 1t was afterward
ascertained who did the shooting and the man
was arrested. indicted before the grand jury
and his trial set for the fall term of court from
this it was continued till the spring term,
and again on the statement of the prisoners
counsel that important witnesses were absent
1t was further postponed. and finally the two
men who were shot failed to appear against the
rnffian and the case went by default. No other
case ofwOunding on the Benning strange or on the
river near IT, mas ever occurred during the seven
years that range has been in existence, and the
public can rest assured that the members Of the
Columbia rifle association will at all times ex-
ercse the utmost care in their practice, as the
occurrence of an accident of the kind so reck-
lessly mentioned by ''PrO Bono" would reflect
most seriously upon the members of the club.
1t is also necessary for man to use precaution
and keep truth in view when he PUSHES into
print with such charges as 'PrO Bono" has
made. even though he shelters himself behind
an assumed name. Respectfully yours.
J.O.P. BURNSIDE.
July 81, 1882. Prest Col. Rifle AssOn.
GrOwl About Department Drinking
Houses.
To the Editor OF THE EVENING STAR:
Allow me to make the following suggestion
as a remedy in part for great and growing evil
In our midst. Although neither teetotaler,
prOhlDltloniSt, or believer in any radical measure
regarding what people should eat, drink or wear
claim that employers have the right to dictate
to their employees regarding their behaviour and
habits during the hours of labor.
1t is well known that drinking houses like all
other places of business in this city, are largely
patronized by government clerks. This is espe-
cially the case about lunch time, when the trade
done in plain and fancy drinks is enormous
Every department has several of these establish
ments as near to 1t as possible, and each one is a
bonanza to Its owner. This regular habit OF
drinking by employees Is not merely a waste Of
fools pence" but is also loss to the govern
ment OF many pounds in the way of lost time
and incapacitated clerks. 1t also leads to other
extravagances which, to procure the means for
gratifying. theft Is resOrted to, and the abscOnd-
Ing defaulter can generally trace his downward
career to the habits engendered while drinking
at the bar Of his favOrite eating house during
office hours.
The habit of clerical dram-drinking might be
checked in great measure by clothing all gov
eminent employees In a uniform and tOrbidding
any one thus clothed from entering a public
house under penalty Of dismissal. In case of
sickness medicine could be procured by an order
from the Office. as it often is now in cases of
feminine indispOsitiOn.
The letter-carriers are very properly forbidden
from drinking while on duty; any one caught
indulging in that way being punished 1t would
be much easier to enforce rule Of this kind to
apply to clerks in general than it is to the gray
coated boys whose actions are less liable to be
discovered and who are doubtless much in need
of little stimulus They are, however, learn
temperate class of men as arule. and although
there may be occasional evasiOns of the law and
doubtless would be many If applied to the whole
clerical force Of the District, yet there would be
much good accomplished by it, many a dollar
saved to families who now neglect to pay the
butcher and baker and much more work accom-
piished for the government.
The only sufferers that know OF that would
be caused by the maintenance of such a law
would be the salOOn-keepers; but perhaps they
might do an additional trade at night to make
up for noon losses. At ali events there is too
much capital invested in the retail liquor bust
ness in this city, and it would be we'll to turn
some OF it into more respectable channel.
Looking upon it from a mere business point
of view, the effrOntery with which restau-
rant keepers demand such enormous profits is
astonishing How many Of their patrons would
allow themselves to be thus imposed on in the
purchase Of other goods? What wonder that
barkeepers grow rich. shine I'm spotless linen
wear diamond pins and are generally gotten up
regardless of expense, or that their employers
build luxurious houses and aim to be leading
men in the community. Meanwhile the prOpri-
etOr of the market store on the corner, whose
book is full of long unsettled accounts, is sold
out by the sheriff. RHINE VINE
Southeast Washington Grievances.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
1t Is o most remarkable fact that DESPITE