Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-08-09
RIFLE AND MUSKET.
America the Champion, with the Former but Sew.
eral Lengths Behind in the Use
Of the Latter.


America the Champion, with the Former but Sew
eral Lengths Behind in the Use
OF the Latter.
Although the military riflemen of the
country and the sharp-shooters of the
British volunteer organizations had dis
cussed the problem of an international
military rifle-match for many years, it
was not until 1881 that the project as
sumed definite form, and the first con-
test was arranged between teams repre-
senting the National guard of this coun-
try and the volunteers of Great Britain
Practical target-shooting began in Great
Britain as long ago as 1860, when the
queen pulled silken cord which dis
charged carefully aimed rifle at tar
get 400 yards away, and recorded the
first bull's-cye on the Wimbledon COM
mons. The targets then in use were of
the square pattern. The 'sbull' s-eye''
was square, and an outer line equi-dis-
tant from the bull s-eye surrounded it.
Modern rifle practice and long range ri
lie shooting were nearly simultaneous
events in this country. Creedmore was
opened in 1873 TheIrish riiiemen
heard OF the event, and as they had Just
won the Elcho Shield in contest
against the Scotch and English riflemen,
they We're looking around for more
worlds to conquer" Maj A. Il. Leech,
captain OF the Irish team, sent a chal-
lenge To the American rifiemen to shoot
an international rifle match in 1874
Gen. George w. Wingate, Col. II. A.
Gildersleeve, Mai. Fulton, the late Gen.
Dakin, and other enthusiastic riflemen
of the time accepted the challenge. and
at once went TO work to prepare q team
for the contest. Rifle shooting became
the most popular pastimc Of the day, not
only among military men, but
among bankers, brokers and mer-
chants who were identified with
the National Guard. The Irish
team came to the United States in 1874,
and was defeated by the Americans.
The latter went to Ireland in 1875, and
again the Irish riilemen were defeated.
As 1876 was to be celebrated in a spec
ial manner, as becoming the centennial
anniversary of the nations history, by
all American sportsmen, "a grand inter-
national rifle match was projected In
yitatlons were sent to all countries to
send teams TO engage in contest for a
trophy representing American skill and
labor and its mineral wealth.
Four foreign teams responded, repre-
senting respectively Ireland, Scotland,
Canada, and Australia. England alone
stood alOof, her national rifle associa-
ton holding that the match could not
be "truly International if more than
a II
tered the contest. Although unwilling
to jeopardize the friendly relations
existing between English and American
riilemen, the National Rifle association
of this country decided not to alter its
conditions, particularly as the foreign
teams previously mentioned had al
ready accepted the challenge. The
American team was again successful,
and second American team defeated
the British team and retained the Cen
tennial trOphy-rcalled tho PALMA
in 1877. That contest decided the fate
of the Palma" and the valuable tro-
ply forms part of the cabinet of curios-
tiles, with Gen. Sheridan's stuffed
horse, in the rooms of the military SER
vice institution on Governors island. |
American rillemen had proved conclu-
sively their title to the championship
of the world as small-bore rinemen.
So thoroughly was this appreciated in
the old country that no foreign team
could be induced to visit this country
again to engage in match with small |
bore rifles.
Without the stimulus offered by an
international contest, rifle shooting
seemed likely to die IN easy death, and
the National Rifle association began to
tremblc for the safety of CreedmOor.
During the latter part of 1881, they
started on u new track American rifle
men in the National guard had been
shooting fairly well at the long ranges
with their special military rifles. This
fact suggested to the association the
idea of getting a longrange military
rifle match between Great Britain vol
unteers and members of the National |
guard in this country. The National |
Rifle Association of Great Britain |
promptly accepted challenge ON be- |
half Of its volunteers, and letters were
sent by the American Rifle association
to the adiutants general of all the States
in this country inviting them to send
competitors tor places ON the American
team TO Creedmoor The responses
were satisfactory enough, but when the
team were finally selected the repre-
sentativcs had been narrowed down to
the Eastern States, with the exception
of one contestant, who came from
Washington, ID. G. Improperly armed,
and with Il lack of sufficient training.
the American team made q sorry rec
ord at Creedmoor. The British gained
on them steadily from the start, and at
the close of the first days shooting the
Americans were nineteen points in the
rear. The case was then looked upon
as y hopeless one for the American
team, rs it had been expected that the
Americans would do their best work
at the shorter ranges. On the follow
ing day the British continued to increase
their lead and closed the match winners
by 40 points. The Americans were
not disheartened, however, and began
practice earlier with better guns, more
suitable ammunition and more har-
monious action. The result is shown
in Yesterdays work
The appended table shows the record
made in previous international matches
with Suidll-DOfe flHeS. Inc records
made in 1874 and 1875 were ON the old
style Of target when the teams were
composed of six men each and the high
est attainable number of points by each
team was 1850, In 1876 and 1877 the
new style of marking with circular
''bull's-eyes'' was used. and the teams
were composed of eight men each, max
ing the highest possible score, 1880
points. In 1880 the teams were COM
posed of six men each, and with the
new style of marking the highest pos
sible team score was 1850 points. The
matches in 1874, 1876 and 1877 were
shot on the range at Creedmoor. In
1875 and 1880 the American teams
went to Ireland to contest in the inter
national matches.