Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-20
-ur.AvASSAH EIFLENEN.

TIE SAVANNAH RIFLEMES.
Of the Eighth Anniversary
of the Association at Sehuetzen Park
The Presidential Party Banqueted-
The Secretary's Goose Egg" shot
A Royal Entertainment.
The Savannah Rife Association eele-
brated their eighth anniversary by shoot
inc contest and banquet at >chuetLeh
Park Yesterday afternoon. The members
If the association were present IN null
force. and the occasion was one OF Tree
conviviality and hearty enjoyment. The
shooting was entered into with spirit, and
was critically better than At former ami
versary contests.
The cars left West Broad street on the
Broughton street line at l. and O'Clock,
and members Of the association were car
ried direct To the PARK. \ large number.
however. drove in private carriages, and
bv 1 O'Clock the contests were ready to
open
Among the hon0red guests Of the day
were President Arthur and Secretary
Chandler. accompanied By Mr.. Phillips
Mr.. Miller. Captain Mercer. Henry T.
Bolts. Esq. Mrs. Mercer. Mrs. Bolts,
Miss Bruce, Miss Cope, and others Of the
distinguished party, who were driven in
private carriages 10 the pavilion. where
they alighted. and the gentlemen were
escorted 10 the shooting gallery. Here
the President and Secretary Chandler
and associates were presented to
the members of the association. The
President expressed himself much pleased
with the reception he mad
received and with the delightful
scenery and location Of the park and
vicinity. On being assigned a position
before the target he handed the rifle 10 his
private Secretary. Mr.. Phillips, who drew
the piece upon the bulls eye, but the bull
let straved wide from the mark and the
result Of the shot was goose
egg" and NO. >" Captain
FalIigant appealed to the assO-
citation that the shot be not recorded, as
the President in his administration had
ALWAYS hit the mark. After a short time
spent socially the Presidential guests
were escorted to the pavilion, where a
sumptuOus salt water repast was spread
and the party were soon seated in
the full enjoyment of the occasion.
After an hour with the rliiemen the
party were returned to their carriages.
The President and Secretary Chandler
both in their own behalf and in behalf Of
the ladies who accompanied them. eX-
pressed their hearty appreciation OF the
generous reception they had been ac-
corded.
On the departure Of the President the
members Of the association were divided
into four classes. in each OF which rifle
was offered for the best shot-the addi-
tional prize in the first class being the
/ handsome association medal, to be worn
by the winner until the next annual con-
test. The first class was composed Of the
best shots: the second class Of the next
best: the third class Of the next, and the
fourth class Of the inexperienced shots.
Shortly after one O'Clock the contest
began and continued spirited and lively
for the next hour, the crack of the rifles
making sharp music for sensitive ears.
The shooting was business-like, and in
spite Of the high wind that directly blew
across the range, the record was gener-
allv good. The range was 200 yards. The
contest finally closed and the best shots
were recorded as follows:
In the first class the best score was p,
made BY Mr.. NJ. Maclean, who was
awarded the first prize, the association
gold medal.
In the second class the best score was
made by Mr.. Vim. Mills, who made %,
and was awarded prize rifle.
In the third class the prize was won by
Mr.. III. \. Palmer on score Of -, who
was also awarded prize rifle.
In the fourth and last class Mr.. j. q.
Yonge recorded Is as the best score
made, and was also awarded the regular
rifle prize.
In all Of the classes the scores averaged
remarkably we'll and were considerably
higher than those made last year. The
result of the shooting was highly salts
factory, and it may be predicted with
safety that some fine scores Will be re-
corded during the coming season. At the
conclusion Of this part Of the programme
the members and invited guests proceeded
10 the spacious pavilion, where the tables
had been arranged at angles with each
other, and were bOuntifully spread with a
sumptuous banquettO tempt the hungry
marksmen and their friends. The spread
had been arranged for hundred, and
hardly a seat was vacant when the assO-
citation was called to order by the Vice
President. Capt. J. W. McAlpin, who act
ed in the absence Of General Anderson.
The dinner was the feature of the day and
was enjoyed to its extent. The menu IN
cluded all the tempting delicacies and sub
stantials of the season, and the sparkling
champagne flowed freely 10 the music
of popping cOrks and cOnVivlal
songs. After the more substantial
features of the dinner had
been disposed of the Vice President called
upon Captain falllgant 10 MAKE the pre-
sentatiOn of the prizes to the successful
contestants. This was one Of the most
felicitOus and happy speeches of the hour,
and the members Of the association in
their enjoyment gave way TO unrestrained
merriment and good feeling. Captain
Falligant was followed by j. r. Saussy,
Esq. who was called upon by Mr.. j. +.
White to respond in his behalf on the pre-
sentatiOn Of the permanent gold medal
which he had been awarded for the I'M
usual and remarkable score Of five sue
cessive "bulFs eyes" Mr.. Saussy
delivered one OF his usual happy
speeches. and kept the assemblage
i'm constant uprOar. lie was
followed in turn by Mr.. T. {. Leutze and
Mr.. Hartrldge. of Florida, who was called
to respond to the toast "Our Sister State"
The health of the absent President was
drank. and responses were made to calls
by DR.. Mcfarland, whose efforts in con-
tributing to the enjoyment Of the occasion
were heartily successful, and by members
of the press and other invited guests.
After dinner practice shooting was re-
sumed. and the frOlic was continued until
the hour for the departure Of the cars at
haIf-past six o'clock. The celebration
was in every way a success, and will be
recorded as one Of the most enjoyable ever
held i'm the history of the association.