Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-12-09
POPPING THE PIGEONS.
aRrAr SPORT AT MeuKAKNs rARU
Chsrisy Franci,ous and nsu asrdner MAKE
wstrh For SiOO-rhe s.veutn w araer

eNHAN sfOhr AT MoUNAkN'3 PARK
Chsriey Frapoi,ous aud iieu tasrdner MAKE
wstrh For siOO-rhe seventh yyaroer
wiua tns stskes-A u,g Urowu.
About ton days ago a Bhooting match
was arranged between Charles Frauciscus
and Henry Gardner, both well known gun
pors of this CITY. Each side posted $50 at
the lNTEtIhoENcER Office aud the match
was set for Monday mt MoGrann's park.
The terms were that each man was TO
shoot at ID birds at 81 yards and tho ono
killing the most was TO take tn1SiO0
The match was to take place at p. M,
and tho weather was very fine, with the
exception of still brecgo that blew all
afternoon. The crowd in attendance
numbered over 400, and the "Hilr' was
we'll represented. Each Of tho guupers
had large number OF friends, aud tho
crowd was about equally divided in their
preferences. Previous to tho match tue
majority OF those present gathered in the
large barroom, where pools wero sold.
Although It was well known that Gardner
had defeated Franciscus ia no less than
three successive matches this season, the
| latter was the fsyorito In the pools, and
odds of 10 to Z and to woro given upon
him. Outside of tho pools largo number
OF bots were made, but tho majority of
| them were even.
| tut iutlgu bN'k ifiSN NtNSNrs.
John Snyder, Al Rlu1h and 3lilJon Roger,
who are all we'll known ns good shots,
were chosen as judges, and She grounds
for the shooting selected. The trap
| was set at point near tho home plate OF
the ball grounds, and the guuners stood
Immediately in front of tho grand stand,
which was well filled with spectators.
Tho majority OF the crowd, however, were
afraid that tl'ey would not sec all that was
going on, and preferred to stand on the
track and crowded around the gunners
and judges whenever an opportunity
offered. At ) o'clock the shooting began,
after Mr.. Rauch had been chosen to spring
the trap and Horace Miller and Michael
Gardner 10 place the birds.
BOTH MISSED THEIR FIRST BfRp.
| Franciscus was the iiTst To shoot aud he
missed his bird, Gardner following with no
better luck ; Frauciscus hit the next six
birds. He missed tho eighth aud tenth
but struck the remaining three to the
thirteenth inclusive, thus killing ten of tho
thirteen.
Gardner missed his second and third
birds. He struck the fourth aud it would
have fallen from tho effects of the shot,
had it not been for one Of the outside gun
ners who was secr0ted bebiDd the judges
: stand and blaZcd away at the bird almost
blowing 1t to pieces while il was vet far
in the bounds. The bird was allowed
Gardner, as it was evident that he had
struck it fairly, Gardner missed his fifth
bird but seemed to have setted down Co
work when he killed the following four.
He missed the tenth and eleventh aud
struck the twelfth.
After Frauciscus had killed his thir-
a teenth bird 1t was plain that Gardner
could rot win and tho match was awarded
to Franciscus. The score was as follows
,a,ssannnoS.sEcus'...''.'''"0 ,,snnS.E ! di1gIodI I-lS
D TEE OUTSIDE GuSNERs.
D Tho crowd of outside gunners was very
large. They were stationed all around
{ the race track apd when bird escaped
n being hit by the contestants in The match
I he had great difficulty IN getting beyond
the outsiders, who bazed away a. him with
;, guns Of all kinds and loads ot all sizss.
, Thres birds succeeded in oluaiug all of
e them by flying very high. The others
r were struck and 30 many shots we're fired
: at times that it was very difficult to tell
i who killed them. Several times there
| were disputes over birds of this kind.
, Upon twopoF three ooshsions when birds
got among the outsiders 1t looked
o dangerous for the spectators, on the
] grand stand, as the gunncis in their
! anxiety to kill ths birds did not look
4. where they we're shooting, and they were
q just as likely TO land load Of shot in the
Q neck OF some ono in attendance as thoy
, were to strike the pigeon II is certain
D | that number of persons were only saved
{ from being badly wounded by this birds
) suddenly changing their course when near
D the grand stand. These Fuunsrs should
D DO looked after il any more matches take
Y place Mt the park, rs their recklessuess
0 may cause some one tD b. badly injured
5 REPUBLICAN CROW.
Among the outside guuuers were
= number OF good shots aud it was very
: unsafe for an escaped pigeon to get among
them. At ono time an old crow, that did
not seem to know what was going on,
; veDtured inside of the grounds. flo was
sailing very high, and that saved nis life,
: Tor about dc2en shots were feed at him
! lie escaped unhurt, but qnicRly turned
about and went back the way he came to
the amusement of the crowd.
An amusing incident occurred just
before the match began, when a rabbit
. put in an appearaucB on the grounds.
Hundreds of boys were after him ia an
instant Some were armed with guns and
were very anxious 10 get shot at tho
cotton tail. After hunt of some minutes
one boy killed the animal with stone and
bore 1t triumphantly to the crowd, to the
disgust OF those with guDs, some of whom
, did not get a chance to empty their
weapons all day.
Among those in attendance at yester-
days match were a score Of good gunuers,
all of whom have done fine shooting in
their time. AS these matches are good
sport, when they are conducted fairly as
yesterdays undoubtedly was, there is no
reason why big match should not be
gotten up and Inducements offered to
guuners outside of the county to enter.