Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-06
WITH BOW AND ARROW.
An Archery Meeting Under the Trees Of
the Arsenal q rounds.

WITH BOW AND ARROW.
An Archery Meeting Under the Trees of
the Arsenal q rounds.
THE ANNUAL CONTESTS OF THE POTOMAC CLUBS
-GENTLEMEN AND LADIES PARTICIPATING
THE PROGRAM OF THE DAYS SPORT.
Anyone who strolled into the arsenal grounds
to-day might easily have been led to suppose
that the United States government had adopted
new, or rather very old weapon for its SOL
dfers, for over the lawn arrows were flying
through the air, and a score of bold archers were
bending their long bows. The government,
however, had very little to do with the affair.
1t was the sixth annual meet OF the Potomac
archers, and 1t was held on the level tree-skirted
lawn of the arsenal grounds by the grace Of
Gen. Gibson. At the head Of the lawn stood
eight archery targets in a row. Near at hand
the Third artillery band was stationed and dis
coursed sweet music at intervals during the
days sport The archers assembled at ten
O'Clock, and after watching the morning artil-
i lery drill d1nned their quivers and arm shields,
business that called them there.
ARCHERY COSTUMES.
Ladies and gentlemen were attired in COS
tunes suited to the sport. Loose.fitting flannel
dresses that gave full play to arms prevailed
among the ladies' costumes. The gentlemen
known as ''in shirt sleeves" Upon the left arm
each archer wore a leathern shield strapped
above the wrist to protect the arm from the
blow which an archer is likely to receive some
time from the string OF his strong bow Pins
and other jewelry worn by the archers repre-
sented their iavorlte sport. One gentleman
wore as scarf pin jasper arrowhead, while
others had archery embiems wrought in gold.
The archers talked enthusiastically of the sport
as a means of healthful recreation, and spoke
proudly of their champions MaXson, Bartlett
and others, whose fame among archers is almost
as great as that OF Robin Hood OF old Some re-
ma rLyeH moi Snnff ff k,af,,
THE CONTESTANTS.
The members Of the Potomac Archery club
who took part in tO-day's contest were Messrs.
Maxson, Bartlett Wilson, Grant, Paret
McCutcheon, Purdy and Kennedy, Mesdames
Maxson and Bartlett, the Misses Van Doren,
and Misses Williams, Cook and Darby. A dele
cation from tie Roger Ascham Archery club of
Baltimore, consisting OF Mr.. j. w. Wilson, and
Misses Scott, leonard keenney, q: Giilea and
matches. There were a number of spectators
present outside of the officers and men OF the
Sd artillery, who watched the matches with
great interest.
THE PROGRAM.
The meet will last two days, shooting to be-
gin each day at 10 a. m. and 2 p. IN. The pro-
gram for to-day included the double Columbia
round for ladies, 4S arrows each, at 90, 40, and
80 yards; the double American round for gen.
tlemen, 60 arrows each. at 6O, 80, and 40 yards;
flight shooting and turtle-back shooting. The
fight.shooting contest is simply trial of skill
and strength, in seeing who can send an arrow
furthest. In turtle-back shooting the target is
laid fiat on the ground, face upwards, and the
contestants shoot into the air anu let their ar
rows fall perpendiculariy upon the target. The
contests for to-day will close about O'Clock.
Tomorrow the program includes the National
round for ladies, 80 arrows, al SO yards; the
Ohio round for gentlemen, 96 arrows, at 60
yards; the Potomac round for gentlemen, "a
arrows each. at SO, 20 and SO yards, and shoot
ing at unknown distances
THE PRIZES.
At the close of the contests tomorrow the
prizes will be distributed. Separate prizes are
offered in the order named for the greatest
scores in double Columbia round, double Amer
lean round, National round, Potomac round,
second score double Columbia round, second
double American round, unknown distance;
IL arruws, ladies. unknown distance; II
arrows, gentlemen; grea est scores at 30 yards;
Columbia; at 40 yards, American; 40 yards, Co
lumbia; so yards, American; 50 yards, Column
bia; 6U yards American: longest flight ladies,
longest flight gentlemen, and turtle back shoot
Ing.
The archer who makes the greatest score in
OF the various trophies offered, the one who
makes the greatest score In the double Ameri-
can round second choice and SO on. No one
will be permitted to take more than one prize,
SO the best bowman will not, as has sometimes
been the case, carry away from the grounds all
the valuable prizes.
archery scene; silver cup, iady's handkerchief
box and sachet, lady's lace pin magazine rifle,
OeaQ Oelt, pair Ol StaluelLes Two luerlnOulelerS,
archery design, gold pen and holder, wine
hagon, one dozen arrows. gents; one dozen
arrows, ladies'; a paper weight. gold pen and
ho.der, pair of vases, q gentleman's toilet case
and card holder.
THE TARGETS
are the same in size, the character Of the con-
tests being regulated by the distances at which
the archer stands.
The regulation target, used by all the clubs,
Is circular, 4S inches in diameter, and the
painted face has center OF gold Clio inches
in diameter. and tour ringS-red, blue, black
and whlte-each 4 6-1O inches in diameter sur
rounding the "gold." The score is for the
gold, Z for the red, blue 3, black 3 and white L.
The targets are oi wound straw and each arrow
that hits the target stays in the target until it
is scored and drawn. Archers in their matches
shoot either three or SIX arrows i'll succession,
aud when all have shot these arrows they adj
vance to the target, the scorer takes down the
score, and the archers draw their arrows and
return to their shooting position. Each archer
has his arrows SO marked that they can be dis
tinguised from all others.
An interesting contest arranged for to-day
and not on the program is a. match between
archers and artillery officers, the Iurmer with
bows and arrows, the latter with pistols.