St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-28
UNCLE SANS MARKsMEN
Meet at Fort Smelling to Com
pete for Team Honors.

pete for Team Honors,
The eighth annual competition Of
the selected Iiflemen of the department
OF Dakota, was begun on the depart
ment rifle range at Fort Smelling, yes
terday morning, under comparatively
favorable conditions as to atmosphere,
wind, etc. The encampment of COM
petitors and auxIliaries is located
In a charming spot, about a
quarter Of mile from the fort
proper, in the midst of a thick
growth OF trees whose generous foliage
affords almost complete protection from
the SUMS rays by day, and within whose
cool retreat nights rest can be en-
Joyed-aS only soldiers after day of
hot and hard work upon rifle range
know how to enjoy it. The encamp-
ment consists of seventy-seven tents,
fifty-two of which are hospital, the bal
ance being wall tents. Embraced
within this number are six hospital
enlisted men, while three hospital
tents are occupied by the officers as
mess and cook tents. Maj. Miles has
charge of the competition, while the
camp is commanded by Capt- j. II.
Gagely, of the Third infantry. The
range officers are Capts. Gagely and Il.
u. Brown, of the Twelfth infantry;
First Lieut.. G. W. Abbott, Jr., Twelfth
infantry; First Lieut.. f. B. Jones,
Twenty-Second infantry, Second Lieut.
J. B. Aleshire, First cavalry;
Second Lieut.. d. l.. Tate, First cavalry,
and Second LieutS. r. G. Williams and
W. F. Blauvelt, Fifteenth infantry. The
statistical officers are First Lieut.. Ii. d,
Reed, Twenty-fifth infantry, and Sec
Ond Lieut.. John Golfer, Fifteenth in
fantry. Second Lieut.. G. W. Kennedy.
Third infantry, carries the camp purse
and disburSes the funds in mis- capacity
OF financial officer. There are ninety
seven competitors, officers and men all
told, while the aggregate is swelled to
nearly 200 by the retinue of markers,
ScorekeeperS, clerks, cooks and order
lies. The competitors are the crack shots
OF the various organizations serving in
the department., and they are the repre-
SentativeS of about
FIVE THOUSAND REGULAR TROOPS.
The range has twelve targets of the
pattern known as the ''Laidley revolv-
ing target" with horizontal axis, con-
sisting of an ordinary wooden frame
over which is stretched canvas cover
ing, on which is pasted paper target
w iVh Ing anu Uuii . CyC' "a iHioS 10 III
Dictated by the waving of red flag i'll
front of the target by a man stationed in
the pit; black disk placed against the
target and over the point struck indi-
Gates 2; a black and white disk, 8; a
red disk, 4; and a white disk denotes
that the ShOOtiSt has found the "bnll'S
eye" A 500-grain bullet is used, and it
requires considerable skill to plant it in
the desired place upon the target, eS-
pecially if the conditions of wind and
light are not favorable to the man at
the butt end of the rifle. A clock-like
machine stands upon the range out
side the line of fire, which in
dicateS the force and direction of the
wind-the indicator OH the dial plate
pointing to the various hours as its pO-
sitiOn is thus changed.
What rifemen call Sc to O'Clock
wind" was blowing diagOnally across
the range at the hour designated for the
firing to commence; and while such
wind is not favorable for the perform
ance of superior craftsmanship the SUI
periority of the range as to topography,
light and the general features of it's sit
uation Offset in great degree the detri-
mental conditions of direction and
very variable force of the wind.
Yesterdays shooting was confined to
the preliminary practlce and at the
200, 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges.
The present contest will determine
THE TWELVE BEST SHOTS
in the department, to be known as the
department of Dakota rifle team, and at
the conclusion of the competition they,
with two alternates, will be sent to rep
resent this department at the division
of the Missouri contest, which will take
place at San Antonio, Tex, and in
which similar teams from the depart
ment of the Platte and Texas will par
ticipate. The result of the firing yes
terday, as given by the official scores,
was as follows;
200 Yards
Private G. w. Dougherty. NJ LIST cav .......45
Sergt. James Sedore, F, 18th inf zee. .....4 10
Corporal VIM Scully, H, 18th inf. ........-.45
Sergt. G. Karston, d, 1st cav...............43
Sergt. G.. Palmer f, Sd inf ... ..........43
Sergt T. McManus, d, 18th Unfit. ........ 43
Second Lieut. W. A. Holbrook, LIST cav 40
Sergt. F. S. Randall, L, 9Th cav.... .....42
Private W. Sautter, B, Sth cav. 80. 40
Sergt, j. Fl. Mitchell. d, Sd inf AZ
800 Yards
Private CIV. Dougherty, NJ, LIST Cav.......44
Sergt C. W. Hutton, K, 18th Inf. A
Second Lieut. W. A. Holbrook, LIST Cav. 43
~ on.