Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-08
NATIONAL GUARD NOTES.

THE Twelfth Regiment was inspected by
Adjutant General Hastings at Gettysburg last
Tuesday.
THE commission of Colonel Smith, of the
Eighteenth, expires on the Both of this month.
Orders are out for his reelection.
The State Fencibles of Philadelphia are 60
ing to give a crack drill in the armory of the
Seventh Regiment of New York next month.
COMPANY G, Eighteenth Regiment, was in
spected last Thursday night by Captain Penny
Forty-fve men and three officers were present.
QUARTERMAsTER PATTERSON, of the Four
teenth Regiment, intends going to Creedmoor
this week to see the national rifle contest to be
held there.
ORDERS for the inspection of the Fourteenth
Regiment will be issued shortly, and it Is prob
able the whole organization will be inspected
in body in a field close to the city. The regu-
lar inspection was postponed on account of the
Johnstown tour OF duty.
CAPTAIN o. G. Coon, of McKeesport, tied
Corporal Wegraff, of the Sixteenth Regiment,
for second place in the brigade match last Fri
day at Mt Gretna. Considering the fact that
Corporal Wegraff is one of the finest shots in
the United States with military rifle, Captain
Coon has some grounds for feeling elated.
COMPANY !, of McKeesport. gave very
pleasant little reception last night to the MEM
bers of Company d, and number of friends.
The affair was held in the armory OF the COM
pany which is elegantly adapted for the pur-
pose. A number of the officers OF the regiment
were present from Pittsburg and seemed to en-
JOY themselves hugely.
IT is rumored that Captain E. NJ. .McCombs, of
Company G, Eighteenth, will shortly tender his
resignation on account of throat troubles that
make it impossible to give commands. Captain
McCombs has been member OF Company U
for IA years. and has been captain of the COM
pany for 10 years. His friends in the regiment
will be sorry to see him leave.
Mr.. ]. A. HIGGINS, who was member Of
the Fourteenth team at Mt. Gretna last week,
fell below the mark his many admirers ex-
pected him to make. Mr.. Huggins has world
reputation with the sporting rifle, and took
$1,000 worth of prizes in Geneva. Switzerland,
some years ago in field of e, 900 shooters from
different parts of the world. He states that a
| Springfield rifle with six pounds pull and 174
pounds of recoil, is more of an instrument of
torture than gun for shooting purposes,
THE annual State contests in rifle practice
closed at Mt. Gretna last Friday. Every organ
ization in the division was represented by a
team of picked men, making total of % teams
in all, and the results of the contests showed a
remarkable improvement over the scores Of
last year. The team practice commenced Mon
day, and op Wednesday the regimental match
took place, the Thirteenth team taking first
place. with a total of 361 points: the Sixteenth
second. with 352 points and the First third, with
$40 points. The Eighteenth Regiment team
stood seventh in the contest with 339
points to its credit, being beaten at 500
| yards by but two points by the famous
Thirteenth Regiment team. The work of the
| Eighteenth team was remarkable considering
| it was the baby team in the contest, and was
openly praised by Colonel Watres, the Division
| Inspector of Rifle Practice. The work OF the
Hon rta anti Roo
| quite so good considering the fact that it had
the picked material in this vicinity. and took
but eleventh place on the list with 332 points.
| Wednesday evening the men for the brigade
teams were selected, and on Friday the exciting
match of the week took place. The teams con-
| sisted OF Il men each, and seven shots
| at each range, seven minutes per man
being the time allowed. The result was vas
points, the Second Brigade LOIS points and
the First Brigade 1,O09 points. Friday evening
Colonel Watres selected team OF 10 men to
| represent the State at Creedm0or this week in
the national contests to be held there for the
| Hilton trophy and other prizes. The team con-
sists of Pratt, Watkins McCaskie and Stillwell,
| of the Thirteenth; Newton, Of the Ninth;
| Bergstresser of the Eighth; Coulston. of the
| Twelfth, and Horton. Wegraf. Comedy. Gun.
ning Elliot and Bradley, OF the Sixteenth,
| with Lieutenant Comedy, Of the Sixth.
| as Captain. and Lieutenant Osthaus, OF the
| Thirteenth as A1jutant. All the men chosen
| are remarkable shooters with the military rifle,
| Pratt, the first man selected, having score OF
| 98 points last week, and Conneely 96 points.
Friday afternoon Colonel Watres was presented
| with an elegant frosted silver onyx clock and
silver side pieces valued at $3.50 by the Inspect
| ors of Rifle Practice and marksmen on the
| ground in appreciation of his services in behalf
| Of rifle practice in Pennsylvania. AS a whole
| the shoot was the most successful ever held in
the State, and has given great impetus to
| Workmanship in the Guard.