The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-13
sHARPsHooTING.
Another Old Sailors Yarn.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: After the war
was over many of our ships were sent TO the
various ports of the world to show the Nations
that we still lived and were able to take care
of ourselves-and them too, if necessary. The
old Ticonderoga was sent up the Mediterra-
mean, and was at Trieste, Austria, during the
war between Austria and the allies italians
and Prussians). Among our men was an old
Californian, who had crossed the plains in 40,
and knew how to handle rife about as we'll
as anyone on board. While ashore there on
liberty he wandered up on ridge back of the
city where there was shooting gallery, and,
hearing firing, came upon a squad of finely
dressed and finel y-armed gentlemen shooting at
a target not over 30 yards distant, and smiled
to see that no one hit near the center, although
using window-sill for rest One of the gen.
tlemen noticing this, handed Jack his loaded
rife and beckoned him to try his hand at it.
Jack at once stepped back so rs to bring the
piece clear of the window-sll, and while rails
ing il caught sight and fired. To his surprise
what appeared to be man holding bush in
his hand sprang up from behind the target
proof of shot in the bull's-eye A roar of
laughter from the rest of the awkward
squad " greeted the gentleman as he offered
Jack the loaded piece for another trial, and
Jack, by signs, told him to hit it himself, and
turned on his heel.
The next day our Boatswain came off with a
yarn about a Yankee sailor who had aston
ished the natives by raising rifle TO his shout
der and hitting the bulfs-eye without taking
aim at ALL" He himself had shown them some
good shooting aud they had concluded that
Americans couldn't miss the mark. On Jack S
acknowledging the corn the Boatswain asked
him why he didn't fire again, and when an
sWered that he didn't think he could better
his first shot, and preferred to give them good
opinion of Yankee craftsmanship, he shouted
''bully for you"
Jack put nine successive shots within the
inner ring of a target slung from the foreyard
arm while standing upon the poop, the last one
half within the bul's-eye, in the same off, hand
manner, with Sharp's carbine, although the
rolling of the ship bad disturbing influence,
when the old Commodore stopped him with the
remark, 'That'll do; he can't miss"
The Captains of our big guns could send a
shell pretty close to mark a mile distant at
sea. Robert Jordan, wearer of Congress
medal for bravery as Coxswain of the Mt
Washington at Nansemond River, April Ia, 1868,
and Captain of one of our nine-inch smooth
bore guns, felt disgraced when he failed to
punish target of five beef barrels locked to-
gether as a float with 10-foot square of sail
above it: and John Smith, Boatswain Mate and
Captain of the after 11-inch pivot, was pretty
sure TO finish it if he got a chance at it in his
turn. At a greater distance, when it came to
our turn Tor second ROUND aU the untOucned
target, Mr.. Wadleigh, then Ensign and our di-
vision officer, showed Jordan aside, aimed and
pulled the loekstring, while the Commodore
(Steadman) was watching, with other officers,
with their glasses.
who fred that shot?" shouted the Com
modore.
No one answered.
"Who fred that shot?" and he looked about
for an answer.
" / did, sir" replied Ensign w.
The Commodore looked at him a moment,
and turned it off with " You pumped it. SIR
However, some Of our crew would have aston
ished the natives worse yet" Portuguese
wardroom boy at pistol practice held firmly on
the trigger as he cooked his revolver, while
stepping toward the side TO FIRE. The result
was that ball glanced over from the CO.
FOUNDER rifle forward and put out (snuffed) the
lighted candle in the lantern under the top
gallant forecastle, at which Ensign Clark was
lighting his cigar. Mr.. C. walked aft, and
laughingly asked to have that kind of sharp
shooting stopped. as ne wanted to smoke
Portugee was instructed what TO do next time
and succeeded in putting the next ball into the
onter edge Of the port-sill, and was excused
from further pistol praetice.-JoHN A. STUART
| (0ld Deaf S., Lowell, Mass.