New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-11
WELCOMING THE RIFLEMEN
CONGRATULATED BY THE MAYOR.
DINNER AT THE HOTEL NoRMANDIE AND AN
HOUR WITH FRANCIS WILSON.

|
The Massachusetts rifemen who made such ar
| enviable record In their rifle contests In England
that the entire United States joins with Boston il
exultaton landed a. the pier of the Inman Line yes
| tcrday morning, amid laundering cheers from theh
numerous admirers assembled to give them welcome
! As soon as their baggage was examined and marked
with the hieroglyphics Of the Customs officers, the
returning rihemen were escorted to the CITY Han by
tho I'd Battery, under command OF Captain VII
son, and had a reception by Mayor Grant The
following the names Of the rihemen: Major
J. p Frost Major C.. W. Human. Major G. H. Marion
Major c. H. Benyon First Lieutenant s. b. Newton
First Lieutenant s. S. Bmstead, First Lieutenant
Major " H. Merrill Sergeant W. c. Johnston, jr,
sergeant NJ. W. Bull Sergeant George Doyle, Corporal
" ID. Huddeston Private +. X. Bull Private L. T.
Farnsworth and Private ". VI. Farrow.
The men were introduced by Judge GndeISleeve
member of the first International American Rifle
Team. and were then addressed by Mayor Grant as
follows:
Major Frost and members of the Team of Massachu-
setts Volunteer Militia: - , -
have great pleasure behalf of the city OF NeW,
moro In being able TO congratulate you upon the great
success which you have achieved abroad ,,o
washington sad WIN ruin tnat ehe militia n
has always been the policy Of our Government 10 re- p
up small standing army and to trust 10 me olt ~
sOldey of the various States for our defence III tme
of trouble. This the history Of the nation mas shC"
be wise While other countries are almost crls ne9
to maintain while the streets OF foreign cities are
crowded with uniformed men taken from civil life
and supported By taXatlona hero the PROFESSIONAL
soldier Is practically unnotced among us -.,,
II is therefore OF great importance thar eVefytng
which renders our National Guard eihclent III war
should be encouraged and that those who show theh-
selves proficient should be commended :. nam.
Among all the duties of a soldier there Is none
more necessary than skill in the Of the rife with
which he is armed Yon have not only demQnsIrStc lea
you have been pltied against the selected rfemon OF
the English Volunteers you have proved youise'tSs
superior aud have nobly maintained the hohor oil te
our people are proud of the skin you have shown
Our '' sister State Massachusetts which you have
50 worthly represented will undoubtedly receive yon
win all the honor TsC en- b yG srG s and city of New
York to Join with It in rendering TO you my stncere
congratulations your success and my best wishes
for your future.
In response Major Frost said that he had tried to
uphold the honor Of America. and in doing this he
trusted that the work Of the would reflect credit
not only upon his own State of Massachusetts,, but
upon NewYork State and city as well.
After the reception the party left the City Hail. and
at IL o'clock again entered the carriages in waiting
They wore driven to the Hotel Normande Thirty
seventh-st and Broadway, reaching there at noon
A banquet provided by General Ferdinand p Earle
chief of artillery on Governor HIPS stan, with covers
for fifty. I'm readiness, and the rinemen ana
their disng ul,hed entertainers Immediately down
my wee afterward taken on drive through
Central Park, and then through the courtesy
OF Francis wilson, they witnessed The performance Of
The Oolah' at the Broadway Theatre. The theatre
specially decorated for tho occasion.
The men then went on board the steamer Pilgrim,
Of the Fall River Line, on which they started for
Boston at o'clock Major Frost said TO a reporter:
We have been delighted with New-York Iecep-
ton. 1t is home and that adds immensely pleasure
The all in excellent health, despite the fsugues
Of long Journey and look with TO meeting
their people in Boston. The upon the whole IS the
best could choose 1t is true that I might have Sc
leced few individual shots who would have done better
than any one Of my men, but looked for an average
team. l wanted in which Jealousy would be
entirely absent and whore Il would be a matter OF In
difference who would be first last man. We worked
together WELL and spurred another much, thai
attribute greatly to those facts. In all
the matches In which we were engaged there only
difference OF twenty-five points between the best man
and the lowest man. Considering the number OF shots
fired that difference Is paltry indeed
We had-and that Is be taken into consideration in
Judging teams excellence-but 800 to choose
from, while the Engishmen had 100000 volunteers.
Any eligible. just think what an advantage
that was But, thanks to the facts already mentioned,
with good material good health steady and good
coaching we gained the victories despite the odds against
u.s. Our competitors recognized the best rdemen
In England. The matches were with the service arm
and ammunition Of each county, two facts in favor
Of the foreigners The got into port somewhat
late, and forced go into our first match with no
prepaa practice whatever, the day Of arri
val. had, In fact, hardly tine to put our rifles IN
shooting form. That match, 1t will be remembered was
with Ito fine team OF Honorable Artillery Company Of
London, OF the Oldest organizations in the kingdom,
and commanded by the Prince OF Wales Seven Of Its
twelve members OF the English twenty" con-
tanning the best shots In England
The next match, with the Berkshire County team was
also difficult one Flder, Kemp and Warwick were also
members Of tire English twenty The sane may be sad
" the London Rifle Brigade, who next challenged US.
Earl Wal1egrave, one OF its members, IS English
twenty man. and Pheston Desmond Lottey ana Kihher
shot the Irish twenty this year. our score in that
OF the best We averaged over 90 out OF
los per w" shot, too, under great difficulties We
we're obliged give the Engllshmen the choice Of posi-
tions and make other concessions.
You know, in America, when shooting az 200 yards.
stand When shoot at greater range we invariably
lie backs. In England the grone' position IS
long range In order however get the standing
shoulder position for the 2O0yard range we obliged
to use prone" position both at 500 and 600 yards
But gained the prizes nevertheless Bumsea1 made
100 out OF los.
The Sussex County team. with which we shot at
Brighton Cortls and Lvesay, OF the English National
Team, and other OF great reputation. The weather
was unpleasant. the wind being almost gale. In
consequence OF these disadvantages made tho poorest
OF the trip but still defeated the team by Is points
The South London chosen from all the best or
CARNATIONS I'm Great Britain. Major McKerren came
from Scotland Captain Rose Is the best shot OF the
Queens Westminster Trask made second top score in
the English twenty this year, and Foster luke. Hath
and Wells are old national cTacks" We made With them
our second highest score.
Private Farron, OF the I'd Infantry, was the only
compete In the French rifle tournament, and MAJOR
Frost believes with strong chances of gaining one OF
the highest przos. He IS one OF the foremost men OF
delighted with their trip and loud IN the praise O
tho treatment which they received throughout England