Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-15

sotsii was DBL new 1Ork Odu 5OJ anu lts ZUU
yards lead OF Is points, while Jersey had fallen
back to 81.
LONG RANGE SHOOTING IN THE DARK
oh, how the Manhattan people prayed for
sudden darkness then. They knew that the
District men had the best Of them at the
longer range, but the darkness would not come
fast enough. The light. however, was mis-
cradle enough. No base ball team would
have played IN il, but the rifle peu managed to
see the targets GOO yards away. New York was
the first to cease firing and New Jersey was
only a little behind their neighbors. Up to
this time there were not two of the Washing
tonians who believed themselves anywhere IN
the racH, but every man shot as if his life de-
pended on it. 1t mattered nothing that the
storm had washed the black of the bull's-eyes
down to the bottom of the targets. They
guessed the location of the circle and got there
with surprising frequency. So de)ectcdly salts
fled were most of them that they we're knocked
out that they returned to the hotel to await
the doleful and official tidings. The Jersey
men believed the result was close, and the
New Workers were evidently certain of their
own defeat. but no one seemed to have any
figures that were worth anything. Those who
remained on the range clustered around the
feet of Maj. Pollard. who vas firing
THE LAST SHOT FOR WASHINGTON.
Nerves and muscles were sympathe tically
tense a. the major sighted his rifle and COM
menced to press OH the trigger. Many believed
the result hinged upon that one shot. and Capt.
Cash so intimated TO the major. News Of that
description would scare some men so that they
would fail to hit the surface of the earth. but
it only frightened the majors grip and steaded
his arms. Ii seemed rs though every man in
the crowd was firing that shot. Each held his
breath and In imagination pressed upon the
trigger. Bang" went the cartridge and the
bullet flew. Up went the trap i'll front of the
target and there was simultaneous cry of
Hes on" That was slow marker, but
everything was forgiven when the white disk
marked buiis-eye mathemntlcally in the
center. What shout went up!
THE OFFICIAL COUNT.
Capt. Shepherd, the executive officer, was
Immediately surrounded by men who wanted
the result, but nervousness and rain made it
necessary that the score cards in the Office be
seen. Gen. Spencer went along to look after
the interests of Jersey, while Capt. Cash, Lieut..
Harries and Private Walter Cash took care of
Washington. As rapidly rs possible Capt.
Shepherd added up the totals. but it seemed
like a weeks wait. New York was first shown
as possessing all the merits contained in $50
points, then New Jersey was given it's aggre-
gate of 99S, and last, but not least, did the cap
tains pencil credit tho District of Columbia
with LOTT.
brother were near the door. anxious beyond
description. Lieut. Harries was leaning over
Capt. Shepherds shoulder.
The figures official"-said the executive
officer. but before he could enunclate another
word the room rang with the cry, And WASH
ington wins the Hilton trophy with one thou
sand and seventeen"
WILD WITH JOY
Crash! A door had been flung almost off its
hinges and with the speed of sprinter Walter
Cash vas making for the hotel Through the
nu1 tho h. al Al
stairs he climbed three or four at q time, with
the other members of the trio not far behind.
The team was In its big room and the an
nouncement. incoherently and Dreathlessly
made. made features almost unacceptable
with joy. Some of the men cried, others
shouted and laughed and danced. They en-
braced each other with forcefulness that
would have been painful under any other cir
cumstances and they acted generally like the
veriest lot of lunatics any asylum was ever
troubled with. Not man could find words to
express his views on the situation and no one
lost any time looking for terms; each said
whatever came uppermost.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Marching in lock-step and apparently as
much tickled as the rest OF the crowd came the
first batch Of visitors to congratulate the
ylctors-they were members OF "a mock order
denominated THE Federation of Associated
Rifiemeu." With them came the members of
the Jersey team and number of the New York
team. Then there was more cheering Gen
Spencer of New Jersey made a very pleasant
speech. in which he congratulated the Wash
lngton men on their success and invited them
to visit Sea Girt-the Jersey range. Gen. G.. E.
=. Howard also made few complimentary re-
lnaras and reinforced Gen. Spencer's invita-
ton. Major Pollard responded, or rather he
commenced to, but he was too much affected
by the victory and the congratulations to be
able to keep down an obstreperous lump in his
throat. One of the officers on the New York
team eaid few pleasant things. and then the
Jersey and District teams were duly initiated
by Lieut.. Wells, into membership Ill The
Federation of Associated Ridemer." The
mutation ceremonies were quite humorous
Cheers were then given for everybody md
when 1t was evident that no one had been
neglected III the distribution of vocal honors
the New Workers gave the cheer of their ma
tonal guard.
When the crowd had gone the team held q
little meeting OF its own, and it cheered itself
more than hoarse in expressing its apprecia-
ton OF the labors of certain members of its
temporary organization. 1t was genuine love
feast and
MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY,"
None of the team had eaten either breakfast
or dinner. but no one wanted supper Appetite
had succumbei to appetite. Most OF them
made an attempt to eat something, and il was
while engaged III this endeayor that Gen. Rob
bins and Capt. Shepherd entered the dining
room and handed Maj. Pollard the bronze
medals which were for the members of the team
They were distributed at once. The medals
are not ornate, but they have sentime utal
value that is surprisingly high On the pin
bar is the word ''Creedmoor" On tho face of
the medal are the words The Hilton Tropby
Match" around and inside the rim. Inclosed
in a wreath Is the year 1880" On the reverse
is the inscription, Presented by the National
Rifle Association Of America to - member
of the winning team. Individual score, =.
Team score, -.
NOW FOR HOME
1t didn't take much time TO pack up baggage
and by O'Clock the team was ready to start
for home. Scrgt. Corrie of the twelfth New
York played farewell solos on his cornet and
he played as well he shoots; the crowd
cheered and shook hands again and again; the
rain ceased to pour and the stars came out: the
wagons were loaded up. friendly somebody
near the hotel fired parting salute and the
1880 CreedmoOr was thing OF the past-a wet
muddy, windy, disagreeablc. glorious. VIC
torlous memory. The train was boarded at
Queens and from that time until the party
registered at the Vanderbilt Hotel it was COM
manded by Mr.. i. J. Doian. the world-renowncd
ride shot. His hberality II hos. will no more
be forgotten by the team than will his feats
AE RANi L. II