The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-23
MAGIC WITH A REVOLVER.
lifting Hidden Marks by Glance
Shots at a Steel Plate on
q Wall.
fanny Noted New Workers Who
Are Exceedingly Expert
With q Pistol.
fghteen Fancy Shots Made by the Keeper
Of Gallery, Some of Them Very
Difficult to Execute.

A well-dressed man of athletic build
alked into Conlin's gallery on upper Broad
ay the other night, and picked out hand
me duelling pistol from case, loaded il
:refully. and wheeled around abruptly SO
at his back was toward the target.
"I'll try to crack that swinging ball." he
i'd, pointing his thumb over his shoulder
a tiny glass globe that swung by string
ON the ceiling of the range. Then he bent
rward and downward until his elbow
sted firmly on his knees and he could see
Q target between his parted legs. The
,sition was just the same practically as if
m. The duelling pistol was upside down.
10. A group of visitors at the gallery
|ased practising at the other range and
ared at the newcomer in open-mouthed
Placement. The athlete cooked the pistol
d an instant later fred. The bullet shat
red the swinging ball, and the athlete
Heightened up red in the face.
swell, what in the thunder do you call
at kind of contortion, anyhow" one of
|e visitors asked of the vetern Conlin.
''That's the Traver's fancy shot," he re-
led. cts snowy craftsmanship. but only
of many styles of fancy revolver shoot
g. It was first introduced by Mr.. Trav-
J, who came over from Paris to exhibit
skill at striking small objects with re-
liver shots,''
The athlete tried the same topsy-turvey
lot over again and knocked another glass
II to flinders and then asked for buffalo
3: The rug was dragged to the range.
III try it lying down this time" he said,
d stretched out fat on his back on the
e rug. He held his revolver firmly with
| k,yo ck~n %nL4
head. He sighted the weapon at an an
}, with his head thrown back so far that
chin was considerably elevated. When
fired the swinging ball was instantly
uttered. 1t was position even more diff
alt than the previous one. Afterward the
hlete stretched on his back on chair and
licked more glass globes handily.
That's shooting as is shooting" cried
:. Conlin jubilantly. He explained the
be points Of it to the bystanders enthusi-
ically. He said that the merit of shoot
between the legs, with the head bent
pr, as in the Travers position, was that
marksmen could obtain steadying
bee on his thighs with his elbows. The
hg on the back position had the merit of
Felty for those who were always anxious
variety and needed it to give excitement
the sport.
The truth u.s." added Mr.. Conlin, ''that
my New Workers have got so expert with
revolver that it is child's play to them
difficulty is added by eccentric posi-
hs. They shoot now with the revolver
d above the head or by their side upside
Wn, and in all sorts of other odd posi-
ms. It is also great wrinkle nowadays
bim with the pistol held sideways, and
way that the boys can send things fyinp
lld make spectators heads swim if it
been done ten or twelve years ago. So
at has been the improvement in marks
IN perfection at the art does not really
onish anybody unless it is exhibited by
IVY methods of trick shooting like this,''
fr. Conlin here opened drawer in desk
II at hand and pulled out written MEM
ndum of the trick shots that had been
omplished at the twelve-y yard range with
evolver within month. Here is the list:
Lighting a parlor match with bullet
bwelve yards.
Shooting away the ashes from cigar.
Firing at the word and splitting
bden ball swinging from thread.
Striking postage stamps.
Splitting cards placed edgewise to the
otter at twelve yards.
Striking the edge of cent.
Driving hole through three-oent
&c.
Hitting single bullet suspended by
bread.
b. Cutting the spots out of playing cards.
Striking waters and small and large
?. Cutting the centre out of wooden
;. Effacing straight line marked on
Shooting through loop ring of a
oh at a mark.
Exploding musket caps placed on the
of bottle.
;. Exploding 22-calibre cartridge by the |
Ract of bullet at twelve yards.
knocking off cartridge shells on a |
}, Splitting bullet by firing it against
edge of knife.
Well known society men have done
be feats right at this range" Mr.. Coniin
when they have dropped in for an
RS amusement. Young Mr.. Lorillard is
ht at this fancy shooting. So is Mr..
ny Wickham. Frank Lord, Edgar
rphy, the pigeon shot. ]. C. Jones, Viii
M: Chase: the artist; Signor Montalvo,
j. Dunn, J. B. Miller and w. G. South
are likewise notable at trick revolver
What is the most singular shot You
" OFF" Mr.. Conlin was asked,
The glance shot by all odds,'' the
ksman replied: ''for this is a shot in
ch the marksman strikes something by
ing at something else. The skill Of the
Prts at this is even more remarkable
ITSELF
walked down the range as he spoke,
I'd, which was, in turn, fastened against
wall, SO that the end of the board near
he target projected outward at an angle,
Oval-shaped iron was about seven
es IN its largest diameter, and six
es in its shortest.
che method of shooting" Mr.. Conlin
aimed, lis for the marksman to stand at
end OF the range, six yards from the
and fire at it. The target, or object to
it, is six yards beyond the iron oval.
reen is placed before the target, SO that
hdge his aim solely by calculating the
9 Of DETECTION. The iron oval is so
~ IN place that the bullet is thrown off
rately at all times.''
IN, pshaw.' said a bystander, impa-
biY; that's nonsense. It's all guess
:. 1t IS matter of pure luck If the
ct Is hit at ALL
ell, It may be guesswork with some."
Fted Mr. Conlin, but there are anna
VINO come here who have reduced it
ientihc calculations. When 1 hang
pan on string near that target, and
n comes IN, aims at the iron. and gets
wn 80 nne that the bullet chances off
Knocks the glass ball to pieces, it
NJ look much like guesswork. No
lt ism 7 guesswork. 1t is magnificent
ting and some of our Young New
ers beat the world at it, too. If you
you can md anything in the shoot
inc that they cannot accomplish. / /.
Just like to have you tell me what it
Inat what these young cracks are +,
ne LOT: Iney are like SO many Alex
rs looking for new conauests.'
prove what he said of the prowess of
New yOrkRrS the SI,ea lar <;,.all.. ~.-l - 1