The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07
Fisk Defeats Frank Conley in the
Live Bird Championship
Medal Contest.
But the Victor is in Turn Beaten
By Another Helena
Man.
some Excellent Scores-Deer Lodge Wants
Another Trial For the Montana
Championship.

The big championship live bird shoot be-
tween A. J. Fisk, of this city, and Frank
Conley, of Deer Lodge, took place yester-
day at Athletic park, and resulted in vic
tory for the Helena champion. The victory
was only temporary, however, as Mr.. Flax
had, much to the surprise of all present, to
bow down to the superiority of Percy Ken
nett, also of this city, who proved himself a
crack shot, making clean score at twenty
five birds.
The day was very cold for shooting. and,
this considered, the splendid scores made
were all the more worthy of note. There
was very little betting on the first event,
though number of wagers we're made. 1t
was evident that it would be close con-
test, as the men have met three times
within the past three months. The shoot
ing commenced at IL o'clock. Both men
pulled off their coats, and in place of these
wore jersey jackets. The first score resulted
as follows:
Fisk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2O--22
Conley. 2Ol12l12.2110l1l l2O0l222222 u
Mr.. Conley concluded that he was out of
luck and that fortune favored the Helena
man. For Conley three dead birds dropped
out of the limit line in falling, and that
alone lost him the match, while Fisk was
fortunate in having two Of bis wounded
hit outside. The Deer Lodge party lost
several hundred dollars.
Immediately after this event Percy Ken
nett challenged the winner, and he was
immediately taken up. Mr.. Kennett posted
his 1925 forfeit and backed himself for all
that he could get. Betting on him was $40
to $50 on Fisk. Nobody expected that Mr..
Kennett could make a showing with the
champion, but he surprised his most san
guine Admirers. The betting on this event
was lively, and Mr.. Kennett's admirers bet
the other side to standstill. Some, of the
most remarkable shooting yet seen in Mon
by the score:
Fisk .1122111122l
Kennett. 2l1211l212l11111-25
Mr.. Kennett's shooting is especially nota-
BILE as he found it necessary to use the sec
ond barrel of his shotgun only five times,
while MIR. Fisk had to pull the second trig-
ger eight times. The winner was loudly
cheered. E fa
In both events the victor won by just
one point. The shooting of Fisk in his
match with Conley was better than that OF
his opponent. Fisk clipped of sixteen
birds with the first barrel while Conley
only brought down ten birds with the first
barrel. Fisk used the second barrel only
six times against Conley's eleven times In
his match with Kennett, Fisk killed sixteen
birds with the first shot. and eight with the
second. Kennett hit twenty birds on the
first shot. The only bird that Fisk failed
to get was very hard one. It was white
and the sun shone in his eyes and it flew
very rapidly. It was bird that very few
could have hit.
As between Conley and Fisk the champion
belt must be awarded to the Helena man,
as he has never yet failed to defeat this
worthy opponent. But the friends Of the
Deer LODGE man are not RAfiHfiod frhav
still insist that he can beat
Fisk and are anxious to have
another go. Before leaving for home
yesterday Emil Hanson issued this chal-
lenge: He says he will match Frank Con-
ley against any man in the state to shoot
one hundred pigeons, Nottingham rules, NO
boundary to fall in, for any sum from $3.50
to 81, 600 side. Should anybody feel any
ious to accept, he will address MI. Hanson
at Deer Lodge, where the man and money
will be ready at any time.
As to the merits of Fisk and Conley there
is no longer any doubt in the Helena mind.
Conley never won the Hight & Fairfield
medal in match. It was forfeited to him
by Richard Eddy, whose eyesight failed
him few days before their match. Conley
then placed the medal up at the Butte tour
nament where Jno. F. Cowan won it by a
from Cowan and has held it against both
Cowan and Conley, having defeated the
latter three times and the Butte man once.
He has bfD. repeatedly challenged and un-
fortnnats.y had to give up yesterday to
another Helena man who will undoubtedly
be challenged soon again.
Absolute ownership of the medal can be
had only by holding it one. year, and
the holder may be challenged every thirty
days. The scores made in these matches
fully demonstrate that Montana ia not be-
hind any state in the union in the produc-
duction Of crack shots. For all around
khn morld - - E00-N eN-