Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
HITTING THE TARGET.
Local Msrksmen Preparing for the
Creedmoor Shoot,

4
Creedmoor Shoot.
WHAT THE GUARD TEAM Has BEEN DOING LATHLY-
MAKiSo oooD USE OF THE TIME--As TO nav
coAPAxIEs-THH NsPKorIoN OF ARMS AND ITS
RKsULTs.
But little activity is visible iuP the District
National Guard just now, the brigade being in
the uninterrupted enjoyment OF wsll-earned
rest None Of the companies will do any drill
ing until next month opens up, % the armories
are BY no means overcrowded. The only work
ers are those who are practicing for Creedmoor,
and they are feeling ~ though they would like
to work little more. Time between now and
September is becoming abbreviated at the
rate OF sixty seconds to Q minute, and every
minute of practice il valuable. From two
or three quarters has come the insinuation that
there will be no rifle team this season. and
| those who ought to know their duties a. OFF,
GERS have endeavored to discourage the sharp
shooters plans but there will. nevertheless. be
team, and the indications are that it will be
! strong enough to worthiiy represent the District
OF Columbia No one connected with the team IL
claiming any OF the prizes which will be shot
| for on Long Island-there are many we'll
seasoned competitors in the field-but every
man 10 going to do his best. There are men OH
the team who are new to the work, and it can
hardly be expected that they should administer
defeat to the veterans Of New York, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania and other states, to say
nothing Of the regular army team.
Yesterday the rifemen held their ffth reg
ular practice and 1t was an improvement over
any work they have done yet The first
practice was on the 9Th instant, and the total
score OF the twelve men was 90S, she shooting
consisting OF ten shots at 200 yards and five
shots each at 500 and 600 yards On the 18th
the total rose to 927 and on the 18th dropped
to 89l. On the 18th the first total Of 9Os was
reached, while yesterday it crawled up to 9Sl.
The comparisons offered by the totals is an un-
| fair one, for on no two days has the makeup of
| the team been the same. Absentees-good
men In other respects-and q very windy day
were largely responsible for the S9l total.
HOW THE STARS" SHOOT.
Some Of the shooting has been Of the "star"
order. Lieut. Graham reached eghty-nine one
day. Capt. Bell did the same thing on another,
Three times has Maj. Pollard touched eighty
eight with Capt. Cash right on his heels and
within point or two each time. Such scores
as these are hardly to be looked for from the
iess experienced men on the team, but several
OF the youngsters are gradually closing up the
gap and come in punched around the seventy
fves and eightys, occasionally going o couple
| OF points better than the latter.
AS TO NEW CoMPANIEs
During the past three or four weeks attempts
have been made to raise new companies which,
the projectors invariably said. were to become
portions Of the District National Guard in the
near future. 1t may be that time will show
those statements to be true. but it il certainty
shat none OF the promoters we're possessed Of
any authority from Gen. Ordway. In connec-
ton with the enlistment of one company in the
northwestern section local weekly stated that
the gentleman who Was persuading men to join
his command enjoyed the close personal friend
ship OF Gen. Ordway, and this allegation has
been worked for all it was worth Gen. Ordway
says his name is being used without his knowl-
edge or consent. As fact. there is no vacancy,
no place where new company can march in.
LOOK OUT FOB THE ENGINEERS.
The only new organization likely to get in
the guard is the engineer company, which will
probably reach the earliest stage of existence
about September Is. At that time a meeting
will be held, called by Gen. Ordwsy, and
thereat will be discussed the personnel and the
ways and means. Preferably the general would
have liked to arm the scientific and working
platoons OF the engineer company with re-
volvers, but 1t is most probable that he will
defer to the wishes Of those who have already
announced themselves as would-be recruits
and will arm them with rifles.
GONE AFrsHIN'.
Gen. Ordway and Col. Long have gone to
Woodmon: for few days fishing The general
said he wasn't going to return until the fish
ceased to bite.
KEEP -FOUR GUNS CLEAN.
The second battalion arms we're inspecte on
Tuesday evening by Adjt. Anderson, Lieut.
Surguy and Lieut. Hsrries. The general con-
dition Of the rifles was about fair, but there
were altogether too many of them without
firing pins and with broken locks and electors
hurried call for the militia would have dis
closed the total uselessness of more than 10 per
cent OF the guns One Of the results of the
inspection was tired janitor. Instead of TAX
ing personal pride IN the condition OF their
rifles the majority of the men allowed them to
rust badly, and when the inspection was or
dered they turned the work OF cleaning over to
the janitor. No man who has and solderly
pride would do anything Of that kind A
soldier with 9 rusty gun or disabled gun is
much less effective than = mao armed With a
brick.
ELECTR0CUTED.
Lightning struck the flagstaff on the bead
quarters building on Wednesday night and re-
duced it to splinter. The electrical huid has
an affinity for places of prominence which is
quite as apparent ss the affection with which
death regards u shining mark.
-O