Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-12
ga CREEDMOOR DAY."
Wind and Rain Worry tho Shooters in
the ssPresident's Match.o

the "President's Match.n
TANcE PRIZES WHICH MIoHr HAVE BEEN WON
By rHKM-AFFLIorIoSs OF THE LOCAL THAN
CAPT. SHEPHERD LOCKED OUT.
staf Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR.
CREEpMooR. IL September II.
For the past twelve hours it has been what
old rifiemen denominate "a Creedmoor day."
Wind and rain have formed . meteorological
combination that worried even the best shots
and fairly paralyzed the efforts of number Of
the green hands, And yet there were repeated
assurances from the range authorities that the
weather was fairly pleasant and, when COM
pared with days long gone by, clear and sum-
merlike. It was poor shooting day yesterday,
but the conditions were much worse when
business commenced this morning. The pro-
gram brought out quite large attendance, the
principal event being the Presidents Match. Z"
The winner Of this will be the mid-range cham
pion Of the United States for one year and he
will also fall heir to the sum Of S25, now held
in trust for him by the officers who run things
here. Only MILITARY rifles were permitted to
be used. and while the Waahingtonians used
the Springfield the New Workers, Of course did
their shooting with their doctored Reming-
tons, on which, when they shoot at 500 to GOO
yards. they will be allowed two points of ad-
vantage over the Springfield arm. knowl-
edge OF this fact dampens, to n considerable
extent. the enthusiasm Of the local men, but
they went in boldly and put up as good scores
at the first range in the first stage GOO yartsl
as did any of their competitors. Lieut. Graham
leading the home aggregation with total of 81
out of a possible 50. Some of the shooting was
differ in this respect from the work of
men who have been shooting here successfully
and successfully for twenty years past The
big struggle was at 500 yards, for only seven
teen men went back to the concluding stage at
GOO yards. These seventeen men won prizes on
the aggregate Of the scores at 200 and 500
ynrds. 1t was hard fight for the District
boys to take a hand in, but Lieut. Graham and
Sergt. Stewart got in. They are shooting their
level best in existing conditions and hope to at
least get an honorable place in the finish,
which, from present appearances, will be shot
in the ail-day driving storm of rain through
which the targets arc visible only as Through
glass"-smoked glass-''darkly."
FOUR SMALL PRIZES WON By DISTRICT BOYS.
But few of the competitions come to close
before Saturday evening and no man can
safely say unto himself or to anybody else
Il am winner until the figures on the bull
lern-board make plain the indubitable facts
One event in which most OF the District mon
competed has. however, been closed, and four
u
The returns on the Judd match-seven shots at
200 participates Maj. Pollard tenth and
gives him 50; Sergt Stewart captured
twelfth place and &c, while Lieuts. Graham and
Johnstone we're respectively twenty-second
and twenty fourth, with IS each. Mai. Pollard
and Sergt. Stewart had the same total-32-
while Lieuts. Graham and johnstone each had
81. All things considered II was good shoot
ing. but several members of the team who re-
Trained from entering that match wish they
had another opportunity. The cracks" Of
the east were all in the contest and it took
shooting to get anything away from them
The boys are satisfied at getting four of the
prizes.
There were several other regrets expressed
by two or three members Of the team because
they allowed themselves to believe that the
Springfield gun would fail to shoot at 800 and
9OO yards. As a consequence the prizes went
on scores that could have been very easily
beaten by more than one of the kickers.
OUR SHOOTERS UNDER THE WEATHER.
Climate, change Of food and a now variety of
water; one or all OF them must be held respon-
sibie for the debilitated condition Of number
OF the District men, Their behavior has been
most exemplary in every respect aud the uni
versal hour for going to bed is phenomenslly
early. Under these circumstances, at home,
the boys would be in the best OF condition, but
here many OF them have been sadly afflicted.
1t may have lessened their scores somewhat,
but none Of them will admit that anything is
wrong with their shooting powers.
MOSQUITOES AND SPIDERS
have also done great deal to discommode the
visitors. The insects are continuous in their
annoying attentions and some of their bites
have approached seriousness in their results
One or moro spiders have given men swelled
hands that have remained discolored and
bloated for a couple OF days.
LOCKED OUT.
Capt John s. Shepherd, who is both execu-
tive officer and secretary Of the National Rifle
Association, is not easily frightened Last
night after 10 o'clock there was silence in the
room which is occupied by the Washington
crowd. A rattle of gravel on one of the win
dows startled one or two Of the more timorous
Hall minute later the glass was again struck
Every one supposed some practical humorist
was just having little inexpensive amusement
but that idea was dispelled when a good-sized
stone struck pane of glass and almost frac-
tured IL. Lieut. tombstone believed that there
was an effort being made to murder the entire
OUTFIT and in about five seconds he was out Of
bed and On the veranda. gun in hand and cock
ing and swapping the weapon.
Jus. do that once more" was the lieuten-
ants pleading request; only once" and the
rifle lock was working away nj a terrible rate
If you could only come down stairs and let
me IN. SAID somebody on the ground below,
Il would be much obliged" 1t was Capt Shep-
herd locked out. and he never even deigned TO
notice the fact that the lightly clad figure on
the veranda had a life-size Springfield gun in
his hand. OF course the gun was not loaded,
bu. the laugh was on the lieutenant
Tomorrow will be New York's day, I'm fact 1t
would be hard to find day that il not New
NDrk's n Cre,1moor