The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-26
GUN CLUBS SPLIT.
Pigeon Shots Who Use the Race
Track Traps Differ.
Unable to Agree as to the Days on Which the
Clubs Shall Shoot = Some Causes
of Contention.

Representatives of four of the pigeon
shooting clubs, De Knowles of the Alameda
County Club. Harry Babcock of the Gun
Club, C. b. Smith of the Recreation Club,
and f. K. Webster of the Country Club met
in the Occidental Hotel yesterday AFTERNOON
to discuss complication which threatens
to wreck the arrangement by which the
clubs use in common the new traps put
down at the Oakland Park this season.
When c. MacAllster, the wel!-known
Eastern pigeon shot, was paying this Coast
a visit last year, he was a frequent guest Of
the Country Club Mr.. MacAlliSter was
shown some good sport, but he limited that
the traps used by the club were little be-
hind the times, and suggested that they
should put down a newly patented trap
which was being extensively used in the
best Eastern clubs and found by them to be
highly satisfactory. Mr.. MacAllister was
asked to send some of the traps out here,
and on his return to the East he purchased
and forwarded set of traps which were
placed in position at the Oakland race
track, over which the club had secured the
privilege of shooting pigeons.
EXPENSES AND BENEFITS.
The expenses of fitting up the ground
amounted to $685. and the Country Club in-
Yited the Gun Club, and later the Alameda
County Club and the Recreation Gun Club,
to share in the benefits of its improved APP
paratus. The three clubs decided TO join. it
being understood that they contributed
quarter of the expenses Of fitting up the
ground. A verbal arrangement was at the
same time entered into that no other clubs
were to be admitted to the compact.
The arrangement worked smoothly for
some time. The first hltch came when the
California Wing Shooting Club applied for
share in the Oakland track advantages.
The original lessees Of the ground and intro
ducers Of the new traps, the Country Club.
Joined with the Gun Club in opposing the
application, while the two other members
of the syndicate supported it.
-Four clubs. the DIRECTORS urged, were
sufficiently large number to work together
tremendously, and the introduction Of 9TH
ers might result in friction.
The tie vote was sufficient to knock out
the application, and matters went on as be-
fore. Then new cause Of difference pre-
sented itself.
DIVISION OF DAYS.
BY the arrangement entered into by the
four clubs three OF them have the exclusive
right of using the grounds on one Saturday
in each month, while the fourth, the Recrea-
ton Club, which is mainly composed of
members who are unable TO get away on
Saturday, make use Of the ground on one
Sunday in each month.
The Recreation Club recently applied to
the other clubs TO know what days they
could have for practice purposes.
Tie Gun CLUB replied that the Recreation
Club could have the use Of the ground on
any days other than the regular days on
which II and the other clubs have claims,
provided that no one not bona fide MEM
Der of one OF the clubs in the syndicate
took part in the shooting. The Country
Club further objected to the grounds being
used on any Sundays which the existing
agreement does not provide for The shoot
ing brings over great number of men and
boys WHO hang about outside the grounds
as ''SkirmisheTs." Complaints have been
made Of this to the clubs and they are
naturally anxious TO prevent the nuisance
growing.
AN ADVERTISING SHOOT.
The proYiso OF the Gun CLUB prevents the
shoot for the Selby trophy taking place
over the Oakland Tace-track. One contest
for the trophy has been held there, but this
was understood to be an act OF courtesy to
MIR. Smith, who had advertised that the
shoot would come off at the race track. The
clubs, accordingly, agreed to help him out
Of the difficulty which an alteration would
cause.
The Selby trophy is open to every pigeon
shooter in this Safe. The members Of
| the syndicate, who have been at the expense
| of putting down improved traps and of fit
ting up the grounds, object 10 the improve
ments being used by pgeon-shots who have
| contributed nothing to the expense and this
| too in the interest OF business firm. Yes
| terday's meeting was called with the object
| of adjusting these points of difference bat
sion and the matter will stand over for fur
| Their consideration.