St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-15

FORT KEoGH, Mont, Aug. 13.-Tbe
usual annual rifle and carbine competi-
tionS for the United States army are
now in progress in the various military
departments. Those for the Depart
ment of Dakota. the headquarters of
which are located in st. Paul, are tax
ing place this year at Fort Keogh, Mon
tana, which is equipped with good rifle
range. Up to 1891 these competitions
have en.piace at Fort Smelling, and
were there each year witnessed by
great many people from the Twin
Cities, but owing to the fact that the
land in the rear of the Fort Smelling
rifle range is owned by private parties,
firing on that range had to be discon-
tinued. Of late. another locality for
suitable range on the Fort Smelling res
ervatiOn has been selected, aud steps
are now being taken by the proper au-
thorities to secure all adequate appro-
priation for the building of stop-butts,
grading Of the land, etc., and it is ex-
pected that the new range will be fin
ished in time to hold the department
competition again at Fort Smelling in
1891.
Though Fort Keogh is equipped with
good range, the climatic conditions
existing at this season OF the year are
very unfavorable for the making of
nigh scores. Besides the extremely hot
weather. there is daily wind blowing.
known to the Iiiemen as "hshtail,"
which changes constantly i'll direction
aud obtains a velocity of f:om ten to
twenty-five miles per hour, throwing up
clouds of dust. which often prevent the
men from seeing the target at even the
short ranges. If, in spite OF these I'M
favorable conditions, the scores made
during the three days preliminary
practice just closed. are very satisfac-
tory 10 all concerned. it speaks we'll for
the skill i'll craftsmanship OF Uncle
Sans soldiers.
The competition now in progress is
for the cavalry arm of the service. 1t
extends over nine days, three of which
are devoted to preliminary practice to
accustUm the men. who come from
every post within the department, to
the range and climate; four to the
competition proper with the carbine,
ana two to the competition with the re-
volver. With the carblne twenty shots
are fired by every competitor at each of
the rangeS-2O0, 300, 500 and 60O Yards
| and 100 shots at skirmish firing. The
ten competitors making during the four
days firing the highest aggregate scores
constitute the ''carbine team" aud re-
celve eacn handsome medal Zone gold,
three silver and six bronze, in order OF
merit. The five highest Of the team
are sent to Fort Sheridan, H., there to
compete next month with other depart
ment teams for places on the
army carbine team of ten" in
which the medals given consist
of four gold and six silver ones.
In the revolver competition one day is
devoted to dislnounted firing at twenty
five and fifty yards, ten shots at each
| range, and another to mounted firing,
liz which the targets consist of silhou-
cites, having the shape of man stand
ing and on horseback. Forty shots are
fired by every competitor while riding
past the targets at a Iull gallop at
| ranges varying from five to twenty-five
yards, ana the ten men making the
highest aggregate scores In both firngs
also receive one gold, three silver and
SIX bronze medals, in the order of merit.
The competition is conducted by
Majo: Writ Davis, Fifth United States
cavalry, inspector of small arms prae-
tice on General Merritt'S staff. and he
is assisted by twelve other officers. The
result of the three days preliminary
practice just closed is as follows. the
men named being the fifteen highest
competitors, with their scores for two
days firing at known distances, one day
skirmiSh firing, and the totals for the
three days: