The morning call., 1893-04-23
SHOOTING IDEAS.
The Country Clubs Sport
at Oakland.
nembers Who Are Considerable of
Balloons and Derive Light From
the BaIdest Sources.

The Country Club, which Is in point of
membership the largest trap-shooting or
ganiZatiOn on the coast, held its third
monthly race at the Oakland Trotting Park
yesterday.
The day was dark and strong wind from
the west blew across the traps, making the
shooting more difficult than usual.
During the contest some very amusing
things happened which will not soon be
forgotten by the members and guests of the
club who were present.
Il was F. l.. WOoster's turn at the trap,
and as that young gentlem an was about to
cry pull balloon shot from behind
cluster of trees, which shut off the view of
the City of the Oaks fr0m the participants
OF the pigeon shoot.
Wooster dropped his gun as Quick as a
flash. and stood for few moments gazing
wistfully at the gasbag that was rapidly
moving toward the celestial sphere
WHATS the matter, Fred, old boy p
asked Ramon Wilson, who failed to COM
prehend WoOster's peculiar actions.
Presently Wooster pulled himself to-
gether, and picking up his gun, said to Rice,
the trapper:
Let her go, now. Riley; l am ready to
proceed with business, but being an hOHOra-
bic sportsman did not desire to take any
mean advantage of the man in the balloon
who was in direct line with the traps
when the order pulp was first given"
Wooster was shooting one of the latest i'm
proved guns, which is guaranteed to kill at
an unknown distance; in fact it was
such close shooter that the aspirant to
championship at the next annual tOurna-
ment of the club missed n number of birds
which he would assuredlY have killed with
an ordinary musket.
Viii Kittle made valuable discovery
yesterday.
After having completed his score in the
live-bird shoot he tried his hand and eye
at the clavs He shot wretchedly until
ne removed his headgear. when marked
Improvement in his score was noticeable.
well, ( that don't beat al" calmly re-
marked the famous annihilator of preserved
quaIls. as he peeped along the barrels of his
hlgh-priced gun, and smiled at the thoughts
OF having struck it rich.
What have you found, Willy?"
1t was Bob Woodward. his upland shoot
ing companion, that had become inqulsitiye,
and desired particulars.
kittle was so far absorbed in thought
that he neglected for some time to answer
the question put.
~ say. viii, what in the deuce is up?"
again asked MIR. Woodward of the re-
nOwned snipe, quail and brant bagger
We'll, II that don't beat ALL" again re-
marked piOus William of the Country Club
Say, Bob, just step here a second; l
have hit upon grand idea"
Woodward was alongside his hunting
companion in jiffy. and as KIttIe did not
desire that his valuable discovery should be
made public he threw his athletic arms
around Woodward's neck and whispered
into his ear: III you want to become a
dead-sure shot on glass balls sandpaDer the
hair off your head as the reflection of a
highly polished scalp on your barrels works
charmingly On dark day"
Woodward laughed until his sides -ached,
and It was only after powerful res;oratiyes
had been administered to him by Fish Com
missioner MurdJck that he regained his
normal condition.
The shooting of the gentlemen who repre-
sented the fiTst-class army was very GOOD,
Messrs. Wilson and Babc0ck led tie race
from start TO finish and retired with an equal
number OF kills 10 their credit
In the second class w. b. Tubbs shat re-
markably well, grassing all Of his birds
with one exception, and that was the last
bird, which darted from the trap like
naSh TO tbe right ana escaped the leaden
pellets that were intended to keep him
within bounds.
The following is summary of the shoot:
fntu N