The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-18
SPLIT THE CARDS.
Clever Shots by a Local
Marksnan.
Small Target for James
Hunt.

Captain Bogardus has a rival. For some
time past 1t has been whispered about
among the employees of the Western Union
Telegraph Company that one of their num-
Der, James Hunt, is q phenomenal rifle
shot.
Mr.. Hunt, modestly desiring no notoriety.
has always been successful when on a
shooting bout in confining his audience TO a
select few Of his most intimate acquaint-
ances.
However. after due coaxing. he was per-
suaded yesterday to show his skill in the
presence of a CALL representative. The
weapon used was 22-caliber Winchester
rifle carrying twenty-five shots, and the
range a smooth stretch of sand beyond
Bakers beach.
The wind blew in restless gusts. and the
threatening sky was by 10 means perfect
background TO cast into bold relief the
brown glass spheres which were turned
heavenward 10 meet the Winchester's
lesden pellets.
MI Hunt showed concusively that that
which goes IN does not necessarily come
DOWNS whole at least.
Are you ready" questioned the news
paner man setting the classical trap.
'1es, go ahead" came the answer from
yards away.
Tie trap clicked, the rife popped, bits of
glass fell like hail, and when the bewildered
reporter had run out of his first allowance
OF glass balls he found that out of the twenty
i've that were thrown into space only two
returned to terra firma intact
Mr.. Hunt smiled and said unconceTnedly ::
You see, the secret of hitting q glass
ball is TO catch it through the sights at the
moment 1t pauses in its upward career IN
n &c Ia w Of
Now, toss up Nickel"
Though somewhat apprehensive as 10 the
outcome of such an Investment the news
paper man produced the desired coin and
reluctantly tossed 1t in the most erratic
manner possible toward the clouds inwarily
hOpiDg that Mr.. Hunts rifle would miss fire.
No such good luck. Crack The metallic
ring Of the coin could distinctly be heard as
1t hummed away in the direction Of Fort
Point, a total loss.
Two more of The CALL mans hard
earned fives were shot TO the winds, the
shooter missing only one shot in four.
To reduce expenses shot at a Columbian
postage-stamp, placed at twenty yards dis
tant, was suggested, but Mr. Hunt scOrned
to waste powder on an object requiring so
little skin 10 hit.
A target with One-nch bullseve was
fasteGRd- oR- a box Mr. Hunt Stoned off
twenty. five PAGES aud cautioned his attend
ant TO time his shots. a fusillade followed
anu At lUt Gnu VI 80 stcOluS TWEEN V-ElTee
bullseyes were made and two close shots in
the -four ring"
Now" said the rifemaB, 81 will cut this
card in two" He produced a plain visiting
card and Fastened 1t on a convenient pole,
edge toward him.
The first shot failed to accomplish its
work, but marked distinct black line
across the right side of the pasteboard
The second shot was more successful
dividing the card as clearly as though 1t had
been severed with knife. Mr.. Hunt re-
peated the wonderful piece of marksman-
ship inverting his rife, resting the stock on
his head and sighting the piece while In this
position.
The best trick in shooting that the gentle
man accomplished was the hitting of a pin
SQuarely on its head at a distance from
when the tiny mark was scarcely visible to
the naked eye.
Il have often been invited to give public
exhibitions of my shooting" said Mr. Hunt,
but shoot merely for pleasure and do not
desire any notoriety. | think. however.
that | can perform any feat with a rifle
that Miss Lillian Smith is capable of exc
cutting, and as for glass ball shooting, nv
record is nearly as good as that Of Captain
BOGardus
81 learned TO shoot when I was very
young; took to the rifle as naturally as a
duck does to water. and in a short while
was able to hit any ordinary object thrown
into the air reasonably near me.
IL you want to learn to be good snap
shot commence by shooting at some large
object thrown skyward. a tin can for in
stance, catching ii through the sights at the
critical moment which | have heretofore ex-
planned. Once able to hit the can the rest
will come very easy"
The most difficult shooting Mr.. Hunt
gave example of was at glass balls thrown
at an angle away from where the gunner
stands.
The fears ofan Italian vegetable gardener
who declared that he owned cow that was
IN imminent danger of being killed by a
stray bullet, as the sh0Otists were near his
ranch" terminated the afternoons snort.