Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-10-25

by the general. After this they were
marched to the old ball grounds, where
the various field movements, such as
forming skirmish lines, skirmish firing,
detailing scouts and bayonet charge,
were gone through, and the company
returned to the armory, when Gen.
Jeffers addressed the boys, explaining
some important points in the orders
and reminding them of the necessity,
owing to the present critical condition
of the country, of their faithfulness.
He complimented them on their neat
appearance and large attendance, and
ciaimed that with Il little closer atten-
ton to orders, they will be the first
company of the state. He also encour-
aged closer attention to rifle practice,
which will be complied with.
In the evening Captain Reynick,
Second Lieutenant Jameson, Corporal
Kimmel, Sergeants Linch, Lane and
Becker and Privates Hoffman and
Dynne were examined in military evo-
lutions, the outcome OF which will be
made public later.
The per cent Of the company In drill
was 80, against SO last year. The at
tendance was % officers and enlisted
men.
Gen. LETTERS while here exhibited u
tern adopted by the regular army.
These rifles are %supplanting the 45-cal-
iber Springfield rifles now in use as
fast as manufactured, and as soon AS
the regulars are supplied the militia
! will receive them. SO far only 700
| have been issued.
The barrel is thirty inches long with
magazine under the lock. The car
tridges are placed in IN the right and
enter the chamber from the left. The
magazine will hold five cartridges and
has a cutoff, SO that the piece can be
used as II single shot arm and the rapid
fire OF the magazine held in reserve,
while the firing OF single shots ear go
on at the rate of thirty per minute.
The lock contains a safety slide, which,
when properly adjusted, securely locks
the piece. The entire. arm weighs
eight pounds, including the knife
shaped bayonet.
The bayonet is quite as great a de-
parture from the old style weapon rs
is the arm. The blade is IL inches
long. The handles are short and
straight, about 4 inches in length, and
are made OF wood and steel. The
handle has guards, similar to bowie
knife, which are used in adjusting the
bayonet to the gun The weight of
the kniYe-bayonet is thrce-fourths of
Il pound, and will prove a formidable
weapon in Il h~and-to-hand encounter.
The sights OF the rifle are adjustedt to
1000 yards, though the bullet is fatal
at $500 yards.
The cartridge Is 30-caliber and
weighs but about half us much as the
old As Springfield cartridge, thus ena-
bling the soldier to carry from IT'S to
200 rounds with as much ease as 100
rounds were carried before. The
charge is 81 grains Of Wettern smoke
less powder.
The bullet is about an inch long. Of
hardened lead with a very thin cov-
cring of nickel.
The power of this piece is wonder
full. At a distance of 30 feet from the
ntZZle Of the rifle the bullet will pen
citrate "a inches of seasoned oak; at
900 yards it will go through 80 inches
of hard pine; at 1000 yards it will
penetrate the bodies Of three men,
while at 5000 yards it retains enough
force to pass through ii human body.
The generai left for his home in
Sioux Falls OF Friday.