Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-09-05
CRACK SHOTS IN WAR.
Practical Uses of Training in Marksman-


At the time of the Indian mutiny, young
Hercules Ross, son of the famous sports
man and marksman, Capt Horatio Ross
was the crack rife shot of India. lie on
one oScasion put in 10 consecutive bulls
eyes at 1000 yards. He was also a mighty
tiger slayer But he proved the value Of
his deadly skill with the rife against more
formidable foes than the jungle could
produce. His most memorable feat was
the following;
He had ridden to n ford on the river
GorEa, where it was expected that n large
force of mutineers intended to cross. II was
of vital Importance to keep them at bay
until the women and children and the sick
and wounded could be removed from an
English station close by. Ross had a pit
dug on the bank of the river commanding
ford. Here he took his post with a
dozen good rifles by his side, and four
attendants to load for him. The ford waa
impossible owing to heavy rains, but the
enemy had a large boat and with this
proceeded to make the passage of the
stream But Ross, from his rife-pN,
picked off the rowers one by one. Time
after time the boat put back, time after
time it came on again; but the quick and
deadly fire which that swift riheman kept
up prevented the oarsmen from ever get
ting more than third of the way across.
For three hours, with unfailing skill, Her
tQIcS 1OSS SllOl uONn the fchtI lONeIS,
till at last a body of English troops with
| three guns came up, and the Sepoys
sullenlY retired. BY his splendid marks
manship young Ross undoubtedly saved
the lives OF those women and children with
their sick and wounded companions.
Another and even more remarkable in
stance of the practical value of marks
manship in action occurred at Lucknow
during the long and terrible siege. The
7 h16 If 1Q-no 10 re
on fiat roof of one of the palaces
which surrounded the resdency in which
the English We're at bay. If they could
only mount these guns they would be able
to pour a plunging fire down upon the
defenders of the residency, which would
soon have made the place untenable. Ser
geant Halliwell of the sd Foot was the
crack shot of the little garrison. He was
supplied with the best rifles the officers
possessed and was posted in an angle OF
the residency, with orders to prevent tho
Scpoys from mounting these guns.
The part of the building in which he tool
up his position had already been battered
by the Sepoy guns into heap of ruins
and behind the shattered masonry he lay
at full length-there was just cover
enough to protect him in that posture
For several days he remained there
never rising to his feet, for to do SC
would have been to court instant deatf
from the swarms Of rebel marksmen II
front of him. The only change Of atti
tude in which he could indulge was bS
rolling over from his back to his stomach
and vice versa. His power of endurance
was almost superhuman.
Whenever the Sepoys attempted Il
mount the guns his deadly rifle was a
work, and he picked them off one by on
till they dared no longer expose so mucl
as q finger to the aim of this invisible
dcathdeaer. In the dead of night pro
visions were conveyed to him by mel
Crawling on their hands and knees. TIL
guns were never mounted, and, a last
the palace was captured in a sortie am
blown up and Sergeant lIalliwelPs vigi
was al an end
When Moses & Son had an establishment
in New oxford street, a tall. soldierly
looking man, in a peculiar uniform, nigh
; have been seen at the entrance, ready T.
assist customers from their carriages
ION his breast were several medals, am
among them a little bronze cross whic
bore the simple inscription: For Nalor
= This was Halliwell of the deadly rifle
the hero Of Lucknow.-London Tit-Bits.