St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-26
THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
IN A TEST OF GNDUR-
ANCE.
10000 SHOTS IN SIX DAYS.
A FEAT IN MARKSMANSHIP AND
PHYSICAL STRAIN NEVER
EQUALED.
cARvERs BIG PERFORMANCE.
He Will BE Seen in His Marvellous
Rifle Shooting at the Coming
State Fair.


State Fair.
One of the attractions of the state
fair is to be DR.. w. F. Carver, one
of the most famous rifle shots in
the country. Among the feats per-
formed by DR.. Carver was the hit
ting twice of $4,000 flying targets
within six days. This was done dur
ing the week ending Jan. II, 1885, at
New Haven, Conn, and the New
Haven Union tells story of it as
follows:
Probably no one in the history of
the world has ever undergone such
a severe test, SO far as physical en-
durance is concerned, as has DR..
w. F. Carver, the Evil Spirit of the
Plains" during the past week. Since
few minutes past last Sunday mid
night he has lifted in dead weight
each of the six days an equivalent
to nearly 400 tons. Not only have
his physical powers been taxed be-
yond the limit of human endurance,
so far as previous records go, but his
mental capacities have been severely
tested. Day after day he has been
employed in shooting at flying tar
gets, 10000 of which must be hit be-
fore his self-imposed task was COM
pleted and his hard-earned victory
accorded him.
Every minute of the time allotted
he was compelled to average at least
seven hits. AT times, especially dur
ing the middle of the week, this av-
erage was not maintained, and the
skeptics, with wise shakes of their
heads, said he would fail; they knew
he couldn't do it. These and other
remarks did not, however, discour-
age DIR. Carver, who manfuIly con-
t1nued his task. With weary limbs.
burned face, smarting from the
stlngs caused by the gunpowder's
hash, and with weary eye lids, shoot
ing went on almost incessantly. All
this While DR.. Carver made no COM
plants, and only to a very few did
he speak of his aches and pains. Tt
was an undertaking in which he was
pound to succeed, and to accom-
plfsn the task was the sole thought
that occupied his weary brain. The
tlfed-out assistants tossed the wood
en- docks in the air, and hour after
hour, for six long weary days, the
champion rifle shot of the world
p.azed away at the flying missiles.
He made a good many misses. to be
sure, but in all probability there is
no one living who could, in twenty
Tour hours, equal his poorest DAVIS
work. Such nerve and such remark
able powers of endurance by a hui
man being have never been wit
messed before; and, unless DR.. Car
yer undertakes to repeat his terri
bic task, it is not likely ever to he
seen agaln-at least not during the
present centu-. The stormy weather
undoubtedly prevented MANY from
visiting the Lincoln rink while the
snootlng was in progress. Those who
ala go were amply repaid, and in the
future thew will have Satisfaction
OF remembering that they witnessed
at least a portion of DR. Carver,s
| wonderful performance.
When the contest onened ear1,, ,ro,
udy morning, the marksman, although
ne iidu not been in training, appeared
" pe III good condition. He shot with
Jul lltsrmlsslon up to z o'clock, when
1iie Hrs1 rest was taken for breakfast.
ne record stood 1925 shots, 995 misses
anu 4'S5V hlts. Before noon he COM
pialneo OF terrible pains in his right
Wiisl' ana ne feared his hand would
| give out pefore the finish, but it did
not discourage him. He wound up his
,ilsI gay work at 10:40 having fred
Io'o!' snots' missed 1928, and hit II ,OS7,
slvlns MIN the handsome lead of
i'oo1' Ihls lead was very essential, as
VIII De seen by an inspection of the
scores made each day to the finish
AS bright as 2 dollar DIR. Carver an
Deared in his triangular enclosure
tuesday morning, and at 9:45 shooting
was resumed. His wrist was better
put aIter hrlng short time his eyes
began to trouble him. Both became
pioooshot, and the eyelids were much
lnf1amed. Soothing lotions were an
plltu' ana the shooting continued until
noon, when the first rest for the second
Jay was taken, the total score being
1850 shots, 2,03S misses and -. 722 hits
ms average shooting an hour being
zo51s, or 51s per minute. The total score
at the close was 24,125 shots, 2,7S6 misses
ana N,3S9 hits; and, for the second
days work, II LOS shots, $50 misses.
1929 hits; lead at the finish of
1889 hits.
| Wednesday's work was commenced
promptly at 10 o'clock Although he
looked more fatigued, his wonderful
nerve power, which has stood the test
SO nobly all through the week, remain
| ed, and the misses were very few. He
| endured the pain without a. murmur
until he had made two thousand shots.
Then rest was taken and his eyes
were bathed. Every movement of his
| finger while working the trigger caused
intense pain through almost every fibre
| of his body, but he never faltered in
| his task When the first rest Was
| taken the total score showed that he
| had fired 21,125 times, and made 24079
hits. AT midnight he retired to rest,
| having fired during the third day 105OO
shots, scoring SIT misses and 9,S23 hits.
| The total score showed "a, 625 shots
3,467 misses and 81, 1853 hits.
Thursday was probably one of the
hardest days the doctor experienced.
1t was gloomy outside and cold and
cherries within the enclosure where the
shooting took place. Theleft arm. which
| throughout the week had been extended
full length while holding the ten-pound
rifles, revolted at the strain placed up
on 1t. The marksman shot with more
] leisure oil ms cd 20