The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-17
THE HUSSARS' SABER DRILL.
THE ANNUAL CONTEST AT THE
GUARDS HALL TONIGHT.

-Four Prizes and the Company Medal
to BE Contested For-sOme Original
and Ingenious Devices the Hussars
Have Arranged for Target and sa-
Der Practice-PistOI and Saber
Practice Guided by "A Time Ball
and the Ringing of Bells.
The Hussars saber contest at the Guards
armory tonight promises to be an event
of unusual interest, and there will probably
be a large number of the friends of the
troop out to witness the exhibition of
skill that will be given.
The Hussars will enter the armory hall
at S:15 o'clock. and the contest Will begin
at once. 1t viii be conducted by Capt
Bierne Gordon and the commissioned Of
ficers. Capt. Gordon. Lieut.. Minis and
Lieut.. McAlpin. will be the judges. The
troop will be divided into two classes, &C
cording to the already acquired skill OF the
participants in handling the saDer; COM
petition for the company medal IS open
to those in both classes, besides which TWO
prizes in each class are offered.
The first and second prizes in the nrSt
class will be respectively pair OF gOiu
sleeve buttons. and a set of gold studs;
and the prizes in the second class VIII
be a silver knife and a walking cane
mounted with silver sabers.
A light lunch viii be served after the con-
test and there will be music and dancing
No formal invitations nave been issued
but the members of the troop WIZ pc slau
to see present all who are Interested IN
their work.
The Hussars have recently made some
noteworthy improvements on their armoiy
especially in the way of appliances Tor
target practice. The house committee N
one way and another has improved me
interior of the building throughout, ana II
Is now brighter and more attractive thaI
ever. The additional appliances Tor target
practice which have been placed III tne
basement of the western wing, however
are something unusual in this line, ana
for the most part they are entirely original
with Private L. l.. Gilbert, the troop IN
spector of rifle practice. -.
Beside the ordinary pistol ana rlne TAR
gets two iron life siXe figures nave psen
placed on the ranges, so arranged that
they stand in position TO DC ifeu ~ LoI
a certain number of seconds, the NUMBER
being guaged by very ingenious mechan-
zeal device. after which they turn away
from the marksman. The device may pc
so arranged, for instance, that aIter tne
word is given the figures VIII remain IN
place for nine seconds, during, Wnlch inc
marksman Ares six shots at the ngure'
he has a sufficient degree OF skill 70 90 u
in that length of time and then the ~
ures are turned away. This gives eAcel-
lent practice for rapid firing with the Pts
tol, and excellent opportunity Is given IoI
acquiring a high degree of skill. Another
target is being arranged so that by means
of a track and windlass 1t can be placed
record of the scores made can be accu-
rateiy kept
Another ingenious device arranged oy
INSPECTOR Gilbert is that for the tourlla-
ment practice. In this case, however,
the cavaIryman stand on a box az
proper elevation with the heads on eith9r
side of him, and the rings suspended Just
before him at the proper Nights ana als-
tances The device for gauging the time
is also used in connection with this ap-
paratus, as the trooper is given just so
many seconds to run the course on morse
back On this stand he h2s before him
all the devices that he has TO tackle from
horseback and the arrangement is quite
an excellent one for the practice. Other
devices in connection with rife and PTS
toll practice are being arranged, and I
IL is safe to say that the Hussars VIII
have. when they are completed, the best
gallery for this kind of work in this part
of the country. Some of the members
of the troop are among the best marks
men in the state, and with such opportuni-
ties for practice, there is no reason some
OF the very best talent in this direction
should not he developed.