, 1896-08-10
CHAMPION W|NC-SHOTS.
DUPONT TROPHY WON BY BERT
CLARIDGE OF BAL
TIMORE.
Five Contestants XIII Their Birds
Straight-The Winner Has to
Make 200 Consecutive Kills in Or
der to Carry Off the Prize-Over
II 600 Persons Witness the Match.

Chicago, Aug. S.-The great Dupont
live-bird tournament has passed into
history, and Bert Claridge of BaIti-
more is worlds champion. The finish
was of the heart-diease Kind. Even the
spectators were ratified. Out of the 1875
nominations only five killed straight.
Claridge was the first to accomplish
this feat. The eastern contingent went
wild with joy in consequence.
A few minutes later Wallace Miller
of Houston, Tex, scored his last bird
making 200 consecutive kills. Then a
wild yell, in which all the southerners
Joined, burst forth.
Christopher S. Gottlieb of Kansas
City, Mo, was the third man to roll up
this magnificent score and his trends
became jubilant. When Harry Kirk
over of Buffalo went out straight the
New Workers almost went beside them
selves with joy, burt it remained for
George Roll of Blue Island to create un.
bounded enthusiasm. When the referee
announced "25 and out" the enthu>
siasm of the Chicago shooters, that had
been bottled up all the afternoon, broke
loose in a mighty cheer.
The battle had been in progress for
two days. and on its renewal his morn,
ing a terrific finish was anticipated by
all. Gilbert, the scratch man. dropped
two birds early in the day. Jack VIM
t was the last OF the experts to fall
down. He lost his 22nd bird. The pig,
cons were a particularly strong lot,
and some of them, although hit hare
with both barrels, fell dead out OF
bounds.
1t was 5 o'clock when Referee Wat
son called the five men to the A set OF
traps, and II 900 people, many of whom
were ladies. crowded about to witness
the finish. KiTkover stood at 81 yards,
Claridge. Miller and Gottlieb at 90
yards. and Roll at 80 yards. Claridge
vas the first man to go to the score.
The excitement was tremendous. Clar,
idge killed clean. The Texan followed
suit. Gottlieb shot under his bird with
both barrels and fell back. Roll knock
ed over a swift right quarterer with his
first barrel. Then another mighty cheer
went forth, which the management
promptly checked with a request not to
repeat the demonstration until the
race was over. The tension on the four
remaining men was tremendous.
On the second round Claridge killed
nicely, but used his second for safety.
Miller killed with his first and Kirk,
over erased his birds beautifully. Rol,
hit his bird with both barrels. 1t was
a hard driver and fell lead -out OF
bounds. In the third round both Miller
and Kirkover missed. They could
stand the strain no longer. Claridge had
to kill his next two birds, which he did,
but was SO nervous when he went to
the trap for the last time that he sent
a load of shot into the ground in front
of him, the bell calling pull" 1t was
five minutes before the crowd quit
cheering the victor.
George Beck Of indianapolis has al
ready challenged the winner through
the Sportsman's Review.
The five men who killed their IS birds
divided something like 81, 1000.
George Spross of Toledo, Charles
Grim Of Clear Lake, Ia, and Rollo
Heikes of Dayton were among the men
who tied at "a. Gilbert. the Indian
from Clear Lake, drew a ''screamer''
that a howitzer could not stop. SCHUYLER
Of Cincinnati fell into the 20 hole with
Gilbert and Macalster. He also lost
two birds that fell dead out of bounds,