The morning times., 1896-12-27
BUSY WITH THEIR RIFLES
District Soldier Boys Constant
Visitors at the Gallery.
SECOND REGIMENT WON
Big Score Made at the Match Tues
day Night-A New Invention Tried
Home MortOns' Troubles Are
Now Overheard Gossip.

mas week In the rifle gallery. Besides Lne
Regimental match in the preliminary series
for December number OF individual TURKEY
matches and private practice matches were
ON the program In fact, the gallery has
been busy place all the week
Capt Bell, Inspector Of rifle practice for
the Second Regiment, is very much inter
estedin a new invention for gallery practice.
The inventor, Mr. j F. Rabbatt. i, Massa-
chusetts marksuian of many years expeT-
lence, was at the gallery Tuesday evening
when the RegImcntal flatch was shot For
several years he was a member of the
American rifle team, sent to England 10
represent this country, and he is spending
a few days with DR. Scott, of the Engineer
Corps, who was on the international team
atthe sametine. He was much pleased with
the result OF the shooting, and thought he
had never seen guardsmen do better.
Tried the New Cartridge.
H. speaking of his invent on, which is
designed to reduce the expense Of gallery
practice, Mr. Rabbath was cutie en
thusiastic, and a number Of the officers
experiinented with his patent projectiIes
for target work. His invention is designed
to overcome the use OF the heavy balls
which the large bore of the rifle has
heretofore made necessary. III order to
project this large ban with the necessary
force, five grams of powder have been
used.
MIR Rabbath's invention cOntempIates
the using OF the ordinary metal shell Of
the regular rifle cartridges. into which
fits a small, circular piece II wood, in
Iran In III,
OF the " o d, pierced through 10 the wadding
over the powder, is a small hole. III which
fits a % -caIiber rifle ball when the
cartridge is fired the ", od IS If course
blown out and shattered 10 atoms, while
the % -cdIiber bail, being accurately placed,
flies as true a If IL fitt,d the bore OF the
rifle
Capt. Bell fired ei ght shots with this new
pro1ectle Tuesday evening, and sent all
of them within a space or an inch and "A
half from the bull's-eye. He then tried
eight regular cartridges, and placed them
all within a space of two inches from the
ulrs-eye. The slight advantage in favor
of the small caliber balls is perhaps ex-
planned by the fact that when these Were
used the gun was fired at rest in order
TO test the inventiOn under the most
favorable circumstances.
A number of the other officers tried { ne
projectiIe, with good results. and it was
generally agreed that for practice work
it was fully a effective and much more
agreeable than the heavier charge and
projectile.
The Naval Reserve.
The naval reserve, which is to lie Part
OF the District National Guard, now has a
home. Monday night il took charge OF the
old boathouse at the navy yard. Before
taking possession of the quarters a busi-
ness session was held at Washington Han,
corner OF Third street and PennS ylvania
avenue southeast
Commander Haines as chairman Of the
standing committee, reported that the bill
before the Senate Committee on Naval AZ
fairs had been favorabiy submitted 10 the
upper house, and that there was little doubt
that it would 90 through Congress before
the close Of the present session
Upon a nomination for payuaSter there
was but one name presented. that Of Mr..
Sidney Biebcr He was promptly elected
and the question Of the bond he may be
required TO furnish was left for a future
meeting. It was also decided that an
apothecary should be appointed by DIT
Scott, the medical officer Of the reserves
During the evening twenty new mem
berS enlisted. bringing the total mem bcr-
snip up to about 100. Steps Will i'm
metiiately he taken for the formation of d
second company. When this il done. Of
ficerS for the entire battalion VIII be
elected.