Evening star., 1896-09-12
Regulation Arm for Future Rife Com
petitions.
LACK OF A SUITABLE DRILL HALL
Gossip From the Various Company
Headquarters.
N OF ES OF INTE EST

The edict, and 1t is a particularly inter-
esting one just at this time, Is now going
forth that in the rifle competition at Sea
Girt in tie future all special makes of fire.
arms will lie strictly and unsWervingiy
barred. 1t Is an undisguised fact tina:
Georgia. Massachusetts and the District O;
Columbia, well as the teams Of several
other states. have been using rifles which,
though technically issued by the states the
teams represent. have yet certain special
features in their construction. Georgia
used special Remington barrel on the
regulation stock, while the Districts bri-
gade team has been supplied with a six
groove Springfield rife, constructed several
years ago for United States army sharp
shooters.
During the recent competitions at Sea
Girt a meeting Of the captains of the sew
eral teams was held, with Gen. Wingate
president of the New Jersey State Rifle As
sCciation, acting as chairman. 1t was prac-
tically agreed that next year and thereafter
ell competitors shall stick closely to the
regulation arm. Therefore IL is believed
that the association will In the near future
communicate with the teams that are in the
habit of participating in the Sea Girt
matches and invite suggestions In regard
to the framing of rules tc govern the mat
ter of rifles. The next step, it is thought,
Will be the drawing up of a set of regula-
ticns by the association and these will be
submitted to the teams for approval or
further suggestions. When satisfactory
results have finally been obtained, the rules
will be formally proulgated, and without
delay, in order that the competitors may
have ample time to provide for the meet
of 1897.
1t is understood that no restriction is in
tended to be placed upon special ammuni-
tton. Some Idea has been entertained OF the
District team next year trying the new
army rifle 1t is quite likely, however, that
the local sharpshooters who visit Sea Girt
will be provided only with the three-groove
Springfield rife now in use in the District.
The ammunition in all probability, will BE
such as to give results that have not here
tofore been ordinarily obtained.
A Reception Incident.
In connection with the reception OF the
brigade rife team on its return from Sea
Girt, NJ. Monday evening last an anus
Ing situation was noted by those spec.a-
tors in the immediate vicinity of the 9th
street depot. AS usual, the police arrange
ments were all that could be desired, and
while the escort was forming on Pennsyl-
vania avenue a large number OF police
men. numbering perhaps two score, re-
ported for duty at the station. These
guardians Of the peace were distributed a
Intervals from the entrance Of the car
shed along 9th street. When the sound Of
the trumpet announced the arrival of the
team the policemen were on the alert and
made preparations for giving the home
comers clear path. Finally not more
than dozen rifiemen put in an appearance
and the policemen gazed down toward the
train with an expectant air. Nothing fur
ther In the way of guardsmen appeared.
however. and the force Of policemen, which
was fully three times as large In numbers
| as the band of rifiemen, really did rot
know what to do with themselves They
looked at one another with a quizlical air.
seemed to realize that the joke was on
4 tlavv, 1l,-ne ,ntlrr ~,
the street, while the crowd laughed on.
The Appleby Miss.
The friends OF sergt. Maurice Appleby-
and they are legion-have been having lots
of fun since the return of the brigade
team. guying the popular sharpshooter on
the supposition that he wept briny tears
after making q miss while shooting in
one of the matches on the Jersey range
Sergt. Appleby did make a miss, owing to
a defective cartridge, not to a defect in
his skill in aiming and firing, but the pub
the cartridge referred to, disastrously de-
fective. Those who were within a few feet
Of the sergeant failed to note an overflow
of his lachrymal glands, even though Scan-
ming his face with the new and powerful
telescope recently constructed for the de-
partment of rifle practice. Had Ser2t. APP
pleby been responsible for the miss he
would doubtless have also been eQdal to
the occasion, and, II necessary. wept with
the required condition of copiousness: the
condition of things, however, did not call
for tears.
Change In the Score.
The score Of the LIST Regiment team Of
the District in the regimental match at Sea
Girt has been amended 1t was found that
the total Of Private Wilkinson should have
been 12S. instead of 96 increasing the
teams total to 1.305 from 1.273. This alter
alton, however, does not affect the standing
Of the team in the match.
At the Armory.
An oasis in the desert of inactivity which
has been a prominent feature at the ar
mory since last spring was reached Mon
day evening last The parade in honor of
the brigade rife team caused an awaken
ing Of quite a number of the organizations,
and for time matters were decidedly bus
iness-like. However. since Monday the
building has been to all intents and pur-
poses deserted. and 1t will probably con-
tinue SO till October. With the likelihood
that no drill hall will be provided, owing
to the reported cancellation Of the lease Of
the prospects certainly point to a decidedly
dull winter. 1t is safe to expect an in
creased interest in rifle practice when the
gallery is reopened The next step of any
Importance win be the issuance Of orders
for the parade OF the troops Of the Ma
tional Guard for rifle practice at the Ord
way range during october.
Company A, Second Battalion.
Company A, I'd Battalion, will resume
active work next week and continue at it
increasingly till summer comes again
Capt Eugene c. Edwards has issued an
order to the members of his command an
| nouncing that regular drills will be held
each Monday evening, beginning September
| IA. The assembly will be sounded at s:l5
o'clock sharp, with roll call Immediately
thereafter. Any member not in line at
that time in complete fatigue uniform
| without leggtns, explains Capt Edwards.
| Will be marked late and be subject to
court-martial.
Capt. Edwards has endeavored to i'm
press on the members of the organiza tion
that discipline is the foundation Of a mill
tary company, and he requests that every
effort be expended to increase the effic .ency
Of the command during the coming year
An additional section has been added to
| article 13 Of the constitution of the com
pany. providing that any member out Of