The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
CONR0Y'S BIG GOLD FISH.


Seer LuHchsons and Wise DiHaers Secured
by Coutract Fail TO Make the Corporal
sure OF sis Eroperty-Compsny A aud
Company ~ of the seventh Compete foe II.
When Corporal Thomas ]. Conroy bought
500 worth of beer and sandwiches and other
good things for his mates In Company A,
Seventh Regiment, n week ago. he really be-
neved for n little while that he had ransomed
the big gold fish that used TO swing In front of
his sporting goods store in broadway near Duane
street. 1t surprised the jokers who had stolen
the fish for n company trophy in competitive
shooting to find that the big corporal was so
credulous. They were not well pleased, but
II was a fault which they believed they could
remedy. So when Corporal Conroy went to
the company room in the armory to get the
fish he had bought for a price. 1t wasn't there.
Having paid the price, he found that It wasn't
big enough. Then anne the jokers with new
propositions, all warranted to be sure cures
for over credulity. Conroy wanted the fsh.
So did the company. 1t was a very fine fish,
said COnroy. Therefore 1t would make a re-
markably fine trophy. said the others. In
the end Conroy agreed to nay n new price.
Tho jokers drew up n contract. This agree
mont witnessed and whereased all about the
fish and Conroy, and the sporting goods store.
and Company A, and competitive trophies,
and, finally, a supper. with wine-lots of it
for every man who would admit that he had
had q part in the original theft VI the fish
Company A is 103 stronR). all at the expense
of the said party OF the second part, being Con-
roy. This being duly executed. attested by n
notary, and sealed with the certificate OF the
County Clerk that the notary was n notary,
Conroy got the fish. Thereupon he luQged It
in triumph away. and he thinks he's got II yet.
But when that suggestion ia made to them.
the other members of Company A smile and
wink and look up and down. and the inference
is plain that Conroy might be mistaken after
all.
Well. Conroy had no sooner lugged off his
big golden fish than Comrany II came in. The
Eighth Company. ms the Guardsmcn call It, has
q score in the competitive shooting which just
about matches that Of company A. No golden
trophies adorn the walls Of the company room,
Eighth Company heard of lis great prize cap
tured by the, men of COMPANY a their hearts
were filled with envy. Forthwith they chal-
lenped Company A to II team match for the
golden fish. Company A accepted the chal-
)enge. and ARRANGEMENTS were made for the
the lowest score should win. There should be
seven shots standing and seven prone. and.
It was determined that misses should count five.
The match was shot on Friday night. Com
en- fish to Corporal Conroy. went to the
range in great form. Having no trophy to
Just to see the eject on the Eighth Company.
1t seemed to be Il very easy thing, but the
more they tried to hit the bull's-eye the more
low scores. they made. and 1t wasn't until tho
Captain of the team hit uron the scheme of
shooting at the . ring. the lowest on the target,
that the A Company men began to ring the bell.
After that a couple of Intentionally mad
vertent misses brought their score up to 1858.
The Eighth Company men. shooting steadily
for the inner ring, kept up a consti mt scoring
of 2s, and when the match was over their
81 oYYt trfamph was eo 1 n Vii il a dHsn; T'' upon "a sh the
First Company. demanding the golden fish.
The + .rst company retired to the company
room to prepare the trophy for transfer. Com
the vanQuished. With Queckberner and Doug.
lass. the biggest men in the company. ut the
head of the column, Company A marched out
Of the room and started for the Eighth Com
pany's quarters. Queckbcrner and Douglass
bore between them an enormous wooden plat
ter with n great tin cover.
They were received In due and ancient form,
He complinrented II Company on its bad
shooting, and hoped the victors would enjoy
the feast of Ash. Fish. he said. was, as lie
eel S,a un de- stood a an excellent sSSsaet th food / for tthoee
that reason that the men Of II Company had
coveted tho great fish trophy Of Company A.
but he recognized the desirability of their
having q suitable Ash. and therefore on the
part OF tho First Company he presented the tro-
:. with that the great tin cover was taken off
carrying. Instead Of the golden fish that had
served as Conroy's sign. the men of the Eighth
Company beheld an enormous cod Ash. 1t was
four feet long and more. and all around 1t as
II lay on the wooden platter were scattered
shellfsh and crustacean and green things. And
on the back of the fish was this sign:
THE FISH TROPHY
swiped from Corporal T. J. conroy
Competition