The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-06
At THE. PIGEON YARD
A Thousand or More Plump Beauties
for the GunnerS.
DAILY TOURNAMENT TALK
The Visit of the Stevensville Club
Sunday Last-A story hat Is
Told on Harry Thomp-
soma Dark Plot.

Missoula, May 5.--The pigeon yard of
the Rod and Gun club is an attractive
place these days to one who is fancier
of the pigeon tribe. There are now
1000 birds in the pens and they are all
in good condition. They are contented
and do not realize that they are soon
TO be put to a use that is not the most
humane. 1t is not altogether pleasant
to think that these birds are to be used
as targets by the shooters who will
come to the state tournament this
month, but ii is a custom that has be-
come sanctioned by long usage and the
local shooters do not feel like attempt
ing to hold a tournament without the
live bird shoot as it has always been
a feature of the Montana tournaments.
The managers of the shoot are receiv-
ing letters from all parts of the state
and from Idaho and Washington in
which the writers state that they VIII
be in attendance at the tournament.
There will also be some of the best
shots in Utah at the meeting. There is
no doubt that the tournament VIII be
one of the most successful ever held in
the state and there will be no regret on
the part of any of the sportsmen who
attend that they came to Missoula. The
arrangements for the affair are com
plete and there will be fair show for
all contestants. The Rose system will
be given its first trial in the state and
its success is watched for with interest
1t has been tried by the members of the
local club at the regular weekly con-
tests and all of the members are
pleased with it. This system has al
ready been fully explained in the
Standard and has been discussed at
length by many of the shooters of the
state. The chief advantage of 1t in a
tournament seems to be that ii does
away with the mischievous dropping
for place" that has made trouble In
such events more than once. 1t gives
every man a chance to- do his best and
not suffer financially. 1t is expected
that there will be better shooting as a
result of Its Introduction and III there
is II will not be long before IT is adopt
ed by all of the clubs in the state.
The visit of the Stevensville shoot
ers on Sunday was one of the pleasant
est of the exchange OF courtesies that
have taken place between the two clubs
and IL is hoped that the boys will come
down the valley again before long
story Of one of the experiences that
Harry Thompson had during his recent
visit TO Stevensville. The incident &C.
CURED one evening when the shooters
of the town had been discussing guns
and blue rocks and records. The dis
cussion had lasted until II was after
midnight and then the participants be-
gan to tell of what they had done on
the range. When IL came to Mr..
Thompson, he told them of the days
when he won the gold medal and how
IL was that he did IL. He told the
truth, but the Stevensville men would
not believe him. They thought that he
had talked So much that he was not In
a condition to tell the truth. especially
as they had told their lies first So they
proposed that he give them an illustra-
ton of how the play came up. 1t was
as dark as Egypt. but that cut no ice,
and the proposal was promptly accept
ed. 1t was agreed that one of the par
ty should throw up hat for Mr..
Thompson to shoot at and If he hit the
hat in the dark they would believe all
that he had told them of what shoot
ing is done in Missoula. A hat was
found that could be used in the inter-
est of true sport. and there was also an
old rubber boot that was taken into the
street without the knowledge of the
man. whose veracity was at stake. The
man with the hat had the boot in his
hand with the head covering and when
the command was given to toss the hat
he threw the boot. Ii was dark and the
shooter could not tell the difference
When he heard the boot go into the air
he shot where he thought IL ought &c
be. The crowd ran TO pick up the hat
and i'm che hurry the hat was substitu-
ted for the boot. When the beaver was
brought in there was. of course, not a
shot hole in IL and the man from Mis-
soula was branded as anything but ar
honest man. He could not understand
how he had missed the hat at such
good range and he was mystifed unit
the scheme was explained to him. Their
the boot was brought in and he ex-
pected to have his triumph. but the
closest scrutiny failed TO show wher,
even one shot had hit the boot. Their
the whole thing was off and Mr.
Thompson will shoot at no more target.
at night