The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01

Tho Sixth Battery's Protest Against the Con
test for the ~Fiannagan Trophy.

C tue fibuh1bbh tTOpny.
BNaHAMroN. July 31.-The Flanagan marks
manship trophy Is the cause Of a row hero. and
the entire military department of the State may
become involved before the trouble blows over.
The difficulty grows out Of the neglect Of the
Adju~tant-General's Office to notify Capt. L. L.
Olmsted Of the Sixth Light Battery of the date
for contesting for the trophy until 1t was Too
late to send a representation to the State camp
at Peekskill. Capt. Olmsted is indignant, and,
as he is a fighter from head to foot, it is likely
that he will make things mighty unpleasant at
headquarters before he Is through.
The Flanagan trophy was donated by First
Lieut.. w. j. Flanagan of the Second Battery,
New York, to DO competed for yearly by the bat
tories of the State. Last year there was strong
competition among tho batteries to win the
prize. 1t was the first time that the trophy had
been offered for contest, and Lieut.. Flannagan's
company was confident that it would win the
prize. The First Battery, New York, was also
confident. In fact 1t is told here that the lefty
boys had ordered a champagne banquet. with
the usual trimmings. to celebrate the victory.
One OF the New York batteries did not hit the
target at all. and the other company only made
a few spots on 1t. When the, Sixth Battery be-
gan operations they practically battered the tar:
get out of all shape, and the trophy was carried
1t was a bitter. pill for the New YORK boys to
swallow, but it was gulped down with as few
grimaces as possible. and tho trophy was
brought here to adorn the interior OF tie big
armory on State street.
The New York boys promised to do better
next time. and Friday was the day set for the con-
test. 1t may h We been an accident and il may
have been intentional. but the fact remains thu
Capt. Olmsted received no notice of the pro.
posed contest until the day before 1t was to como
OFT. The contest was, therefore, shot under an
emphatic protest OF Capt. Olmsted, on the
ground that q fair chance TO compete was not
given tho Sixth Battery. On Thursday Capt.
Olmsted received a telegram from Adjt.-9en.
Tillinghast, saying that the match would come
Off at the State camp in Peckskill on the follow
ing day, and asking him II he would be repre-
scented. This. Capt. Olmsted snys, was the first
official Information he had that the contest was
coming of. Capt. Olmsted Immediately wired
the Adjutant-General. protesting against tho
contest. Ile said that owing TO the tardy notice
1t would be Impossible for the battery to be
| represented and col. ply with the rules under
| which the prize Is TO br contested for.
Word has been received from Gen. Carroll of
New York that the two batteries in camp have
| agreed that the winning company shall come
here and shoot off with the Sixth without ex-
| pense to the local company. Capt. Olmsted
will not do this. He said to-day that the Sixth
is willing to meet all Corners, the regulars in.
cluded, but he Is unwilling to give up the prize
without having a fair opportunity to win 1t.
The shooting at Peekskill this year, he declares,
was done contrary 10 tho rules and regulations
| governing such matches. He sail he is think,
Ing seriously Of returning the trophy to the
| Acknowledgement.