Evening star., 1897-02-06


best shots of<Erie:S Pa, who have earned a
reputation as exps|t marksmen by repeated
victories in similar contests. The teams are
to consist of ten men each. Every man
must fire ten Shots at 200 yards. The con-
testing teams areto fire the scores on their
own rangessAnd eelegraph the results as
soon as the match is completed.
EIectisn of Omcers.
An election offeaptain of Company A.
Engineer Corps, hiin be held February 20,
to fill the vacancy caused by the recent
resignation q Capt James NJ. Pollard. 1t
is the expectation that an outsider will be
manding officer
Capt. Edg1r A. Shilling has requested
that an election be ordered for Saturday
evening, February 13, to fill vacancy Of
second lieutenant of Company A, Sd Bat
taiion Several sergeants and corporals
Will be appointed by Capt. Shilling in the
near future
Second Lieut.. William H. Mellach has
heen unanimously elected first lieutenant
or Company A, 9Th Battalion.
second Lieut.. Sorrells of the I'd Separate
Company has been chose junior sutaltern
OF Company c, 9TH Battalion.
To Act Escort.
Company A, I'd Battalion, in connection
with the National Guard Athletic Assccia-
ton, Will hold a reception at the armory
FEBRUARY II, in honor of the Young Mems
Christian Association of Baltimore. The
basket ball team of the latter organiza ton
Is to engage in contest on the evening
mentioned at the Carroll Institute. Capt.
Edwards command is also arranging to
properly celebrate the fourteenth ami
versary of the birth Of the company, Feb
ruary %
Capt Edwards missed his first drill in
twelve years Monday evening last, being
cohnned to his home by the grip.
Engineers and ..Riae Making"
gineer Corps was unusually well attended
Appropriations were made for miscellan-
eous expenses in connection with the in
ausural parade, and general Instructions in
regard to the same were given.
Private w. NJ. Farrow of Company A
read a valuable and interesting paper on
'Rife Making" which was followed by a
prolonged and instructive discussion. Pri-
vate Farrow said, in part:
All firearms were smooth In the bore
until the year 1870. 1t was about that time
that rifle maker named Augustin Kutter
OF Nuruberg, made rifles with star-grooved
oarreis, IN which the grooves had spiral
Iorm. This improvement added greatly to
the accuracy and aim of the piece. 1t was
an invention of the greatest Importance.
NotWithstanding the value of the inven-
tlon, however 1t was not until 1851 that
England ordered the manufacture of 2S,OOO
regular troops. Much advantage is de-
rived from the spiral groove. The bullet
acquires rotation in its passage up the
parrei, and II from any cause the proiectile
should cut across the grooves the accuracy
would be destroyed. In years gone by the
rifing of barrel was a serious and palms.
taking operation for the rifle maker, but
now with proper machinery it is much
simpler operation
Private Farrow went into details of the
machines and the methods employed. In
conclusion he said:
Nothing endears a rifle to the heart
OF the hunter, the marksman or the ex-
pert, as the quality of accuracy. The po-
SCISSOR OF an accurate firearm values ii as a
constant and reliable companion, never
falling friend. always ready to obey. and
never speaking out until called upon, And
nope that the time will soon arrive when
each member of this corps can truthfully
say that he possesses just sucn 4 friend
and companion
First Battalion NOtes.
AT the regular monthly meeting held
"edi esday evening the following were
elected 20 active membership: For Company
b. Jacobus $ Jones, Louis NJ Mallet, JOS
B. Baker; Company c, Thos. ]. Manning.
w. b. Grapster, Andrew Burga, Thos. c.
Washington. Alexander c. Brummett Edw.
W., L.
Company d, Chas. Robey and Jas r. Gem
mill ~
1t was announced that the following were
entitled to service medals, for long and
ialthful service, and it was ordered that
same be presented February 22: Capt.
Chas. NJ. Shreve. fifteen years; Sergt. A. M.
Muzzy and Sergt A. b. Suit, nine wears
Capt. Chas. Ebert. Privates Frank J. VIII
ike and T. V. Macintosh, six years each
The report of the committee on athletics
was read and showed this part of the cr-
ganization to be in excellent condition.
Lieut.. Henry CARL was placed On the
veteran roll.
1t was decided not to parade the o2d of
February, as is the usual custom, on ac-
count of the inaugural parade being so
close at hand. Battalion drills have been
ordered for four nights, namely. February
>, II. 10 and March L.
Sergts. John S. Robinson and Alex NJ.
Allison of Company c have been OF dere
up before the brigade examining board for
examination as candidates for promotion
second lieutenants." The board meets Feb
ruary II.
Several new candidates have appeared
upon the horizon for the position of quar-
termaster sergeant, which will become
vacant soon by the transfer Of Serst House
to Company B as second lieutenant the
most popular of whom seem to be Seret
McCathran of Company - and Sergt. Mar
shall of Company A.
Company c will give an informal re-
ception the night of the 2..l, instead Of a
full dress reception, as previously an
nounced, in accordance with the wishes Of
great many of it's erienis which have
been communicated to the committee in
charge. During the latter part of March,
however, the regular full dress reception
will be given by that compaMy
An election will be requested at an
early date to fill the existing vacancies
in Company d, caused by the resignation
Of Lieut. Duffy nnl the transfer Of Can't
Miller to Company A. Lieut.. howard
Beall is at present in command Of the COM
pany, and there is no d0ub. of his I.,-
ing elected to the capt aincy as he Is re-
garded as one of the most efficient ori-
GERS in the corps. AS to the lieutenants
1t would be only a matter of guesswork 10
attempt to name them. so that will be le IT
to the future.
The many frien1s of Sergt Pinckney
w. Smith of Company !, will regret g
learn that he has been very ill for sew
eral days. He is now convalescent
Notes.
Company d, 9Th Battalion constituted
the troops in a presentation of the Con
federate Spy" Monday and Tuesday even
ings last in Gonzaga Hail. Captain George
W. England was in command
Activity among the engineers continues
Major Gilbert Thompson means that his