The record-union., 1897-01-02
THE PPUNDSCHWILK SHOOT.
It Made More Fun Than "a Barrel Of
Monkeys"
Finally Declared Tie-Each Credited
With Seven Out of Twenty
Birds.

w ASA oSN Sh OaS Va w ShSy
Birds.
Maybe there wasn't little fun at the
pigeon shooting match yesterday be-
tween Deputy County Clerk Ed Pfund
and Deputy Sheriff Charles Schwilk.
And then again maybe there was.
Talk about roaring farces"-no cur
tain was ever rung down at minstrel
or other show ON funnier or more
side-splftting feature than that which
filled the fields with laughter in the
vicinity of the American River bridge
yesterday.
The pigeon match had been the chief
topic of discussion in shotgun circles for
a week past, and the intervening days
and evenings were devoted assiduously
to the task of putting up jobs on the
contestants for trap shooting fame.
Neither of the men had ever shot at
birds over the traps-in fact, so far as
most of their friends knew, neither of
them had even the slightest acquaint-
ance with the shotgun, hence the prop
osition to have some fun at their ex-
penSe.
AS a matter of fact, however, both
Schwilk and Pfund proved that they
are very handy with the fowling piece,
and under ordinarily favorable condi-
tions they would both have made very
creditable scores. The managers of the
shoot credited them with seven birds
each out of the twenty shot at, but they
killed many more than that number,
even though some of their cartridges
did contain almost everything known to
junk shop and very little powder.
The match between the deputy Off
Gals was the result of a discussion be-
tween them regarding their respective
merits as wing shots, but it was to be
quiet affair between themselves, with
out spectators. judge, referee, scorer or
other annoyanceS. But the matter
reached the ears of some of the rOllick-
ing spirits of the Pelican Gun Club,
and they resolved to take charge of the
shoot, see that it was made a memora-
BILE New Years Day event, and that
neither panty should win
And they succeeded. Joe Hill, Jr.,
was announced as the official scorer
Fred Yoerk as referee and J. NJ. Morri-
son as judge. Frank Ruhstaller, Jr.
took it upon himself to look after the
interests of his friend Pfund, by acting
as challenger, ETC., and Ed Nicolaus
served in a Like capacity for Sohwilk.
Of they had staid at home both men
would have better scores to show.)
The contestants were not allowed to
select all their own ammunition, but
instead it-or at least a portion-was
carefully prepared under the supervis-
ion of the officials and friends named.
As a result there should be very good
crop Of rice and scrap iron on the
shooting grounds next summer They
even tried to buldose Pfund into the
belief that he must shoot only such
weapon as the Judges should select, and
they tried to handicap him with a four
pound 44-caliber hummingbird toy, but
Pfund drew the line there and kicked
so vigorously that he was permitted to
use his 12-gauge.
After the men had shot a few rounds
and 1t looked as if they were liable to
make pretty fair scores, the fun COM
rnenced. Schwilk was couple of birds
ahead. and when he killed the next one
stone dead as neatly as anyone could
have done the trick, Ruhstaller chaI-
lehged the bird.
Judges he yelled, with well-as-
sumed excitement, Il challenge that
bird. I claim he never touched iti''
Judge Morrison took out his split
second watch and said: Mr.. Nicolaus
has one minute in which to retrieve the
bird"
Out shot Nicolaus with the speed Of
the wind, and in about five seconds the
dead bird was thrown at the head OF
referee Yoerk, who ducked neatly and
also escaped an uppercut.
Lost bird." shouted the judge. Time
Of retrieving, one minute one and one