The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-31

slammed him without doubt as one of the
most expert handlers of a shotgun in the
United States. have known him long
time and have ever had the highest re-
gard for him as man and sportsman.
Years ago, when on visit to Savannah,
Ca, 1 was told by the sportsmen there
that McAlpin stood head and shoulders
above them all in skill, whether shooting
in the field or smashing asphalts at the
traps. Then he changed his residence TO
Richmond, Va, became member OF the
Virginia State Sportsmens Association,
and soon stood at the head of the shoot
ing men of that organization. He remain
ed but a year or two in Richmond, ana
then moved to this city. Allusion mas
been made good many times in these col
umns to McAlpin and his wonderful clev-
erness in handling the gun. He says when
acting as a Handicapped l have been in
clined to place him little further back
than he should have been, and that his
record of inanimate targets has given me
a higher opinion of his skill than he de-
served, especially when rated in live bird
contests. Possibly this may be so, for l
confess my opinion of his ability Is
high one. True, his experience in live bird
matters is but matter of couple OF years,
but the record during that time has made
him known of men. A little history of the
George McAlpin was born at Rich
mond Hill, at the homestead of the Schley
family, May "a, 1859, consequently on that
date this year he completes his 3Sth year.
Richmond Hill is but short distance from
Augusta, Ca, and the Schley homestead
Is known to every Georgian. His fam
lily at the close of the lateu npleasantness
moved to Burnside Island, about twelve
miles south of the city of Savannah, where
he passed his early days His father,
Henry McAlpin, was one of the crack Held
shots of Savannah, so George gets his
shooting tastes in direct line. He COM
menced shooting at an early age. 1t may
seem strange, but he owes the possess
sion of his first fowling piece to his skill
when using a bean-shooter. With most
boys this is toy, a plaything, but in
McAlpin's hands it became weapon. He
became so expert in its use that few birds
escaped his aim. friend of his father
saw him shooting by accident, and was
astounded at his skill. That evening he
discussed the matter with the older Ne
Alpin, with the result that George, much
TO his delight, found himself the owner OF
a handsome single-barrel muzzle-loader.
This he shot until he was strong enough
to handle a double-barrel.
THE McAlpin family was no exception
to the majority of those residing at the
south at the close of the war. EVERY
George had to begin HIS shooting career
in most primitive mOnner There were
no hunting dogs, and virtually no stock
from which to obtain them, so McAlpIn
had to go out alone, trusting to his own
hunting instincts TO find the birds.
His shooting at inanimate targets COM
menced in 1884, he becoming a member
of the Chatham Gun Club Of Savannah.
Even in those early days he was always
placed on the first team of the club in
team contests, as he showed that he could
shoot evenly; that Is, make a good rec
ord. no matter what the conditions. Con-
stantly improving in his shooting, with
the practice obtained in club contests, he
won in 1887 and 1855 the championship of
his club, making the highest average
each year. The following year. at the
interstate championship meeting-Georgia
and South Carolina-he!d at ST. Simon's
Island, he made the best score of any.
capturing the handsome gold medal. That
summer he won the gold championship
medal of the Chatham Gun Club, and fol-
lowed up that victory by winning the gold
medal offered for competition by the For
est City Gun club. These victories gave
MIN Ave championship Medals in fact.
all that were given in that section of the
country. This feat had never been ac-
complished before, and has never been
since.
"1n 1890 he removed TO Richmond Va,