The record-union., 1897-01-02


half seconds Mr. Schwilk you must
shoot at another bird!'
The bird was trapped and ''Parson"
Upson, who manipulated the cords,
asked, Are you ready?"
Before Schwilk could say PULL"
Ruhstaller rushed up and interposed
another challenge.
We'll, what's the matter now?" de-
manded Judge Morrison.
Il want Mr.. Schwilk's cartridges ex-
aminedl" said Ruhstaller. ''It is re-
ported that he is shooting more than
the regulation charge of shot!"
THE challenge is a proper one" said
the Judge. Mr. Schwilk, pass your
cartridges to the referee for exam
nation
The cartridges were handed to Ref
cree Yoerk, who with well-assumed
gravity got out his knife and cut a
strip down the side of one of them.
Gentlemen" he said, addressing the
twenty or more persons present, this
cartridge is palpably irregular-there
is something crooked going on! Mr..
Judge, please examine this ammuni-
ton
And here is the analysis of the con-
tents of the shell: Powder, nit; wads,
3; shot, Is of an ounce; wads, 2; rice,
20 pellets; tacks, ~ dozen; small screws,
5; small iron washers, g. shirt but
tons, f.
Then the crowd roared itself hoarse.
Schwilk was dumfounded. Some
body's been monkeying with my cart
ridgesi" he cried They've been
changed while 1 wasn't looking!"
He was allowed to reload his gun,
the trap was sprung, and a strong,
swift flying blue taller struck out
straight for Mount Diablo. Schwilk
never touched it, of course.
And again the spectators clasped their
sides and rolled over the ground.
Then Pfund went to the score. He
got a fair bird and killed it in good
shape.
II challenge the bird!" cried Nico-
laus "Just before Pfund shot he said
HE'LL That amt allowed by the
rules!'
That's right!'' yelled half-dozen or
more of Schwilks friends; "we heard
Pfund say it!''
Why" retorted the shooter, ''the last
time Schwilk missed bird I heard him
say, The son of a - gun! or some
thing like that I suppose he ought to
get life!''
Come, come, gentlemen" interposed
Judge Morrison, this is supposed to
be friendly match, and let us have
no personalities nor hard feelings on
this bright and beautiful New Years s
Day-a day when we should bury all
animoSties and resolve to begin the new
year.
''Time!" cried Referee Yoerk. ''Mr
Pfund to the score! The challenge is
allowed. The shooter said HE'LL and
therefore he loses his bird. He must
shoot again"
PULL" said Pfund The trap opened
and an incoming right-quartering bird
set out for Antelope Pfund was slight
ly nervous and shot behind it twice,
and away scared the pigeon swiftly
over the tree-tops.
."I demand another bird for Mr..
Pfund!" excitedly cried Ruhstaller.
ION what ground?" asked the Judge
why, on the ground that the shoot
er was interfered with" replied Ruh-
staller, dancing around wildly.
who interfered with him?" inquired
Judge Morrison.
why, the wind, of course! Don't you
see how it's blowing? 1t blew the bird
along so fast that Mr.. Pfund couldn't
get his gun onto it, and so he shot be-
hind! 1 claim he's entitled to another
Bird" And Ruhstaller looked as If
he were ready to fight.
The Judge, referee and scorer held a
consultation over the score-card, and
finding that Schwilk was still one bird
ahead, announced that Mr.. Pfund
would be allowed another bird
This time he killed 1t so dead that
Schwflk was allowed to go to the score.
He missed his bird, but was allowed
another because he didn't know the first
was going to be a taller, or he would
have shot sooner
And SO the race went on. Finally one
of Pfund's cartridges was taken from
his gun and opened. 1t had a trace of
powder, six wads, sand rice, bits of
barbed- wire, etc, and after being Sc
verely rebuked by the Judge for over
leading his shells was permitted to con-
tinue the contest.
At one time three dead birds in sue
cessfon were declared "lost BIRDS on
challenges, though they never f1uttered
after they struck the ground, and in
the case Of two other dead ones the
decisions were reserved until the close
Of the match, as the Judges needed a
margin on which to decide the shoot
a tie.
And thus they finally declared it, al
-
Of his string Of twenty AS a matter
of fact. each scored fully twice that
number. Schwilk apparently having a
little the best of the match.
All in all, it was probablyth funniest
shooting match that ever took place in
this State or elsewhere.