The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-14
THE SILHOUETTE TARGET.
Georgia Rifiemen DO Not Like Them
as Wen ms the Old style.


The Sea Critters, who returned recently,
were kept pretty busy on the streets yes
terday receiving the congratulations Of
their friends and telling how they man
aged to do 1t. They are all bringing back
interesting stories Of their experiences
there and RECALLING their friends with the
details of the different matches.
Private c. s. Richmond would certainly
have brought back he pistol match prize
this year for the fourth time. they oil re-
marked, had it not been for the fact that
he was SO heavily handicapped, the other
contestants having been given fifty points
over him on account of the fact that he
used special pistol Barring the handi-
cap, however. MIR Rchmonds shooting
with the pistol beat every hing that APP
peared on the range.
II may not be generally known here, but
1T Is well known fact 90 the Sea Girt
men, that up to the time the Wimbledon
cup was won by Capt. George 7. Cam for
the best shooting al 1903 yards, 1t was in
pawn in New York The cup was won
four years in succession by a New York
rineman named Gaus, and 1t is supposed
that he considered il his own property.
A search had 20 be made for il, and the
finally located, und it was recovered.
Lieut.. f. C. Wilson brought 1t back to Sa-
vannah this year, and it muy be that IL
Will remain here now for some years TO
come.
Lieut.. Wilson, who is one of the ablest
shots among those who represented Geor-
gia, said that the Georgia shots did not
like the new targets with the silhouette
figure so well as the old style with the
bulls eye in the center, principally for the
reason that they made competition less
difficult, and therefore did not give so
great chance to the most expert rifle
men. The reason for this is that the fig
ures are more easily hit after the target
Is once learned than the bu.lseye. The sill
houette figures are al the bottom of the
target and on the 200 and 300-yard ranges
they represent the figure of man lying
down, while on the 500 and 600-yard targets
they represent the figure of a man kneel-
Ing. The particular advantage claimed for
the target, he said was that it is more
practical, but when it comes to expert
shooting he thinks the old style bullseye
target is far superior as a test. Another
difficulty with the silhouette target is that
it presents such a large field of black that
various devices have to be resorted to in
taking proper aim. One of the favorte
methods for doing this was to set the site
up to a point for a distance twenty yards
the bottom of the silhouette figure. Thus
for instance, a man has his gun set for
go yards when he Is really shooting at a
200-yard target. The old style target will
be used in the coming matches on the
Avondale ranges between the Savannah
and New York teams
Lieut.. Wilson spoke very highly of the
new bullets used by he members of the
Georgia team, and said some very good re-
suits were accomplished with it. He said
it leads the gun slightly more then the
old bullet, but this, he thinks, can be OBJ
waited by the application of a little more
grease. This bullet, invented by capt ].
c. Postell, was formerly called the "Geor-
gia Special" but 1t IS understood the in
ventor has now applied for a patent and
it will be known hereafter as the Postell
bullet
There is no doubt but that the laurel
crowned Sea Critters will Ssceive the ova-
ton to which their achievements have so
undeniably entitled them. At the regular
monthly meeting of the Guards last night,
at which number of the riflemen were
present, Col Garrard told the battalion
that a reception would be rendered the
team as soon as all or most of its mem
bers have returned. Some of those st!ll
away will probably prolong their trips and
may not return until next month.
The reception will be a military affair.
and it is proposed to secure the presence
of the board Of aldermen and city officials,
in order to make the affair municipal
demonstration, and of the governor in or
der to give the state an
opportunity to share IN honoring her sons
who have represented her with such sig
nal success. An invitation will be ex-
tended the governor and his staff 10 be
present as additional Importance as a mil
itary event VIII thus be given the ocea-
sion. 1t is desired that an opportunity may
be afforded these officers and any other
members of the state troops TO observe
from the official scores that VIII be COM
piled by Capt. Williamson, what may be
achieved by system and hard work ana
training when exercised upcn material
that naturally has all The qualifications
from which marksmen are made.
II is thought that reception of the
character 1t is intended this shall bear
will be influential in awakening a renewed
interest in rife practice throughout the
state.
WILL HETAIN THE CONTRACT.