The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14
Cracks mt Long Range.

In the war Of secession the Southern
ers somehow obtained possession of a large
number Of Whitworth rifles with tele-
SCOPE sights, such as in those days were
used for match shooting, says the New
York Press In order to place these ri
ies in the most capable hands, Gen Ber-
dan instituted kind of "Bsley Rifle
Meeting" and gave the weapons as prizes.
The winners used these splendid firearms
with wonderful execution at long ranges
against the Northerners.
On one occasion Col. X noticed a
NOrtherner perched in a tub upon the top
of high pole. He was busy using his
flag signals.
the best shot in his command and asked:
DO you think you can stop that man
signalling?"
IN Try. Colonel, but he's a long way
off, was the reply.
Having adjusted his telescope sight he
fired.
The officers wfo had gathered around
saw the splinters fly from the pole a yard
beneath the tub.
L guess IN raise her a couple of de-
grees,'' said the old fellow, adjusting the
sight. He again fired and the signaller
threw up his arms and disappeared into
his tub
~
sition, and upon the man being taken from
the tub he was found to be shot through
the center of the chest. The Colonel had
the distance measured and 1t proved to
be more than 1900 yards
On another occasion this same scout
brought in eight prisoners, whom he
drove before him to the ColonePs tent. He
had taken them single-handed, and had
accomplished the feat in the following
manner:
He was sitting GA the bank of a river
among some rocks, waiting, as was his
wont, to get a shot at an enemy, when
he saw boatload of ''Yanks'' rowing up
against sluggish stream.
He lay down behind a rock and shot
the steersman, which made his comrades
seize their rifles and look around to see
where the shot came from, and while they
We're wondering, down went another In
this way he picked off several men, while
those in the boat had nothing but his
smoke to aim at
Presently he shouted: Throw your arms
overheard and pull ashore here or you
are all dead men,
Over went their rifles and they landed
and surrendered TO the old man.
A remarkable circumstance in connec-
ton with a strange shooting feat is re-
lated of time when the two armies were
intrenched within speaking distance of
each other. This caused a useless loss of
life by the adversaries firing at each
other directly a head or hand was exposed.
II was therefore agreed between the COM
manders that at noon each day truce
should be held for the space of half an
hour, so that the men on either side
might have a meal in comfort and free
from the monotonous and incessant vigil
lance caused by the firing.
One day a Southerner was long over
his coffee and bread, which he took sit
ting on the edge of the trench, a fact
which was noted by one of the Northern
ers, who said to his neighbors:
See me make that Johnny Reb jumpW
He raised his rifle and aimed at the tin
coffee cup in the Southerner's hand. He
hit it and so startled the man that he fell
into the trench
There was a great commotion at the
spot for minute or two, and then
voice hailed:
Say there, Yank,. you've killed our
man."
THAT be darned," came back the reply.
Il hain't shot al him even. I only knocked
the cup out of his paw"
That's all right" answered the reb,
but the crust he had in his mouth slip
ped down his throat and choked him!