The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-10-13
shaf,sr . Good Shot

Coloncl Than. II, Barry, sdla,ah
general 10 M.lor General ots, before lea
ius for Msnil. told = sooi story OF Msio
General Skaters shooting ia The day
when be ". . oolonel ou the McIiesl
border. A day before be took ship 10
the Philippines Barry, With Bfissdie
General Hughes aud Chronicle repr,
sentative. discussing Skaters ssllanir,
before Santiago. said;
Was Skaters aid years sgo when ",
both we're bror zing nnder the hottest sur
that shines 10 these states. Sbsiter ws'
kaown Ms The best shot not only In bis
regiment, but in the whole country about.
One day an officer from another regiment
not acquainted with Skaters ability 10
this line visited the post aud soon made
1t apparent to us tba. hs esteemed himself
about as expert msrksmsn as ever pull
cd the irigget Wa secretly laughed at
his opinion OF himself and whispered TO
each other, Jnst wait till Pecos Bill gets
after him.
Well. bis time came. One morning
Shsiter aud started ont to ride 40 miles
or more TO another post, and the visitor
asked to be allowed to accompany us. We
trotted along easily until about noon,
when we halted TO eat our luncheon,
which we packed with u.s. At that time
officers carried short csrbines on such ser
vice. and had one strapped to my sad
die. The conversation drii ed from the
topography Of the country TO marksmsn-
ship, and the officer call him Smith
said, Say, colonel. have you got any shots
In your reRiment9
Shsiter smiled and replied; Have II
Why, I've got some men that can dis
count the sharpsboolers you read about
officers too. I'm not much myself. but
when you get back to the fort I'll tell few
OF the good ones TO show you thing or
two.
just then an antelope sprsng up guar
ter OF nile away, and all. seeing il at
the same time, reached for their carbines
Shaiier was quickest. and in second Nd
justel the sights to 600 fee. and blszed
away. Down came Mr.. Antelope. and
when we rode mp to where he lay we found
. bullet over his heart
Smith examined the wound, looked over
the carbine. and then muttered half aside
Not bad You soy yonr not in it with
other officers in your regiment. colonel'
No, said Shaiter. I'm ashamed OF my
self slongcide Of ,hcm,
A couple OF hours later another antelope
but further away Smith tidgei
ed q moment. and then said eagerly,
Colonel may 60 alter him?
PshAw You wouldn't chase him on
horseback at that distance, exclaimed
Shsiter, seizing his weapon and leveling
it as be spoke. III put lead in bis bead
He fred, aud we saw the animal bound
away Smith was slteiul. A little high,
colonel, he shouted as We ealloped on,
the place where the game had
been. We were on high. rising piece of
ground, and looking down 30 feet Shafter
pointed to dark object and said, ! guess
| got the head.
Sure enough. the antelope Vas lying
dead with . ballet thorugh bis left ear.
Smith looked as disgusted as any man
ever saw.
And the tiiicers are better2 he queried.
Skaters eyes twinkled. Lieutenant
Smith. he replied With assumed sternness,
want you to say nothing OF this at the
post lought to have hit him in the eye,
and feel ashamed Of my poor aim.
Smith, who had no sense OF humor, was
iumb founded. For years after he spread
he fame OF Colonel Shsiter as marks.
n an far and wide.