Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-10-01
SKATER A GOOD SHOT.
His Joke on the Colonel IN Command
of a Rival Regiment. ..

of q Rival ReE1m ept.
Colonel Thomas H. Barry, adjutant
general to Major General Otis, before
leaving for Manila told good story Of
Major General Shafter' shooting in the
days when he was colonel on the Mex
lean border. 4 day before he took ship
for the Philippines Barry, with Briga-
der General Hughes and Chronicle
representative discussing Skaters gal
lantry before Santiago, said:
81 was Skaters aid years ego when
we both were bronzing under the hot
test sun that shines in these states.
Shafter was known as the best shot not
only in his regiment, but in the whole
country about One day an officer from
another regiment not acquainted with
Shafter's ability in this line visited the
post and soon made it apparent to us
that he esteemed himself about as ex-
pert marksman as ever pulled a trlg-
ger. We secretly laughed at his opinion
Of himself and whispered to each other,
Just wait till Pecos Bill gets after him.
"Well, his time came. One morning
Shafter and l started out to ride 40
miles or more to another post, and the
visitor asked to be allowed to accom-
pany us. We trotted along easily until
about noon, when we halted to eat our
luncheon, which we packed with US.
At that time officers carried short car
bines on such service and had one
strapped to my saddle. The CONVERSE
tion drifted from the topography Of the
country to craftsmanship and the Off
cer-call him Smith-said, Say, colo
mel, have you got any shots in your regi-
ment?'
"Shafter smiled and replied: Have
I? Why, I've got some men that can
discount the sharpshooters you read
about-officers too. I'm not much my
self, 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 sprang up
quarter of a mile away, and all, seeing
it at the same moment, reached for their
carbines. Shafter was quickest, and in
second adjusted the sights to 600 feet
and blazed away. Down came Mr.. An
telope, and when we rode up to where
lie lay we found a bullet over his heart.
"Smith examined the wound, looked
over the carbine, and then muttered
half aside: Not bad. You say you're
not in it with other officers in your regi-
ment, colonel?'
"'No, said Shafter. I'm ashamed of
myself alongside of them.
ga couple of hours later another an
telope appeared, but further away.
Smith fdgeted moment, and then said
eagerly, Colonel, may I go after him.
Pshaw You wouldn't chase him
on horseback at that distance, ex-
claimed Shafter, Selling his weapon and
leveling it as he spoke. I'LL put lead in
his head
He fired, and we saw the animal
bound away. Smith was gleeful. A
little high, colonel, he shouted as we
galloped on. Reaching the place where
the game had been. we were on high,
rising piece of ground, and looking
down so feet Shafter pointed to dark
objects and said, Il guess I got the head. ;
"Sure enough, the antelope was lying
dead with bullet through his left ear.
Smith looked as disguised as any man
ever saw.
"'And the officers are better? he
queried.
"Shafter's eyes twinkled. Lieutenant
Smith, he replied with assumed stern
ness, 4 want you to say nothing of this
at the post. ought to have hit him in
the eye, and feel ashamed of my poor
aim.
"Smith, who had no sense of humor,
was dumfounded. For years after he
spread the fame of Colonel Shafter as a
marksman far and wide. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.