Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-03
eHAFTER,D MARKsMANDMIP.
The Jeks He Played On Al O0esr 81 .
B1val Regiment.

Colonel Thomas H. Barry, adjutant
general to Major General Otis, now on
the way to Manila, before leaving told
a good story Of Major General Shat
ter's shooting in the days when he
was a colonel on the Mexican border,
says the San Francisco Chronicle. A
day before he took ship for the Phil
:ppines, Barry, with Brigadier Cen
eral Hughes and Chronicle repre-
sentative, discussing Skaters gal-
lantry before Santiago, said:
II was Skaters aid years ago
when we both were bronzing under
the hottest sun that shines in these
states. Shafter was l;,-ow.l 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 Skaters ability
in this line, visited the post and soon
made it apparent to us that he es-
teemed himself about as expert IL
marksman as ever pulled trigger.
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 morn
ing Shafter and | started out to ride
forty miles or more to another post,
and the visitor asked to be allowed
to accompany lbs. We trotted along
easily until about noon, when we halt
ed to eat our luncheon, which we
packed with us. AT that time otficera
carried short carbines on such SER
vice and had one strapped to my
saddle. The conversation drifted
from the topography of the country
to Workmanship, and the officer
CALI him smith-said, Say, colonel,
nave you got any shots in your regi-
ment?
"Shafter smiled and replied: Have
1? Why, I've got some men that can
discount the sharpshooters you read
about. Officers. too. I'm not much
myself, but when you get back to the
fort I'll ten a few Of the good ones
to show you thing or two
Just then an antelope sprang up
a quarter Of a mile away, and all
seeing it at the same moment reached
for their carbines. Shafter was quick
est and in second adjusted the
sights to 600 feet and blazed away.
Down came Mr.. Antelope, and when
we rode up to where HE 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
regiment, colonel?
"'No, said Shafter, I'm ashamed
of myself alongside OF them 4
"A couple of hours later another
antelope appeared, but further away
Smith fdgeted a moment and then
said eagerly, Colonel, may go after
him?'
"Pshaw! You wouldn't chase him
on horseback at that distance, ex-
claimed Shafter. Selling the weapon
and leveling 1t as he spoke. I'm 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
gaqloped on. Reaching the place
where the game had been, We were
on high rising piece of ground, and,
looking down fifty feet, Shafter point
ed to dark object and said quietly,
4 guess l got the head
"Sure enough, the antelope was ~
ING dead, with bullet through his
left ear. Smith looked at me dis
pusted as any man ever saw.
"'And the officers are better? be
queried.
"shafter's eyes twinkled. Lieuten-
ant Smith, he replied, with assumed
sternness, I want you to say moth
ing of this at the post. ! ought to
have hit him in the eye, and l feel
ashamed OF my poor aim
Smith, who had no sense OF hu-
NOR, was dumfounded. For years
after he spread the fame OF Colonel
Shafter as a marksman far and
v;dan