The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-10-15
GENERAL SKATERS JOKE.
How He Gave On Exhibition of His CHI
crrins Marksmaiiship.

Colonel Thomas H. Barry, adiutant-
general to Major-General Otis, before
leaving for Manila told a good story Of
Major Skaters shooting in
the days when he was colonel on the
Mexican border, A day before he
took ship for the Philippines Barry,
with Brigadier- General Hughes and a
Chronicle representative, discussing
Skaters gallantry before Santiago,
said:
'I was Skaters aide three years
ago when we both were bronzing
under the hottest 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 Skaters ability
in this line, visited the post and socn
made it apparent to us that he es-
teemed himself about as expert q
marksman as ever pulled trigger.
We secretly laughed at bis 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 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 carbines on such SER
vice, and T had one strapped to my
saddle. The conversation drifted from
the topography Of the country to
craftsmanship, and the oficer-ca:l
him Smith-said: Say, colonel, have
you got any shots in your regiment?
'sShafter 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
myself, but when you get back to the
fort I'll tell few Of the good ones to
show you thing OF two
t'Just then an antelope sprang up a
quarter of mile away, and all seeing
! it at the same moment reached for
their carbines. Shafter was quickest,
and in a 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 bullet
hole over his heart. .-,
ssSnlith 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
ga couple of hours later another
antelope appeared, but farther away.
Smith idgeted moment and then
said eagerly, Colonel, may I go after
him?'
." 'Pshaw. You wouldn't chase
him on horseback at that distance,
exclaimed Shafter, seizing the weapon
and leyelling it as he spoke. I'll put
lead in his head
''He fired and we saw the animal
bound away. Smith was sleeful.
a little high, colonel he shouted as
we galloped on. Reaching the place
where the game had boen, we were
on high rising piece OF ground, and,
looking down fifty feet, Shafter,pointed
to dark object and said quietly, I
guess T got the head ..-.
"Sure enough, the antelope T's
lying dead, with bullet hole through
his left ear. Smith looked as dis
gusted as any man I ever saw.
and the officers are better: he
queried.
"Shafter's eyes twinkled. Lieut..
Smith, he replied, with assumed
sternness, I 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 w
Smith, who had no sense of humor,
was dumfounded. For years after
he spread the fame Of Colonel Shafter
as marksman far and wide. San
Francisco Chronicle.