The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-05


that since his time conditions have won
derfully changed and been made harder
for the shooter.
Many men have essayed to I'll the
place left vacant by Macalester's retire
ment. but no onevseemed TO be able TO
fill the position until recently. Lately
there has swept across the pigeon shoot
ing armament with the speed OF the
swiftest of low drivers "A man whom
many consider as fit successor TO Mac
alester. This is George S. McAlpin, who
last year came second TO Robert A.
Welch at the amateur championship
contest and would probably have been
first but for the unfortunate fact that
he lost his temper over a trifie the first
day and thus spoiled his shooting.
At the contest for the amateur cham
pionship held on the 22d and 23d OF last
month at the grounds of the Carteret
Gun club T. ID. Hooper won the title.
with a score OF SS. The competition was
the kecnest since the event became a
fixture. McAlpin again finished in Sec
ond place. a single point behind. Bob"
WEIGH. last years champion. was third
with SO. Before the last round McAlpin
and Welch, who were tied for second
place, agreed to divide second and third
moneys. McAlpin killed his bird, but
welch failed TO down his fiier within
the boundary.
McAlpin is the only amateur now
shooting at 81 yards and has never
been beaten in match, though he has
been up against some OF the hardest
men to defeat in this country.
His expertness is all the more won-
derful owing TO the fact that until only
a little over two years ago he had new
er shot at live pigeons. all his shooting
at his home in Georgia being done at
clay pigeons. Any one who has done
much shooting will readily see the
handicap ne was under and will appre-
ciate all the more his wonderful skill
acquired in so short a time.
In reply TO the question as TO ha~-aa-
became an expert so quickIST Mr.. Nc
Alpin said:
There is only one way to become an
expert pigeon shot, and that is by con-
stant practice. | practice whenever
get a chance. Sometimes when l am in
my bedroom and happen to notice my
gun in the corner i get into position
and aim at some object on the wall.
Then 1 pull the trigger just as | would
is pulled / find that my aim is still true.
know l am in trim, for IL / can hold
my gun steadily aimed while I pull the
trigger at a plnhole on the wall il fol-
lows that i can do il at a much larger
object farther away. The reason why
great many amateurs do not become
experts is because they do not practice
constantly.
Another thing necessary to expert
ness is to stand in q proper position.
Then, when properly placed and your
gun ready, you can give the word and
in whatever direction the bird may fly
you can get good shot at him. Most
amateurs do not stand properly when
shooting. consequently when the birds
fly in certain directions they cannot get
good shots ar them. Jack Brewer show
ed me the proper position in which TO
stand one day, and have never needed
another lesson. However. as i'm most
other sports, il is very hard to get
amateurs TO practice. They don't seem
TO realize what the word really means.
Or. f. G. Wilson OF Savannah, the
champion rifle shot OF the United States,
is dentist and has very little spare
time. His office window looks out in the
direction OF the largest church in the
town. and he aims his gun at the ball
on the stceple, and that is practically
all the practice he ever gets.