The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-02
snAFTER A GOOD SHOT.
His Joke on the Colonel In Command
of Rival Regiment.

Colonel Thomas ii. Barry, adjutant- general
TO MajorGeneral Otis, before leaving for
Manila, told good story OF Major General
Skaters shooting In the days when he was a
colonel on the Mexican border. A day be.
fore he took ship for the Philippines Barry,
with Brigadier.General Hughes and Chron.
tcle representative, discussing Skaters gal.
lantry before Santiago, said:
81 was Skaters aide 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 rcgi.
mcnt, 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 1t apparent
to us that he esteemed himself about as ex-
pert marksman as ever pulled trigger.
We secretly laughed at his opinion of him.
self, and whispered to each other, Just wait
till Pecos Bill gets after him.
"Well, his time came. One morning Shat
ter and started out TO ride forty miles or
more to another post, and the visitor asked
to BIZ 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 service and had one
strapped to my saddle. The conversation
drifted from the topography of the country
TO Workmanship, and the officer-call him
smith-said, Say, colonel, have you got any
shots In your regiment?'
"Shafter smiled and replied: Have II?
Why, I've got some men that can discount
the sharpshooters you read about--offioers
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 sprang up quarter
OF a mile away, and all, seeing 1t ut the same
moment. reached for their carbines. shafter
was quickest, and In a second adjusted the
sights to 900 feet and blazed away. Down
came Mr.. Antelope, ana when we rode up to
whore he lay we found a bullet oyer 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 the
other ofiicersAn your regiment, colonel?'
"'No,' said sbafter. Pm ashamed of my.
self alongside Of them
"a couple of hoars later another antelope
appeared, but further away. Smith fidgctcd
a moment, and then said. eagerly, Colonel,
may go after him?'
'Pshawl You wouldn't chase him on
horseback at that distance, exclaimed Shat.
ser, seizing his weapon and levcling II as he
spoke. 'I'll put lead in his head
"He fired and we saw the animal bound
,way. Smith was glecfui. "A little high,
,olonel,' he shouted as we galloped on
Reaching the place where the game had
'een, we were on high, rising piece of
round, and, looking down ffty feet, Shafter
'ointed to dark object and said guess
'ot the head
"sure enough. the antelope was lying dead
With bullet through his left ear. smith
ooked as disgustcdas any man ever saw. |
"'And the officers are better9' he qucricd.
"shafter's eyes twinklcd. Lieutenant |
mith, he replied, with assumed sternness,
want you to say nothing OF this at the post.
ought to have hit him In the eye. and feel
shsmed of my poor aim
"sinith. who had no sense OF humor. was
For years after he spread the
'me OF Colonel shafter as marksman far
nd widc."-ssn Francisco Chronicle.