The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-13
ARTISTS WITH RIFLE.
Facts About TOepperwein, Whose
Skill Ia Surprisinx Europeans.
Chicago Times-Herall

Adolph Toepperwein. the youngster who
mas been astonishing the Londoners by
craving pictures of Commodore Schley and
other notahles with a target rifle. is Of Ger
man descent. as his name shows. He Is Of
the German type-buriy, blonde blue-eyed
LOYAL and phlegmatic. He is the son of a
small farmer who lives just south OF the
Helotes hills fifteen miles north of San An
ionic. Tex. Ii Is country specially adapt
ed for the development OF perfect sight, the
air being always pure and thin, the light
mellow. and the surface OF the land a con-
slant green from the never-changing cactus
and mesquite. In this country everybody
sees wen. person less than fifty years
old wearing glasses Is looked upon as one
sadly AFFLICTED. l do not think that the dis
tressing instance Of little child peering
through .spectacles has ever existed there
We dwelers In the cities, where night is
turned into day and the winter climate
turns day into night and the eiectrics burn
nearly always, pay dearly for the privilege
Young Toepperwein was known as a re-
Darkahle shot in a community OF good
shots when he was 16 years old He has
been familiar with the rife since he was
big enough to hold one up. and has used It
steadily in the field. where blowing winds
and running shadows and different lights
force man to learn all that there ie 10 be
learned of the science OF projectile hurting
He is not only a strangely efficient long
distance shot. but he is a wonderful trick
shot. and 1t Is trick-shooting that he is
doing on the other side OF the water Sew
ering swinging strings, ana splitting bullets
snuffing lighted candles fifty wards away,
and boring holes through silver dollars
tossed in air are matters OF everyday prac-
tice with him. 1t should be said Of him.
too. that in these exhibitions he uses al
ways the single ball Of 30 calihre Many
persons who have seen William F. Cody
career around the ring. smashing glass
balls with a Winchester carhine are not
aware that the colonel uses a shell loaded
with fine shot. but that is what he does
He does not use the single bail In the car
bine for two reasons: He could not hit
anything with II except at infrequent in
tervals. and the Winchester bullet has a
habit OF flying a mile or so and killing the
inoffens've stranger who ia standing on tho
corner not meaning any harm
Toepperwein. before he took 10 shooting
as business. had dreams Of becoming
what he called "a artist" meaning thereby
a newspaper cartoonist. He used to prac-
tice on the San Antonio Express furnish
irg II with ueat-axe Illustrations for the
glory OF seeing them signed "Tep" in large
flowing letters IN the lower right-hand cor
ner. The picture OF Commodore Schlev
which he makes with 200 bullets fired with
wonderful rapiity from target rife is
not a speaking likeness. II IS good 10 label
II "schleey." because II could be taken as
readily for Louis Napoleon or anv other
man who ever wore an Imperial" but Il is
better work. from the view point o: resent
hlance. deiicacv Of line, purity Of method.
that than the remarkable figures with
which ne used 20 adorn the Express. He
draws better with a hulie, than with the
lead pencil or carver.
4 com lively restricted territory has
produced three s!ngie-hAll shots who are
probably the greatest the world has ever
known. Toepperwein - ore OF them. 4
boy named Petmecky ia another. This
youth. who Is now in his early twenties Is
the son Of an Austin (Texasl eunsmith
Young Petrnecky il as remarkable fer the
rapiaity. OF his firing as for its accuracy.
He Is abe. In the picturesque Language Of
the South west almost 70 melt the hallets
together In the barrel" man cannot
count the shots he fires waen going at fun
sperd any more than he can count the heats
In drum roll. a favorite feat Of Ma is 20
to<s brick IN the air. break II in two, and
then break both peceS before they strike
the ground. This feat IS especially re-
rnarkable because nobody can toss a whole
brick 20 a great height. and the shooting
niue. ~ .nne with in~oncelvable rapiittv.
have never known any other person able
20 rspeat this performance. and l do not be-
ievs that T0epperwein can do il.