The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-11-03
sHAFTER's SKILL IN SHOOTING.
The Joke He Played on the Colonel Of
. Rival Regiment.

Colonel Thomas II. Barry, adjutant.
general TO Major-G General Otis. tells a
good story Of Major-General Skaters
shooting In the days when he was a
colonel on the Mexican border. A day
before he took ship for the Philippines.
Barry. discussing Skaters gallantry
before Santiago, said:
II was Skaters aid years ago when
we both were bronzlng under the hot
test 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 % acquainted with
Skaters ability in this line, visited the
post and soon made II apparent TO us
that he esteemed himself about as ex-
pert a mark sman as ever pulled a trig-
ger. We secretly laughed al his
opinion OF himself and whispered to
each other. Just walt till Pecos gets
after him.
We'll. his time came. One morning
Shafter aud | started out 10 ride forty
miles or more to another post. and the
visitor asked to be allowed to accom-
pany 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 earbines
on such service and | had one strapped
to my saddle. The conversation drift
al from the topography Of the country
to craftsmanship. aud the oficer-eall
him Smlth-ssid. Say. Colonel. have
you got any shots In your regimentr
'Shafter 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 my
self. hut when you get back TO the fort.
I'll tell n few Of the good ones 10 show
you a thing or two
Just then an antelope sprang up a
quarter Of n mile away, and all seeing IL
at the same mOment reached for their
carblnes. Shafter was quickest II la
a second adjusted the sights to go feet
and blazed away. Down came Mr.. An
telope. and when We rode up to where
.ie lay. we found Il bullet over his heart.
smith examined tile wound. looked
over the carblne and then muttered,
half aside. Not bad. You say you're
not In 1t with other officers In your regi-
ment. ColonelT
NO said Shafter. I'm ashamed Of
myself alongside OF them
"A couple of hours later another ante
lope appeared. but farther away. Smith
aHKAsat a fa.VnAnf and than aat1 80 gaF.
~: Colonel. may | 90 after hlmT
"'Pshaw, You wouldn't chase him
on horseback at that distance ex-
claimed Shnfter. SELLING the weapon
and levellng IL as he spoke. III 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
galloped on. Reaching the place where
the game had been. we were on a high
rising piece OF ground. and. looking
down nifty feet. Shafter pointed to a
dark object and said quietly: 1 guess
| got the head
Sure enough. the antelope was lying
dead. with a bullet through his left ear.
Smith looked as disguised as any man
| ever saw.
And the officers are betterf" he
queried.
Skaters Eyes twlnkled. 'LIeuten-
ant 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.
'Smith. who had no sense Of hum0r,
was dumfounded. For years after he
spread the fame of Colonel Shafter as
a marksman far and wide.-San Fran
cisco Chronicle.