Arizona republican., 1898-02-27

ter three hours sleep we were called and after a hurried breakfast tCOk our seats in a bus that had been provided for the use of the shooters, and shortly after we were landed at the grounds, which are by far the best equipped in the two territories. For inanimate targets five expert traps with electric pulls are used The live bird g ounds are immediately in front of the other traps The horizon is unobstructed in all directions. A target thrown or a bird rising is easily defined against the background of the sky. This is very important matter to shooters and tends to make the Tucson grounds the best. A neat little club house with shed attached is fitted with racks for the guns and seats for the shooters. On one side of this is small grand stand for the spectators. And last, but not least, large tent with table and ample seating capacity in which edibles of all sorts were to be had to satisfy the inner man at all times of the day. Taken altogether the grounds are as complete as one could ask for. Another thing, the Tucson boys know how to conduct a tournament. After our inspection of the grounds as a warm up we shot a couple of extra sweepstakes. At this time the wind began to blow 9 perfect gale, thus cutting out the prospect of any high scores The two inportan. events of the day were the live bird individual championship badge and the team shoot On the live bil event we boys from Phoenix expected Jo1, tO do nf h hno yr,-ly but unfortunately for Joe, he dropped it left the responsibility resting with the balance of us. Morin lost his grip and it remained to Aitken and Chubb to fight it out for Phoenix. Mean while most of the other shooters had dropped one or two birds, virtually putting. them out of the race. Aiken finally drew screamer and missed leaving only Chubb with straight score At this stage of the game the medal was sure to come to Phoenix, as the three high men were Chubb, Aitken and Holmes, consequently we from Phoenix were happy. Chubb missed his twelfth bird, which, although hit by both barrels, dropped dead out of bounds. It was now a tie between Chubb and Aitken and it continued so until the last bird. Aitken drew a hard straightaway low bird, and al- though hit hard it succeeded in pass ing the boundary His last unfortu- nate miss gave the medal to Chubb The birds were a picked lot, all old ones, and all blue. With this class of birds and the hard wind that was blowing at the time it made shooting difficult. Of the merchandise prizes Holmes won the canvas decoys and Aitken the gun case. Meyer of Tue son won the shooting blouse. Evi- dent1y it is in this class of shooting that the Phoenix boys shine, as they took the medal, first, second and third prizes. The three highest averages in all the live bird shooting were Holmes, 92 per cent; Chubb, 90 per cent; Aitken, S5 per cent.
 The team event was where the Tue son boys got in their work and won with several birds to spare Of tho Phoenix boys, all fell below their aver age-Morin about 12, Aitken 6, Chubb and Holmes about 9 Out of a pos sible 200 (thirty singles and ten pairs) Tucson scored total of 149 to Phoe- nix 137
 The second day was devoted to sweepstake shooting, out of which, as the scores show, the Phoenix boys gos their share. In every event they were in first, second and third money
 The main event the third day was the individual blue rock medal. This was won by Charles Meyer of Tucson. It was a very hot number. Weber of Tucson started out with 19 straight and it looked as though he had it sure but he missed the next five, putting him out altogether. Holmes then be- gan to crawl up, as did Aitken, but both dropped sufficient to just lose Meyer finished with 23 out of the 25 possible; Holmes and Aitken with 22 Chubb and Wilding with 21. In the shoot off for the merchandise prizes Holmes won the Colts revolver; Ait ken the ammunition case and 100 load ed shells and Chubb the Eastman camera. Following the medal event the Hollowell trophy was shot for this being a handicap event, it was of every one Uncle Jim Finley won ii
 cap of 13 but did not need it, as his
 score was almost as good as the scratch men.
 After the last event had been sho1
 off we were instructed to meet al Hart'sF gun store at 8 p. m. and a tig
 was given us not to eat anyth .ns
 meanwhile. We were promptly oI hand and were escorted over to Sic
 bert's, where everything was in readi
 ness for the feast. MT. James Finle.
 was toastmaster. Several speeches
 were made by prominent Tucsonits'
 and a general good time indulged in
 Following the banquet the annua
 meeting of the association was callet
 to order MT. James Finley was cleo