The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01

Should the threatened war with
Spain resolve itself into a stern reality
San Francisco will have among it's de-
tenders one of the most unique and
powerful organizations that the world
has ever known. 1t will number among
it's members dozens of champion rifle
shots, men who have won worldwide
regulations before the targets, as well
as in actual warfare. Though the
company of warriors will not number
over 200, it is probable that no regiment
in the world could stand before its
fire for more than very few moments.
Philo Jacoby, the veteran rifle shot,
who is known throughout the length
and breadth of the land as one of the
greatest marksmen the world ever
produced, has been secretly organizing
the company since the complications
with Spain began to take on belliger-
ent tone Jacoby chose his recruits
from among the men whom he knew
were dead shots at anything inside of
500 yards.
His long experience before the range
and his acquaintance with the crack
shots of the shooting organizations OF
this coast told him whom to see and few
men to whom he spoke regarding the
join.
Among those who have signed the
roll Jacoby has prepared are Colonel
Beaver of the California Bank; Colonel
H. j. Burns, who served in the Civil
War; A. Strecker, who has won the
proud title of Shooting King; Will
liam Ehrenpfort, one of the veteran
rifle shots of the coast; A. Rahwyler,
the champion of one of the German
shooting organizations; John Utschig,
who is certain to center a man at any
distance within reach of his rifle; l..
c. Babin, Otto Burmeister and a
hundred more.
The idea of the founder of the COM
pany is to organize quietly and in such
a manner that the city, the State or the
Federal Government shall not be COM
PEELED to spend a cent in the arming
and equipping of the organization.
Each man will furnish his own rifle,
ammunition and uniform, and all are
ready to take the field on a days no
tice. Philo JacoDy explained how he
came to form the organization last
evening.
Since the trouble with Spain began
to look Serious he said, Il have been
circulating among my friends finding
out their feelings regarding the mat
war is declared, will be the strongest
in the world. Every man in
it has a regular record as a
marksman and the foe who confronts
his rifle within 500 yards must certain
ly go down. Such men as Strecker,
who has made a worlds record at the
range; UtSchig, EhrenpfOrt and Babin,
if formed into a company, would make
formidable opponents to enemies who
outnumbered them five to one. We
are all men of means, or at least able
to furnish our own arms and equip
ments,, and all we ask is an oppor-
tunity to take the field against Spain
or any other foreign enemy. Every
man whom I have selected has signed
an agreement to be ready on twenty
four hours notice with his rifle and
cartridges, and though we will num-
Der but 200 men it will go hard with
any full regiment that dares to OPP
pose us. We have decided on the name
of California Sharpshooters."
The promoter of the California Sharp
shooters was in his day one of the most
remarkable markSmen known, and dur
ing the Centennial Exposition of 1876
won the championship of the world
from the teams of a dozen countries
for the California SchuetZen Club of
this city. The performance was a
| most extraordinary one under the cir
circumstances by which it was made.
Up to the last shot in the competition
California was beaten and it took a
dead center to win the honors for the
Golden West. Jacoby, as the crack
| shot OF the team, was the man on
| whom the great responsibility rested
Three times he picked up his trusty
rifle and three times he laid it down