The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-09
Pistol Champion Is Now Visiting
Honolulu.
HAS BEATEN ALL Corners
Great Collection of Trophies - T.
n. Benton-A Notable Rattle
A Private Exhibition.

Few Honolulu people know that the
champion pistol shot of the world is At
present in this city. But T. H. Benton,
now at the Hawaiian Hotel, holds that
title, and has successfully defended it
against all corners for many years.
Yesterday, with few friends, he
went down to the beach road and did
some practicing. An inch circle was
drawn on a piece OF paper and placed
at a distance Of thirty-eight feet.
Without apparently taking aim, Mr..
Benton leveled his revolver and fired
five shots in thirty seconds. Every
one hit the circle. The next feat was
TO shoot at the same sized circle, this
time at a distance of 100 feet Eight
shots were fired in rapid succession.
When the card was examined it was
found to have been pierced in eight
places inside the circle. After some
other shots he returned to the hotel.
While alighting from the hack he was
unfortunate enough to sprain his wrist
severely.
Mr.. Benton is marvel. He is a man
of apparently forty years of age. His
manners are quiet and unassuming.
At a casual glance no one would take
him for the worlds premier pistol shot.
However, after taking a good look into
his clear blue eyes one would hesitate
about trying to ''get the drop" on him.
He could shoot almost as we'll when
he was nine years old as he can now.
His wonderful ability is a gift; it did
not come by training. He shoots ap-
parently without taking aim. One
gance at an object is sufficient He
will take one look at his target, and
may then turn around and talk for a
time. Suddenly he will wheel about,
pull the trigger, and the result is d
dead center.
| He has met all the champions of var
| ious countries and has always won his
| contests. Now his great difficulty is
getting a match. One of his last con-
tests was with Mexico's champion. The
| target was a three-Quarter inch circle
at 100 feet The Mexican fired his six
shots and never even hit the paper.
Mr. Benton fired one, a center, and the
| match was ended.
| On his watchchain he wears as a
charm a miniature, perfect working
six-shooter. It is about inches long
and is complete in every detail. The
cartridges that go with it contain a
very high explosive and will penetrate
cigar box at twenty PAGES. This was
presented to him by a German official
after having defeated the champion OF
| that country.
| Mr.. Benton has been in all the hard
towns of the Wild West. He is full OF
Interesting anecdotes of frontier life
Many quarrels and disputes which
would have probably terminated fatal
| ly have been stopped by him giving a
slight exhibition of his craftsmanship
| The champion has amassed com
Portable fortune through his exhibit
lions and contests. He has guns and
medals galore, all trophies. On one oc-
casion he ratified off 100 shotguns al
one time. He devoteS his time now tC
introducing the latest products of the
| large American arms concerns. Al
present he has a young" Calling
which may be used as a revolver or
rifle. 1t fires eight shots in thirty sec
onds.
Mr.. Benton has been here about two
weeks This is not his first trip to
Honolulu, he having been here two
years ago. He will probably get away
by the Gaelic.