Evening star., 1899-04-10
GOING TO The HANDICAP
Western Trap Shooting Experts Travelling on
aspes;al Train.
Notable Shots VINO VIII Participate
in the Big Evsnt-The Program
nt EIlzwood.

special train 6f Pullman parlor and
drawing room cars arrived at the Balti-
more and Ohio depot from Chicago yester
day morning, bearing on its sides. in big
letters. Great American Handicap, Elk
| wood Park, N. j." The occupants COM
| prised the representative wing shots in the
west, who were on their way to participate
in the most notable live bird shooting con-
test in the American sporting calendar.
! which will be shot off at Elkwood Park,
near Long Branch. beginning Wednesday.
The guide, philosopher and friend of the
travellers was T. P. Hecks, who represents
the Dupont Powder Company in Chicago,
and prominent among them was c. p. Rich
ards the trap editor of the American Field.
| Upon their arrival the ladies and gentle
men were taken in charge by Secretary p.
H. Donnely of the industrial commission,
| who is an old and experienced sportsman
himself, and were shown through the Con-
gressional Library and the Capitol build
The srortsmen expressed confidence in
their ability to take the trophy of the han
| dicaD back to the west with them, and
from the formidable array of trap shooting
| experts in the party their sentiment
seemed well founded. There were many
pleasant inquiries for ''Uncle Billy" Wag
ner of this city, who was one of the eight
men who killed all the twenty-five birds
shot at in the handicap last year, and
hearty wishes were expressed that he will
do as we'll this year. The party left last
night for Long Branch with Mr.. John NJ
| Lilly of Indianapolis, who is also entered
in the match.
The party will return here with its special
| train Friday remaining two or three days,
| and a large number expect to take a trip
| to Old Point Comfort.
The Program at EIkwOod.
The shooting at Elkwood will begin today,
when the gunners will take preliminary
| trials for the big event.
The actual opening of the interstate as
t sociation's shoot will be tomorrow. when
the following program will be decided:
Elkwood Park Introductory BIRDS s.,
entrance birds extra, 30 yards rise, > high
guns.
Nitro powder handicap, u birds. SO en-
trance, birds extra; handicaps in this event
will be the same in the great American
handicap The purse will be divided in
high guns not class shooting, and the
amount of money will be proportioned to
the number of entries in the event.
Shooting will commence at am
Wednesday the G. A Fl. will be started
promptly at O. 1t will take nearly three
days to finish this event. so that in all
probability the ownership of the hand
some trophy donated by the interstate as
sociation will not be decided until well on
in the afternoon of Friday, April Ii
I The conditions fors' the event are for 81
live birds, the entries handicapped accord
ing to their records from - to 81 yards;
so entrance for a purse of a guaranteed
value of $1,5o0 class Shooting. Last year
Mr.. William WaghsEA Of this city shooting
from the 27-yard mark, killed % birds
straight, being, as sta ted, one of the eight
VINO accomplished ':tns.. unusual feat He
participated in headivision of first money.
which amounted to nearly $500 This year
Mr. Wagner will probably be required TO
sfoct from the 9s-yard line He will
also shoot in the Introductory event and
the nitro fIandica Di tomorrow.
More Entries Than Ever.
The mail entries closed with 266 names
and. as there are, tIsu3lly a few post en-
tries, the number VIII probably reach a75.
Last year there weFe 26r77' entries, Of whom
1877 faced the traps; III 1897 there were 146
entries and 135 shooters, and in 1896, the
first year the handicap was shot, there
We're 109. ensies and 104 shooters Upon
this ratio probably 260 shooters will toe
| the mark Wednesday. Three Of them will
be ladies, Mrs. w. 2. Shattuck of Mime
| apolis, who shot in the handicap last year;
| Mrs p. S. Murray of Saltwater. Wis. and
| Mrs VI. F. Lindsey of Cincinnati. The lat
ter shoots under the sobriquet of Wanda -