The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-06
TEAM WANTS CARTRIDGES.
NEW AMMUNITION FROM THE
STATE THE SAVE As THE OLD.

Cases Containing the Supposed
shipment of 10000 Rounds Oi
Newly Loaded Cartridges Were
FOund TO Contain 5000 Rounds
Loaded in 1887 and 5000 Bullets.
Rifemen Are Pretty Well Dis
Euskcd, as the Ammunition Is Not
Fit to shoot in the Hope That the
Best scores May BE Made-EnOrts
VIII Probably Be Made to Secure
Better Ammunition.
The Sea Critters were surprised and dis
gusted when they opened the cases of
ammunition sent them by the state. They
have been complaining all along OF hav-
ing to use cartridges that were loaded in
1887 and thought they were going to get
brand new ammunition when that expect
ed from the state arrived When the ten
cases were opened it was found that five
Of them contained nothing but bullets,
while the other five contained 5000 rounds
that were loaded in 1887, a dale that has
become positively offensive 10 the Sea
Critters.
The goyernment-loaded ammunition
that the rules for the Sea Grit contests
for this season call for would be all right
if it could be secured fresh. Some way
or other The Savannah crack shots have
not been able to get that kind, and it
is only to be hoped that the other teams
have been equally as unsuccessful. Prac-
tice with the same sort of ammunition
as the contests are TO be shot with IS
highly essential. The Savannahians thus
far have not had il. 1t is safe TO pre-
sumo, they say, that fresh ammunition
will be furnished them at Sea Grit but
in the meantime they have been using
that of ancient vintage, and it looks very
mitch as if they viii have TO continue
70 do so. If the teams in other states
have Jared no better in the matter of
ammunition for practice the Savannah
team viii Stand the same show in the con-
tests,
Tho best scores cannot he made with as
poor ammunition as is now being used.
The cartridges ale faulty from age, and
the bullets cannot be counted upon 10
strike where the marksmen intend. The
lubricant the bullets are supposed to bear
has disappeared, leaving The canelures
bare. The result is that the rifles are not
oi.ed at al ana become dIy and hor. shoot
ing IS not so good under such conditions,
and il is moi surprising that as good
scores as hoped for afe moi being made.
Ordinary shots would believe the Sea
Gar ers score onpractice days at the range
every hing they could expect under the
most favorable conditions, but 10 the men,
bers of the team themselves il is MOI So
They know their shooting is a bit off, and
the fact worries them no ltIle. Ii is due
to he ammunition, there is no doubt. The
targets probably have a little to do with
it, as this year they are the regulation
builseye, While the East lime he Sea Grit
ers went on they shot at the figures.
Renewed efforts win probably be made
to get better ammunition. The state has a
quantity of il, but il is not known that it
is of more recent manufacture than that
the team nov has. Moreover, it is said
The state desires TO keep all IL has in the
arsenal in Atlanta, as il is possible an
emergency might arise that would make
ii necessary. The authorities sti}l consider
that the troops are 10 be called on if occas-
ion should arise, Notwithstanding the par
simonious acticn OF the legislature in cut
ting off the appropriation for their main
teEanee