The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-10
Shall We Have a Rifle Match?

Shall We Have Rifle Match?
The proposal to renew the matches be-
tween British and American rihemen is
one of much interest. More than twenty
years have passed since strictly represent
alive teams of the two countries have con-
tended. In the seventies, when Creedmoor
was young, it's marksmen met those OF
Dollymount and Wimbledon during several
successive years and won victory every
time. AS our rifle range was then new,
dating only from 1873, and target prac-
tice comparatively recent innovation in
the National Guard, the ri1emen on the
other side OF the Atlantic probably eX
pected to have an easy time with ours
but American superiority was shown by
repeated victories, and at length an end
was put to international matches. Yet
while we are entitled to continue to wear
the honors won twenty years ago. it re-
mains to be seen whether the British could
not beat us now
The first OF the international matches,
that Of 1874, at Creedmoor, was very close.
1t was ut 800, 900 and 900 yards, on old
fashioned targets, 12 feet wide by feet
high, with square 3-feet bull's-eyes, count
ing four, eject square centres counting
three, and cutters counting two. The visit
ors were the Irish team, headed by RIGBY.
The Irish had won the Elcho shield match
at the same distances the previous year at
Wimbledon, with a score that broke the
record. There were six on a side. and our
men. FULTON. YALE, BoDINE, GLIDER
SLEEVE, HEPBURN and DAKIN, scored 934
points against 931 for the visitors, winning
by only three points. Tho return match,
in June, 1875, was shot at Dollymount, in
Ireland, on similar targets, and at the same
distance. the American six being the same
as the year before, except that COLEMAN
took the place of HEPBURN. The Americans
scored 967, against 929 for the Irish, thus
winning by 3S points.
In September, 1876, occurred the Cen
tennial match at Creedmour for the Palma,
with teams of eight. America scored 3, 1925;
Ireland. 3.104; Scotland, 1908; Australia,
1902; Canada, 2,s23, THUS leaving our
marksmen the winners by 81 points. A
week later the Irish shot an individual
match against the American team. the
latter consisting of DAKIN, RATHBoNE,
ALLEN, WEBER, FULTON and FARwELL.
The totals were 1,l65 for tho Americans
and / 154 for the Irish, the former winning
by II points. The following year, 1877,
determined effort was made by our
foreign friends TO capture the Palma. A
combined team madeup from the best shots
in England, Scotland and Ireland under Sir
HENRY HALFoRD, came over to Creedmoor.
| Another two days shooting took place on
| the terms Of the previous year, America
| tpta % t;,,-
all records for team of eight at those dis
tances, and the Imperial team 3,242, leav-
| ing us the winners by a2 points.
Mention should be made also Of q visit to
| England, about ten years ago, by the
| Massachusetts, rifle twelve, at that time the
| best OF our State teams. They shot five
matches there, each at 200, 500 and 600
yards, using the Springfield rife and won
| them ALL defeating the Honorable Artillery
by 1,Ol5 to 96l; the Royal Berkshire by
| 1904 to 972; the London Rifle brigade by
1854 to 1,OOs; the Sussex by 0SS to 90;
the South London by ,O6S to l,O25. They
also distinguished themselves in various
individual matches at Wimbledon, gaining
particular credit for their skirmish drill.
1t will be seen. therefore. that we have a
clean score of honors in these international
matches of tho last quarter Of u century.
One great obstacle to securing the at
tendance OF transatlantic or even Canadian
marksmen at the annual meetings Of the
National Rife Association at Sea Grt, Is
the mcagreness of the prize list, compared
with that Of Blsley; but British riflemen
showed themselves willing, in the seventies.
to come over in search of the honors Of VIC
tory, when there was little else to attract
them, and 1t is hoped they may now do so
again. The question Of inviting them, it
appears is to be considered by the National
Rifle Association.