The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-07
GREAT SHOOTING.
Ad lospperweln Made Shooting GAL
lsIy Keepers Weary.
Won All the Cigars In Stock and Hit All
the Targets In Sight

III may be fortunate-ifor the proprie-
eofs' at least-that there are no large
anu extensive shooting galleries in this
vicinity such as are found at Coney
Island, where Ad Toepperweln. whose
wonderful skill in craftsmanship, as
SHOWN I'm his act at Keiths new thea
tre this week is exciting such interest.
recently nearly ruined the shooting gal
lery business. The story as told by the
New York sun Is as follows:
Mr. Ad. noepperwein, OF Texas, came
TO town few days ago. AT home he is
known as Top the Sure Shot"
Yesterday Mr.. Toepperwsin went
10 Coney Island, accompanied by a few
friends Every one concerned i'm the ex-
cursiOn had good fime EXCEPT the
chaps that keep shooting galleries on
uhe island. Nh. r.Toepperwein did not look
like "a typical. man from Texas" He
wore light suit OF clothes, with creas-
es in his trousers, pink outing"
shirt, and a straw hat with a red rib
bon about IL. In fact, he wasn't no.
ticeaby different from thousands OF
people whJ go To Coney Island daily.
The Texans party spent nickels and
dimes in the ordinary Coney Island way
unfil IL came 10 a shooting gallery on
the BOwory. A barker" OF the first
class was shouting Have lots OF fun
with nickel and gun! And remem-
Der gents. a frst-clasS cigar goes with
every bulls eye made in target No. L."
No. i had a bulls eye about the size
OF pin head.
Mr.. Toepperwein. believing the propo-
sitiOn "A fair one, put a dollar i'm the
hand of the range keeper and cashier
OF the place. while the hired man loaded
gun and Tops friends became inter
ested.
How many?" asked the fakr.
Dollars WORTH said Top.
Then the hired man passed out a
loaded gun which the man from Texas
nonchalantly put to his shoulder and
turned loose at bulls eye No. I.
For few seconds II sounded as
though some one had touched off
bunch of hrecrackers, while the wire on
the clapper of the gong that rings when
the bulls eye is hit shivered until the
gong gave an imitation OF an alarm
clock. Fifteen shots in as many sec
Srlls and as many bulls eyes was the
Texans record.
one of the party was Mr. George
Walker, the manager of a chain OF
theatres in Texas. who had seen Mr.
roepperwein shoot before. So. wish
ing ITO avoid delay in the game he took
charge OF the loading OF the guns, with
hhe result chat in few seconds more
han the number OF shots the man from
rexas had hit ninety-six bulls eyes out
II hundred shots.
The performance drew a crowd which
'heersd, while the cashier Of the gal
cry hooked caTeworn. and began to
cunt cigars. He had only seventy-une
n stock. Toepperwein offered TO trade
Inn the cigars for fifty shots. and the
nan agreed.
The marksman then carefully and de
berefely cut the wires holding the
nnny ngures which swing in circles nj
he back OF the range. When all the
images OF lions and tigers were pros
rate the Texan turned his gun on the |
lay pipes and pottery pigeons that
the hooks and crannies OF |
he gallery The shower of white clay |
hat followed resembled a section of a |
now storm
Cashier. barker and hired man an
ealed severally and at once to- Toep-
erwein." Don't put us out of businessl"
hey cried, while the crowd, which by
his time blocked the street, jeered and
heered i'm turn
But the dead shot" continued TO
hoot, until he had cut down every
lark i'm the gallery save one small tin
on that travelled i'm a circle. with only
wee bit OF it's wire support exposed
, view. His last cartridge shot. Toep-
erwein glanced at the remaining
lark. laid n five-dollar bill on the
otinter and asked II he might have
ne more shot. The cashier looked over
ne wreck and his answer was sarcas-
G.
Al the word Toepperwein pulled
X shooter from his inside coat pocket. |
nj before protest could he made had
red. There was a howl Of delight from
10 crowd ne the tin lion sank from
ght behind the painted palms. the
andard. TOO. giving way at the shoch
the 40 bullet
Mr.. Tnnpperwein then looked inuuir-
Ugly at ;he lamps that were ranged
.mptngly along the sides OF the gall
nv
"How much for the lamps?" ne asked. |
wall ~ protest was his answer, and |
ughing. ne turned away. followed by | :
fast increasing crowd At the next
allery beyond his reputation had pre-
'ded him. the proprietor informing him
lat he himself was looking for suck {
-" Tep and his party lodged the 7
'owd and went into Surf avenue (
here IN one gallery he pail for a hum 7
ed shots, and repeated his perform g
lce on the Bowery. At another range. I
r n dollar, the Texan got permission n