The times., 1899-08-15
MAKING UP A RIFLE TEAM
The District Sharpshooters About
Ready for Sea Girt
All MarIssmen VIII Use the Govern
ment Arms and Ammunition.
Therefore They Will BE on an
EquaIity-Georgians Likely to Be
Strong Competitors for the Trophy

! Nine members of the District National
! Guard put in a hard days work on the Ord
way range yesterday in rife practice.
| Eighteen guardsmen who are competing
for places on the brigade team to repre-
sent the District at Sea Girt practice
Wednesday, Monday, and Saturday of each
week. The brigade team will be composed
of twelve members and four alternates,
making sixteen who will be carried TO the
New Jersey competition. Two of those
who are competing viii fail to get places
on the team. Major James E. Bell will not
make the final selection until the scores
have been made and the practice shooting
finished.
Beside the brigade team the District of
Columbia viii be represented by one from
each regiment and a number of company
teams. Many of the brigade team MEM
bers are also on the other teams Captain
Young and Captain Tomlinson will both
send teams from their companies. The
District marksmen will leave the city Fri
day, September /. though the shooting will
not commence until Monday, the 4th. This
viii give them Saturday for additional
practice. The men viii sleep in tents dur
ing the week and will have their meals
served by a caterer, who has already been
engaged Members OF the brigade team
viii have all their expenses paid, while
those OF the company and regimental
teams will be obliged TO pay only for their
meals.
Should the District sharpshooters carry
on the usual number of prizes the return
TO Washington will probably be made
Monday, September II; otherwise they
viii leave Sea Girt the preceding Satur-
1 day Major Bell, speaking to Times
understood that the Georgia team was
practicing every day, and that as much
drilling in firing at mark as was pos
sible was desired for the District marks
men
The Georgians are undoubtedly fine
marksmen," said Major Bell, ''and Ray
be expected TO show us some good shoot
ing. They are now in possession OF the
Hilton and the Interstate trophies, which
they won in 1897. There was no shoot
ing in IS. The match this year will be
Won by the best team, as each will use
the same rife and the same ammunition
Twice" continued Major Bell, ''the Regu-
lar Army sent a team to Sea Girt. The
plea was made by the officer to whom
the suggestion was made by General
Sheridan, that the guns in use by the
regular branch were inferior TO those sup
| piled the State troops The result was
that fifty special guns were ordered with
which the regulars took the trophy two
years in succession. After showing what
| they could do the regulars stopped COM
peting and the District secured the guns
! they had used. With better guns and
better ammunition the District team won
| the prizes four years in succession. The
( other teams complained and at a con-
| ference ar the close of the match In 1896
/ ii was agreed to use only the plain Gov
ernment rife and ammunition. With a
| better grade ammunition used than that
| furnished higher scores could be made
but it viii be impossible for a man to
substitute cartridges of his own for those
furnished, as they viii be given out on the
range one at a time"
1t is expected that a team from the
Marine Corps will enter the competition
at Sea Girt. Michigan will be represented
and probably Pennsylvania and New
Hampshire. The Districts strongest rival
will undoubtedly be the Georgians. who
are expert rife shots. Major Bell will
have the list of members on the brigade
| team ready in few days