The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-23
SEA GRIT TEAM Is STRONG.
Georgia Never sent IA Better Lot of
Marksmen to Fight Her BATTLES.

Marksmen to Fight Her BattIes.
The Savannah liner, City Of Birming-
ham. scheduled to san at I o'clock this
morning, viii carry the members Of The
hitherto victorious Sea Girt team to con-
test again for honors in the military
matches TO be decided al that pleasant
spot on the Jersey coast.
The members of the team, who will
leave on the Birmingham, are Col. J. F.
Brooks, vice captain and in command
Capt. ". G. Harrison. Capt Thomas Hun
ter of the First Cavalry, Capt c. II. Kone-
mann of the First Regiment of Infantry,
Lieut.. +. c. Wilson, Lieut.. Henry Blum,
Sergt r w. Garden, Sergt J. NJ. Dreyer
of the First Battalion of Infantry, Sergt
r. p. Constantine of the First Cavalry
Prvates II. + Wilson, r. c. Feizer, Fred
Myers. F. c. Battey, z. c. Mercer c. S.
Richmond W. O. Austin, OF the First
Battalion of Infantry, and private T. G.
Phhpot of the First Regiment Of Infantry
Besides these regularly enrolled mem
bers Of the team. it wiz be accompanied
by Messrs. w. w. Gordon, Jr., George c..
Freeman and George \. Quant0Ck, al Of
whom are good sho 9, and will lie ready at
a moments notice TO axe the place OF any
member of the team who Is disabled or un-
we'd, or mol in condition to enter a match.
1ufiE VIII bt o. illc Bhi ~ NDbt W - T. ~
Mercer. Mrs. II. r. Wilson, Miss Mary NJ
Wilson and Master Rogers Wilson. Other
members of The team, who are detained
by business, either here or at other points.
will report for duty upon its arrival at
Sea Girt or soon thereafter.
The Birmingham will reach New York
Friday evening. and it is probable that
the members OF the team viii he laken
over 10 Sea Girt that night. They will he
in position to begin practice On the next
morning, and win thus have more than a
week at the targets before the first match,
that Is to take place on sept. !, viii lie
shot. They viii thus be enabled to fam.d-
iarize themselves thoroughly with the CON
dt!ons of wind and air that prevail on the
Jersey coast, ana 10 make their caicula-
tons, when the gain or loss of a match
and a prize depends upon their accuracy OF
aim, with a nice eXactness that viii insura
success. Such, az any rate, is their hope
and fixed belief
Col Brooks declined to give out the
records the men have made in the prac-
tees that have been in progress for the
last several months. as for number of
reasons they so lacking in true indica-
ton of the actual abilities as marksmen
of the various members of The team, that
il would be unfair to give them publicity.
The change of weapons made by many
Of the men, the poor ammunition thai was
at first used and other unfavoTable and
adverse conditions under which the prac-
tees were for a long time carried on so
effected the result that some of the best
shots on the team have not attained the
percentages that their skill would warrant
and that their friends and admirers had
expected. For these reasons, said Col.
Brooks. he had made no constant effort
to keep up with the records, and even had
he done so would have kept The results
10 himself
OF late. with better ammunition and un-
der more favoring auspices, the general
average of craftsmanship has been per
ceptibly raised, and all of the men have
done better work at the targets, 1t Is
certain that Georgia has never sent a
better team to Sea Girt to contest for
honors, and never had a fairer chance
to walk away with the prizes that are Of
fered there With the acquaintance with
local conditions that is to be derived from
a week or more of practice on the ground,
the team ought TO be in shape TO van
quish all corners, be they never so good.
There was little work at the range yes
terday afternoon, the majority of the men
thinking it best 10 rest up. preparatory
to the trip, and not to test their endur-
ance to too great a degree. They are OF
the opinion that their nerves viii be In
better condition and their eyesight clearer
and truer if they are not used beyond
the point Of endurance. They ali wan,
to. be fresh for the practices at Sea Grit
and are taking measures accordingly.
While the trip VIII be pleasant and
| agreeable. and fun of enjoyment. the mer
are not TO lie altogether and constantly
on a bed of roses. The camp viii he un-
der military discipline and the member.
of the team viii not be exempt from the
| exactious of military service. They arc
expected by the stay-at-homes to win al
| the prizes.