Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-04-01

ton.
1t is expected that the largest num-
Der of crack shots ever seen together
will be on hand for the opening of the
Grand American Handicap next week.
Last week the shoot took place at Elk
wood Park, n. j., and was the largest
ever held in America. There were 278
participants. The meet this year will
be held at the magnificent new grounds
of the Interstate Trap Shooters Asso-
citation, near the village OF Queens,
n. Y.
This new paradise for shooters has
just been finished, though many addi-
tons and improvements will be added
in course OF time, including a large
hotel and a half mile track. There
are five sets of traps with all the latest
devices, so that matches and tourna-
ments may be shot off without the
slightest delay. The front of the
casino faces the traps, and between
the building and the dead line of the
latter Is broad plank esplanade 1000
feet in width.
coming shoot is as follows:
April 2, Interstate Park Introductory
Eight birds, S. entrance, 80 yards
rise, four moneys, high guns, not class
shooting; all ties divided. Borough Of
Queens eepstakes-Twelve birds,
81 entrance, 30 yards rice, six moneys,
high guns, not class shooting.
April 3, Nitro Powder Handicap
Sixteen birds, $40 entrance, handicaps
20 to 80 yards; the number of moneys
into which the purse will be divided
will be determined by the number of
entries received: the handicaps con-
testants received for the Grand Ameri-
can handicap will govern this event;
high guns, not class shooting.
April 4, the Grand American Handi-
cap-Twenty-1ve birds, $25 entrance,
handicaps 25 to 33 yards; $500 guar
anteed by the Interstate Association,
and all surplus added. Sterling silver
trophy and $500 to first high gun, $500
to second high gun and $500 to third
high gun. All money in the purse in
excess of the 1880 will be divided in
accordance with the number of en-
tides received Regular entries for the
event closed Saturday, March "a.
April 5, the Grand American Handi-
cap will be continued if not finished on
the previous day.
April 6, Grand American Handicap
will be completed if not finished on the
previous day. Consolidation Handicap
Fifteen birds, $40 entrance, handicap
20 to 80 yards. The number of moneys
into which the purse will be divided
will be determined by the number of
entries received. Winners of money in
the Grand American Handicap will
have one yard added to their handicap.
Aud Lang Syne Sweepstakes-Twelv
birds, 81 entrance, 80 yards rise, six
moneys.
How quickly the Grand American
Handicap has grown in popularity may
be gathered from the fact that when 1t
was held for the first time in 1898 at
Dexter Park, n. Y, there were only
81 entries.
There were 112 westerners among the
shooters last year, and one of them,
Thomas A. Marshall, mayor of Keiths-
burg, Wis, won the first prize. This
was the second time the big Illinoisan
carried OF the magnificent trophy given
TO the winner of the blue ribbon event
of the shooting world of America, as he
also won 1t in 1897.
There have been many statements re-
garding the number of pigeons requir-
ed for the Grand American Handicap
tournament, and it is a fact that it is
somewhat difficult to obtain enough
good birds. A fair estimate of the
number that will actually be trapped
during the six days of the shoot is from
5000 to 5000 birds per day, or from
$4,000 to 1920 for the entire week.
1t is comparatively easy matter to
get together 5000 or 1000 good birds
when required for tournament, but
when in the neighborhood of 10000 are
wanted the problem certainly becom IS
somewhat complicated. The birds have
to be obtained from lofts all over the
country from men who make this a
part of their regular business The
birds have to be carefully selected and
looked after while in the coops. besides
which it is quite problem to transport
such a number Of live birds safely by
train for any distance especially IL the
weather happens to be at all inclement.
Agents Of the Interstate association
have been securing the country for
weeks past in the effort to gather to-
gether the required number of strong
flying, healthy pigeons, and besides one
dealer has had an order for 1900 birds
sent him.