Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-24
COL. FARRINGToN's SUCCESSOR.
hepor'ed that Lieut.. E. C. Dill Will Be Mem
Der OF Gov. Hills Stall.

i'iii'tiiy circles that Lieut.. Elliott G..
Dlii' the popular Augusta representa-
1--WE OF the Lewiston Journal. will be q
member or Gov Elect Hills staff as q
successor to Col. F.. c. Harrington. in
Speclor general of rife practice, who
mas served so long and efficiently in
that capacity.
Lieut.. Dill served at the last muster.
as reSlmental inspector Of rifle p.ac-
tlce on the staff of Col. l.. H. Kendall,
4 where ms services We're recognized as
OF the highest value. He was detailed
10 the zd regiment to assist Col. Far
f!n3ton and performed his duties with q
readiness derived only by conscientious
study. "A most popular man in the Ma
tional Guard, thoroughly cOnvergant
with the science of handling a rifle and
! with q reputation as q deiigent worker
Lieut.. Dill will fill the position with
| honor to himself and TO the State
| Guard
| The position carries with 1t the rank
of colonel and is Il great honor to be
conferred on man even more ad-
vanced in years than Mr.. Dill, but how
ever great the honor and however ar
duOUs the duties they are not too heavy
IoA lllS SiiOuIdtIS. MI. I)lji HAS given
much time ana study To the fine points
of rife shooting and is an excellent
shot himself besides possessing a great
aptitude to teach others.
1t Will be a matter Of Keen regret
throughout the National Guard that
Col. L. c. Harrington could not-owing
to the press or other business care5-sec
his way clear 10 serve as a member Of
DR.. Hills military family. His many
other duties compelled him to give
them his entire time ana attention. ana
realizing this he explained TO II. Hill
that he could not be q candidate to
succeed himself.
But Col. Harrington viii always own
a good sized corner in the heart q
Maine rfeman who has been associat-
ed with the Guard during his 70 years
experience on the staff. lie was the
first man to really take up the work Of
teaching the Guard 10 shoot. That was
way back before the SOS commenced.
The first start may be laid 10 the Maine
Rifle Association. This association
was made M largely Of Portland rifle
men with a few enthusiasts from other
parts If the state. Fryeburg, which
was the coi0neIS home, hJd several
representatives,. among them being tbs
present councillor. Hon. \. u. Gordon,
who was crack shot. The association
established 4 range on the old Dyer
place on the farm Of COL. {. =. Mat
locks i'll Baldwin. They held regular
shoots and some very lively matches
We're contested on the old range. It Vas
4 roomy range with good shooting ais
lance Uu to 1900 Yards.
While a member Of this organization.
Col. Benson. CoI. John Marshall
Brown ANA cen. George Il. Beal Went To
MI. Harrington and asked him ~ ash
cept position on the Governors staff
ana 4 detail 10 supervise The r!tc
shooting of the militia. He consented
and entered into the work with The en-
thusiasm which has ever since charac-
terized his conduct of the Cllice. The
position of inspector general Of rife
practice was not then established, and
iii fact He was not "a designated till the
military law was drafted some yeGts
later.
At the time he commenced his WORK
only Z per cent. Of tho men in the mill
tia had ever fired q rifle. There Wete
some good shots among them but they
were scattering anu tHt 4tiiiN ''t.N ''--
of the troops knew absolutely nothing
about the rifle With which they We're
armed. Matches were held occasion
ally but there was no system Of quail
fication or regular practice. There were
no ranges and this important part u
the soldiers training was given but llt-
tic attention.
From this beginning col Harrington
worked away till he has brought IN"
Guard up TO a point where il takes
back seat for the forces Of no other
state when ii comes to rifle shooting.
In 'af he took q State team 70 sea Glft
n J. The Maine team was the Only
one Oh the range which used service
rifles ana service ammunition. bat not
withstandinG that handicap they made
an cnviablc record and brought nome
an armful Of prizes.
Col. Harrington is distinguished
sharpshooter himself and has given q
great amount OF study to the use Of the
rifle ma to all the many details Which
make a man an expert i1rcr since l.o
hae been On the staff he has found
time. no matter how busy he might ne
TO give the student of the rifle the bcit-
1T Of lis experience. His wide read
inc Ana His experience. coupled "itn
his uniform courtesy, have given him
friendship which includes every mem-
hcr of the National Guard.