The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-06
WILL HAVE ANNUAL SHOOTS.
SUCCESS oF THE CONTEST SEEMS
TO HAVE ASSURED THEM.

Ipterest in RInc shooting Increased
nv the state shoot-AII the Visitors
Were Greatly Impressed, and They
Are DESTROYS OF Trying It over
Next Year-So Complaints Relative
10 the shoot Have Been Made.
some of the Crack shots want
matches where the Ammunition
May he Any.
Interest IN rife practice has undoubtedly
received a decided impetus from the state
shoot that has just closed. All Savannah
was interested In the events that were
on the programme and the result. vic
tory for Savannah teams in every match.
was deeply gratifying. This. however. was
hut little more than had been expected.
as Il was generally supposed that savan-
nahlans would win all save the carbine
contest. which. II was thought would 20
10 the Governors Horse Guard from At
lanta.
The visiting soldiers have gone home.
Not murmur about the treatment re-
celved In Savannah was heard. on the
contrary. the members OF the teams were
profuse in their expressions OF sa,isfac-
ton. and Il was plain enough that moth
ing would please them better than an OPP
portunity to return for another match.
During the contests there was but one
protest made. This was upon a shot fired
by a member OF the Georgia Hussars'
carblne team during the match with the
Horse Guard. The marker had waved his
a. fs4If ssaHe hfft TtFf IA
rung up by the range telephone and asked
10 examine the target carefully. he raised
the red disc to indicate four.
Capt. Hope OF the Horse Guard did not
think the four should count. and entered
a formal protest. Capt &. H. Richard
son was range officer. and his ruling was
In favor Of the HuSsars. as the marker
had shown the four disc. Yesterday morn
ing Col. George T. Cam received letter
Il explanation from Capt. RichardsOn rel
alive to the matter. giving the names OF
several officers who could certify TO the
correctness Of the stand he had taken rel
alive to the shot Col Cam sustained
the range officers ruling
The score could not have been appre-
ciably altered by the ruling. for the Hus-
sars' team led the Horse Guard by
points Had the four been counted as o.
as would have been the case had the
marker not corrected his error, the lead
would still have been points.
Their defeat was taken by the Horse
Guards in good part They naturally felt
Il rather keenly. as they had worked hard
and hoped for victory in the caroine con-
test. whatever else they might do. Capt
Hone and the members OF the team seem
ed 10 think that tho Savannah shots could
not always have things their own way
and two or three Of the team were heard
20 say that they would be mere again next
year to Try conclusions with the local
Tnarksmeu.
From the interest that II so thoroughly
in evidence "a rife practice. u seems
certainty that there will be annual con
tests In the future. Col. PM @. Byrd
seemed TO have no other idea than that
the match would be followed by others
He so expressed himself when on the
range day before yesterday. The Cow
ernor, doubtless. can be made 70 take the
same view OF the matter. II. indeed. ne
does not already believe that Il IL high
~ essential that the troops should every
year have the advantage OF the emula
ton and Interest that Is inspired by
matches.
Considerable disparag ement Of the orig
ina ammunition used in the shoot was
heard many OF the crack shots declaring
thus they would never again enter
match. IN which Il was stipulated that
such ammunition should be used. II Is
claimed that the cartridges are thorough
ly unreliable and that no dependence
can be placed IN them. They are likely
20 carry to the point at which the rifle
Is aimed. or they may miss II by several
feet. The crack shots are accustomed TO
shoot cartridges loaded by the Winchester
people or by themselves. and they want
20 be allowed to do the same thing n
matches. Their. they say. ell would hive
the same chance. for they could load their
cartridges themselves or buy the best on
the market. Bulleyes could then be made
and reliance could be fels in the ammuni-
ton
Col Cam was asked about this point.
lie said that original ammunition should
be used In state contests. for the obvious
reason that they are held for the instruc-
ton Of the troops. IL Is with original am
munition that the troops are supplied in
case they are ordered out and for this
reason they should be accustomed 20 its
use In addition. there Is the cousidera-
ton OF the comparative inexperience Of
come OF the companies In the state SER
Vice In rife practice. Many OF them know
nothing about loading ammunition. and Il
would be unfair 10 give the more expert
and better informed teams the paipahle
advantage they would enjoy on this ac-
count
Col Cam made the concession. how
ever. Of the advisa bllity of having n spe-
cial match for the crack teens that
might desire TO enter II with their own
ammunition. This Nigh; settle the con-
teution about the matter OF cartridges
and. leaving an opportunity for the best
shots TO show what they could do with
their own ammunition. adjust tho vary
Ing views and induce those who have soid
they would never enter another original
ammunition match to reconsider their de-
termination.
The Charles Marks medals disposition
mas not yet been settled. IL Is probable
however. that II win go-to the man who
made the highest score In the company
match That was Private Henry McIn-
Iosh OF Company q Of the Albany Guards
The highest score In the regimental match
was won by capt Thomas Hunter. who
shot on the First Cavalry team. Ills
score was f6T.