The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-01
SAVANNAH SHOTS AT PARIS.
GEORGIA MAY HAVE A TEAM IN
THE INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS.


Movement Started to Organize a
Team From the Sen Girt Medal
winners-Some of the Mem Who
VIII Likely Go If the Plan Sue
ceeds-Gen. Spencer Has Invited
Savannah Marksmen to Sea Grit
But They VIII Not Go.
A movement has been started to organ
ize a rife team TO represent Georgia in
the international contests which are to be
a feature of the Paris Exposition Sew
eral OF the best local rifle shots are in
terested.
The plan IS to start subscription list
at once. 1t is believed the business men
will readily subscribe to a fund for the
purpose. and the rihemen are confident
that they could manage to get up enough
money 70 defray the expenses OF the trip.
1t IS not proposed to ask for money with
out giving some sort OF a guarantee that
IL Will be returned. This guarantee. how
ever. will be one OF confidence, consisting
in the opinion of those asked to contrib
ute may have of the prowess of the Sa-
vannah marksnlen- Many very attractive
money prizes have been offered by the
Frenchmen, and no reason in the world,
the savannahians believe, why their team
should not carry off many Of them. In
the event the prizes are won, there Will
be the money TO refund the amount ad-
vanced to render the trip possible.
Mr. F. c. Wilson, Mr. C. S. Richmond,
Capt W. G. Austin, Col. George T. Cam,
art q NFr at
are named as the team of five and an al
ternate who may represent Georgia if the
present plan is carried out Most, if not
all, of these gentlemen have been re-
quested by Gen. Bird w. Spencer. presi-
dent of the New Jersey Rife Association,
to visit Sea Grit to take part in practice
that will determine five men who will go
to Paris to represent the United States
in the matches. All have declined, for
Savannah wants no more of Sea Grit after
the fiasco OF the last meet there.
The meet Of the best shots in the coun-
try, barring the Savannah cracks, will be
held at Sea Grit, July 4-July IA. The ma
tional team will then be selected and will
sail for Paris. The international matches
will be shot during August.
1t would be a great thing and ample
revenge on Gen. Spencer and the New
Jersey Rifle Association, a Savannah
marksman said, If the team from Savan
nah should go over and prove a winner.
That is what he confidently anticipates
if the trip should be taken. No difficulty
inlthe way of the scheme presents itself
to his view, and he is certain that the
effor of the soliciting committee will be
crowned with success.
Though the team as proposed consists
entirely OF Savannahians, it will yet rep
resent Georgia, for IL Is said there are no
shots anywhere else in the state that can
compare with the best six here. The
shooting at Sea Grit and the splendid re-
cords that have been made by Savannah
marksmen prove that. The magnificent
range here has afforded exceptional ad-
ventages for practice, and of these the en-
thusiasts have eagerly avalled themselves.
The opportunity offered for the adver
tisement of Georgia and Savannah Will
scarcely fail to influence business men
who are approached by the committee
Of oanvassers. Fame won by the team
at Sea Grit has reached the confines of
the United States, but to win the big
matches at Paris would mean worldwide
reuown. This consideration will doubt
less secure contributions.
The meters of the range at which the
marksmen will shoot, in Paris, when re-
duced to yards, mean easy work for Sa-
vannah shots. Something like 1928 yards
will be the range. and that is as good
as could be asked To add to the GER
tainty of the thing, the marksmen de-
clare, the positions, standing, kneeling
and lying down, make it impossible for
them to miss at that range. An un-
broken succession of bullseyes could be
made by some at that range II shooting
lying down. The range and the positions
seem TO be the French style. for on this
side rihemen have been accustomed to
shooting farther and from more difficult
attitudes. They feel equal TO anything
that others attempt, though, and it VIII
be with the confidence of Savannahians
that the marksmen take the trip. All of
this is doubtful if any considerable sum
would have TO be raised on the outside.
The arms to be used in the contests
will be open sighted. The SpringfeIds
that are used by the Savannah marksmen
will serve. The open sight reservation
removes the advantage that others might
have through their sight devices.