The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-13
MAY SHOOT DURING FAIR.
New Plan Has Been Proposed for
Georgia Rihemen.

| new Plnn Has Been fEOpoSeu AOE
Georgia Rinemen.
The rife contests for the Georgia State
| Troops viii probably be held during the
State Fair. Col George T. Cam, inspec-
tor general of rifle practice, who will
manage all the details of the shoot, sent
out letters last night to the regimental
| commanders in the state service. suggest
| ing that the date for the shoot be chang
ed to that time. No definite date had been
fixed but, in the circular from Col. Cam
to the regimental commanders, that APP
peared in the Morning News yesterday, it
was suggested that the most suitable time
for holding the shoot would be during the
latter part of August or the early part of
September.
Col p. w. Meldrim, commanding the
First Cavalry, suggested to Col. Cam
that it might be wise to hold the state
shoot during the Fair, and Col. Cam saw
at once that the suggestion was a good
one Col. Meldrim is endeavorng to work
up interest in the cavalry tilt, for which
liberal prizes have been offered by the
Savannah Fair Association and in an en-
campment of the ten troops of cavalry.
He told Col. Cam that it would scarcely
be possible to bring cavalry teams to
Savannah for a state shoot in August or
September and again in November for
tilt, so he advocated the combination of
tilt and rifle contests for the same time,
that is during the Fair.
Low rates will be granted by the rail-
roads during the State Fair, and Col.
Cam concluded that a considerable at
traction teams will he afforded
by that fact. There will be the additional
attraction of the State Fair, and, taking
all things into consideration, he conclud
ed to adopt Col Meldrims suggestion.
His letter lays the matter before the
regmental commanders in that way.
Secretary J. c. Shaw of the Savannah
Fair Association wrote the captain of
each of the troops comprising the First
Cavalry, and told them all about the ar
engagements for tilt during the Fair,
and the very attractive prizes offered by
the association. He also sent each a copy
of the Morning News. giving an account
of what It proposed for the cavalry.
Capt. c. F. Berry of the Efhngham
Hussars has replied to Mr. Shaw.
He said that the Hussars are
enthusiastic over the prospect of
camping and OF fitting. They will
enter camp. If one is held, and teams
will be entered for the tilt. Capt. Berry
would favor some point nearer Savannah
than Meldrim as a camping point.
Capt. e. ]. Giles of Troop ID at Reds
Vile also wrote Mr.. Shaw, assuring him
of the interest of his troopers in the
prospect for a cavalry encampment and
a tilt. The Tattnall troop would either
come as body or enter a team for
the tilt.
Capt. A. G.. Cassels of the Liberty In
depent Troop, who lives in Savannah,
has talked over the matter of tilt and
al encampment for the cavalry with the
secretary and officers of the Fair AS
ISOLATION, and he is fully convinced that
interesting features could be added to the
Fair. He will have his troop entered,
either in camp or the tilt and it is safe
to say that the other troops of this i'm
mediate section will also participate.
No provision has been made for the in
fantry companies. Some of the officers
of infantry commands in the city feel
that their branch of the service has been
overlooked, and they want the Fair di-
rectors to do something for them. A
prize drill for companies has been sug-
gested 1t is believed that enough of
the local companies would enter to make
such a drill a success, and. with prizes
of sufficient value offered, it is thought
that companies from a distance would
be glad OF the opportunity to visit Sa-
vannah, see the Fair, and have try at
the prizes.
Col. T. s. Wylly, Jr. has been request
ed to contribute the aid of the infantry
for purposes of display, but there has
been nothing done about offering prizes
for competition among the companies.
The infantry commands seem to be want
ed for parades, but for nothing more.
Company drills at the Fair grounds would
be interesting features of a fair. and
many of the officers hope that 1t will yet
be decided to offer prizes. Some years ago
prize drills for infantry companies we're
all the rage in the South. and it is be-
lieved that interest would easily be re-
neWed with proDer announcements