Evening star., 1901-08-30
BIG SHOOT PEGlNs
Formal Opening Of the Tournament
at Sea frt
DISTRICT MEN 1T PRACTICE
What the ExpertsC Have to Say Of
the Prospects.
THE PRIZES FOR TO-DAY
THE PRIZES FOR TO-DAY
Special From /. star Correspondent.

Special From star Correspondent.
SEA GIRT, N. J.. August 30.-A buele
cali promptly at 10 O'Clock this morning
formally announced the opening Of the
twenty.ninth annual meeting Of the Ma
tional Rifle Association Of America. the
tenth annual meeting OF the New Jersey
State Rife Association and the second an
nual meeting Of the United States Revolver
Association.
without loss OF time the reports Of the
firearms were heard. Shooting I'm all thu
Individual competitions, with the exception
Of the Wimbledon cup and the Presidents
match. was In order. The rifemen Of the
District Of Columbia. however. went IN
promptly for team practice and kept at this
class of work during the remainder of the
morning and again In the afternoon.
The day Is an ideal one SO far as the
weather is concerned, and the breeze that
crosses the range is not at all strong A
number OF New Jersey state teams viii
compete In the Columbia trophy match this
afternoon. The match, open to all inspec-
tors Of rife practice. IL scheduled for
O'Clock. The distances are 500 and 600
yards, ten shots at each distance.
Charseter Of the Prizes.
The first prize is handsome medal and
$25 In cash. Major Bel. Major Young.
Lieutenant Dennison, Lieutenant Farruws.
Lieutenant Cookson, Lieutenant Lefzear
and Lieutenant Bell will represent the Dis
trict In this contest. The team from ire
land put In the day at the 500, 500 and
LOCO yards ranges, and made excellent
scores. The impression on the range is that
Ireland will win the match with the team
OF the New Jersey State Rifle Association
hands down. and that Canada will best the
All-Amerfcan team in the contest for the
Palma trophy without much trouble
The District detachment will continue It's
practice work tomorrow at 1 o'clock. In
the afternoon several OF the WASHINGTON
fans will endeavor to win the Wimbledon
cup, and an hour later teams representing
the 1st Regiment and the ID Regiment will
compete In the revolver team match with
q large number of state teams. The big
day for the national capital will be next
Monday. when the contest for the Hilton
trophy Is to be In progress all day.
Lax Observance of Discipline.
To the military stranger. trained In the
strict requirements OF discipline, the scenes
and occurrences that meet the eye on the
Jersey rife range are indeed surprising
and, at first glance, shocking. As I ap-
preached the club house this morning
met an officer Of commanding presence
wearing the uniform and the two silver
stars OF major general, walking arm-in-
arm with an enlisted nian-H private Of ar
ttllery. Imagine such an incident occurring
IN the regular army! On the porticos Of
the Beach House In the evenings a major
OF the very superior 7th Regiment, IN. q.
g. n. (which, translated reads Nation
al Guard Of the State Of New York-has
been seen comfortably resting on the knees
OF one Of his non commissioned officers,
the pair entertaining, and apparently very
successfully. bevy ofspretty and admfring
damsels. OF course, a colonel and cor
poral, for instance shooting side by side Is
not considered amiss. A party that occu-
pies one table In the hotel dining room is
A. IL IT,
ant commander. of nAvak militia, a first
lieutenant, sergeant and three prfvates.
They hail from a big. state that boasts of
the efficiency Of It's military organization.
At the camp on the range-and, by the
way, that camp is laid out In the most
beautiful manner imaginable, the alignment
Of the Sfbley tents being as perfect as
straight edge. the officers and enlisted men
was observed little while ago busily en-
gagged rolling up the walls Of tent, while
within was private comfortably ensconced
In big rocking chair, reading newspaper.
Salutes Not Given Ner Required.
Such q thing as saluting an officer is so
far as may be learned from observation.
entirely unknown at Sea Girt. 1t Is not at
all unlikely that should an enlisted man be
guilty OF the Incredible act OF extending
the usual military courtesy to a pair OF
shoulder straps the wearer of the latter
would promptly seek an explanation re-
gardtng the meaning and intent Of the
movement
This all goes at Sea Girt The men in
uniform are here to hit the bulPs-eye as
regularly and as often as possible, and
when they face the targets rank Is, for
the time being, eliminated. 1t Is a case
of sharpshooter against sharpshooter, and
very often the individual In the garb Of
the private soldier proves a better shot
than he who has the gold lace decoration
attached to the shoulders of his blouse
But, to the credit OF the National Guards
men Of the District Of Columbia, it may
be said that there Is not a party more
military In it's bearing and conduct in camp
Major Bell Is the Districts team captain,
and he is obeyed and respected accordingly,
to the fun extent of the meaning that the
words convey. The Washington soldiers
march I'm a body to and from meals, and
likewise IN going to the firing point and re-
turning to the tents. In years past they
have established reputation for thorough
military efficiency and the record is this
year being strengthened.
Just before taking his men out to begin
practice yesterday Major Bell made few
remarks that were to the point He an
nounced that indiv1dualism would not be
tolerated for an instant, and threatened to
remove from the brigade team and send
back to Washington any member who
might give evidence Of being more inter-
ested In his personal glorifcation than in
the success Of the team. Each man must
help the other, team members even If per-
sonai sacrifice be at stake. is the rule laid
down by Major Bell. Primarily, the Dis
trict brigade team Is at, Sea Gfrt for the
purpose Of winning the Hilton and the in
terstate matches. and other considerations
must be- given second place. With the Hill
ton and Interstate trophies credited to the
national capital 1t would be gratifying OF
course. should the Washington rife experts
win anything and everything else in sight.
The men OF the brfgade team have been
paired to shoot as folIows: Lieut. Farrow
with Private s. l. Scott, Lieut.. Leizear with
Lieut. Bell. Major Young with Private APP
pleby. Private Taylor with Private Cash.
Private e. Scott with, Major Harvey. Pri-
vate Pne with Sergeant Gfpome. Captain
Ferree with Captain Robbins and Private
Dickey with Lieut.. Coolsson
with the foregoins plan ef action map
PED out the District Of Columbia rifemen
took places facing the targets.
Personnel OF CaAadiAn Team.
The Canadian team that 1s to compete
n3Yf Tffr0Hov uy4tt 81 H..