Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-02-20
WAR CRAFTSMANSHIP.
IMPOSSIBLE FEATS CREDITED TO
BoER SHARP SHOOTERS.


Yards, or Less-.The Difference Between
TARGET Practice and Actual War Ii Very
Great.
DO you shoot rife! Do you know
what the limitations Of that weapon
are? DO you know that the marks
manship with which the average Boer
10 accredited Is well-nigh as impossible
q Baron Munchausen's boosted per-
Torrance Of shooting forty-leven
ducks at 4 single shot with pearl.
and so gauging bis charge Of powder
that the pearl lodged In the heart OF
tho last duck In the line? DO you
know that the American people are
reading q lot Of tommy rot?'
This volley Of questions came from
4 man who has had experience with
firearms and has given more than cas-
ual attention to the matter OF marks
mnship.
He was vexed because an acquaint-
ance had called his attention to pub
lished statements that would lead one
to believe that 1t was an easy trick for
Z Boer farmer to stand on his back
porch, and with his trusty rifle shoot
an antelDpe-or, II need be. man
700 or 1000 yards distant
do you know that shooting at
man 1000 yards away any marksman
has about as much chance to hit him
as you have to find a needle that has
been thrown into load Of hay7 II
you don't know these things go and
get some Information. Go to A. P.
Ingalls, at 1903 North Fourth street
and get him to teach you the OF
craftsmanship. He has made life
long study Of rifle shooting. He was
born and bred to 1t, and for years he
was one Of the best ritlemen In the
West. He can explain how and why
no man can shoot as these Afrikanders
are said to shoot"
The other man sought out Mr.. In
gals and gathered a store Of informa-
ton about rife shooting that Is Of In
terest In these times OF war
The mentor is an elderly man, with
red-brown beard streaked with
gray, deep-set, keen eyes. and gilt
Of incisiye, homely speech.
''Can an expert rIiieman hit an OBJ
feet the size Of a man 1000 yards
away7' asked the visitor.
"Of course he can" was the reply
"You stand for a target 1000 yards
from mo and I Will kill you nine times
out Of ten. Amy riheman can do that "
That seemed to settle the matter,
and the visitor was sorry he had lis
tened to the man who had sent him to
Mr.. Ingalls,, but he plucked up heart
and asked II the feat could be per-
formed under all conditions.
Certainly not said the veteran.
ut practically can't be done unless
the nlarksman knows the exact dis
lance Of his target and precisely what
his gun will do and has taken the
proper care to load his shells, and his
sights are adjusted to the wind"
"Do you believe these stories about
the Beers ability to pick Off men or
antelope at from $50 to 1000 yards?"
"No and no one else does who
knows anything apout shooting. 1t
would take a ton Of lead fred out OF
a rifle to kill a man 1000 yards dis
tanl under conditions that prevail in
war.
"There are three great difficulties
To be surmounted The first is esti-
mating the distance; the second Is
guagng the wind; the third Is the
absolute inability OF any man to hold
a gun perfectly steady without rest
| might almost say with rest, have
known one man who could Judge dis
lance accurately. but he was a freak,
such az these men who can carry col
umns and columns of figures In their
heads. He could glance at an object,
say 200 yards away, and tell you the
distance anu nc ~1u'u" s..n aSo va ,%o
yards saw nlii XIII q. = u. ,a NV ' a',o
away once, ina. Is .no 'vnsss. sa 10. '.
cfss''l shot ever knew " w a Mauo a. q,
1--we target except Nnen INC .' :. ~ a
was known 10 certainly ~ :. ~, nov =.
been any one OIL, tne man Nno wv :. ;.
would say ~ was JUST napponm'l =, ~
ne couldn't 40 !! asaln-p ., hn." mo
wonderful GIT TOT estlms'lns INSTANCES
accurately. | nave hea,u soou r iuany
men claim TO nave klileu ueeE ovO o "1
500 yards distant ! always uhinh 1Vv
yards would oe a Closer estimate An.
when nave mad the opportunity anu
have taken me trouble 70 measure
the distance ! nave iouna l was risaa.
III H.