Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1903-08-12
RESULT Of FIRST
DAYS PRACTICE
Satisfactory Scores at
Mondays Shoot.
Distinguished MarkSman, Henry
Henser, of Fourteenth Cavalry,
Leads the Score.
(From Mondays Daily.


California, Columbia, and Colorado,
commenced at the Whipple target
grounds seven miles from Whipple to-
day. Today and tomorrow is devoted
to preliminary carbine practice, and
competitive firing, when every shot
fired will be entered of record, for the
man making it, will commence on
Wednesday.
The program for today was both
slow and rapid fire. In the slow
fire each man fires two scores of
five shots at 200 and 300 yards at tar
get A and the same at 500 and 600 at
target B, time limit for each score
five minutes.
Target A is Axe feet with an eight
inch bulls eye and target b 6x6 feet
with twenty inch bulls eye.
Rapid fire was two scores of five
shots each 300, 300 and 500 yards tar
get F., time limit twenty seconds for
each score. Target F is a disappear
ing target.
Tomorrow's programme will consist
of one. run skirmish firing of twenty
shots both forenoon and afternoon.
Firing commences at $50 in the
forenoon and 80 in the afternoon.
While score is kept in tOday's and
tomorrow's preliminary practice, it is
not of an official nature or does not
count in the competition.
The rules governing the competition
are quite strict. The arms used are
the Krag -Jorgensen, magazine car
bines 30-calibre. The trigger pull
must always be at least three pounds
and the guns are tested before each
firing and competitors must submit
their carbines for inspection whenever
required.
No coaching or unnecessary COM
munication of any kind with those
firing or among them is permitted.
No expressions on the part of the com
petitors of appreciate or disarpoinL-
ment, with reference tn any scores
made by themselves or others. is per-
mitted to be uttered loud enough to
be heard at the firing point.
In the slow fire competitors fire
standing at 200 yards and have choice
of kneeling or sitting at the 300 yard,
and lie prone on the ground firing at
500 and 600 yards.
In rapid fire the position is stand
ing at 200 yards and choice of kneel
ing or sitting at 300 yards and prone
at 800 yards.
In skirmish fire the competitor has
choice of position, prone, sitting or
kneeling, at all distances. AT 500 and
600 yards two shots are fired the time
limit being thirty seconds. At $50
and 400 yards three shots, same time
limit. At the 200 and 800 yards
ranges, ten shots are fired, and twenty
seconds are allowed at the former and
thirty seconds at the latter range.
No sheds or shelter are allowed for
any firer. In slow fire two sighting
shots are required to precede the first
score at 600 yards each day, but scores
are Got counted.
There are ten prizes TO be awarded,
the first prize being gold medal, sec
ond third and fourth, silver medals
and the remaining ones bronze med
ais. The winners of these medals are
not allowed to part with them with
out authority of the adjutant gen.
eral of the army but must preserve
them subject to inspection at any
time.
The winner of the gold medal,
though may, if he so elects receive
in lieu thereof rifle of special design
and superior workmanship provided
with the most improved sights, which
will become his personal property, but
which will not be allowed to be used
in competitions, with men using the
service rifle or carbine.
Spectators are allowed to witness
the firing, but are not allowed on
range with the competitors. The
range and targets are, however, so To-
Gated as to give spectators a splendid
view of both competitors and targets
from outside the ropes.
Perfect military discipline is main
tanned on the range and in the camp
the regulations governing them being
practically the same as those govern
ing military posts.
The men participating in the compe
tition are as fine looking lot of men
as one could wish to see, while the
officers connected with the range
and camp, a. we'll as those who will
compete in the practice are genial,
whole souled gentlemen whom it is a
pleasure to meet.
A very happy thought occurred to
some of the citizens of Prescott in
connection with this competitive
practice, and that was the offering of
prize by the citizens of this city for
the best records made with carbine and
pistol. 1t was only necessary for the
suggestion to be made when a score or
more public spirited citizens were
anxious to contribute for the cause,
and the result was that enough of
purse was made up to purchase two of
the handsomest and most appropriate
prizes that could be imagined for a
contest of this kind as the prizes are
something that are not only very
beautiful but useful, as we'll, to sol
der. The prizes are on exhibition at
Cooks jewelry store, and are hand
some pair of field glasses and a
smokers outfit. The field glasses are
the best that is made-being imported
from Germany and are what is known
as the GoerX binoculars. They are a
prize that anyone might be proud to
win. They are incased in a fine leather
carrying case. The smokers outfit is
something that will surely gladden.
the heart of the soldier who is skillful
enough to win it. 1t consists of a
cigarette case, cigar cutter, match
box, and knife. All these articles are
made from solid native copper trim
med with silver and incased in a
beautiful leather case lined with
satin. This prize, aside from being a
very costly and handsome one is very
apprOpriate for this section where so