The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
District Will Be Represented
in the Palma Trophy Match
by Five Men Who Are, or
Were, Guardsmen Here.
Amount Needed to Take
Team to England $4,000
Short-No Money Yet
Given by District People,


sides one heard nothing but rifle prac-
tice, and the members OF most OF the
organizations did their initial out
door shooting of the year on the range
at Ordway. Major James E. Bell, in
spector general of rifle practice, re-
ports the men made the best showing of
their careers, both in attendance and
craftsmanship. The largest number of
enlisted men ever present on the range
at the official practice were there last
week, and the scores We're far better
than those made for a few years, at
least.
On Monday, the First Battalion spent
the whole day at the range. and whiled
away the time by banging away at the
targets and filing them with holes
Tuesday the Second Battalion INDUCED
in its practice. while the range was
in the possession of the Third Battalion
on Wednesday. The Fourth and Fifth
Battalions made unusually large scores
on Thursday and Friday. respectively.
Tomorrow TIE members of the First
Separate Battalion and the Naval Bat
TALON lads will practice.
Cavalrymen Still There
The two troops of cavalrymen from
Fort Myer are still on the range, and
the boys are enjoying themselves i'm
mensely. Their work has been above
the average so far, and it is believed
that they will have finished their prac-
tice in a week or ten days. The mem
bers of these two troops will then leave
the range and go on two or three
weeks practice march through Virginia.
and the other two troops will go to
the range. The members of the cele-
brated Fort Myer band will practice
with the rifle and revolver, and there
viii be just enough men at Fort Myer
within two weeks to keep marauders
from running away with the place.
Several days last week when the Dis
trict men were on the range, the af-
fable officers of the Second Cavalry.
who are camped on the range enter
tanned and dined. as best they could,
several of the officers Of the local citf-
zen-soIdiery.
The officials of the National Guard
attribute this grand manifestation of in
terest in rife practice on the part OF
the men 20 the fact that men are pick
ed now for the various teams in the Ma
tional Guard, as we'll as for the All
American team, which Will go to Bis
ley TO shoot for the Palma Trophy, on
Jelly H.
District Men at Sea Grit.
At the annual meeting Of the Ma
tional Rifle Association. to be held at
Sea Grit next fall, the District will have
regimental team. battalion teams
and brigade team. The men will be
selected with great care, so as to give
the District OF Columbia the same
strong title 10 pre-eminence in marks
manship that she now enjoys
All eyes were turned toward Sea Girt
during the past week, for it was there
that the competition for the positions on
the American team were held, Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday The District
OF Columbia was well represented in the
competition. and consequently will be
well represented at Bisley in July. Major
Bell attended the trials at Sea Girt
"Wednesday and says the shooting was
the most remarkable he had ever seen,
and the major is the one in Washington
who should know what's what in rifle
shooting.
Selected to Go to England.
Five of the twelve men selected to 90
to Bisley are either residents of the
District Of Columbia, have lived here at
one time, or have relatives here. They
are Privates George F. Cook and S B.
WetheraId, Company \. Third Battalion,
D. c. n. G.: Capt Horace NJ. Bell. in
spectOr Of rife practice OF the Second
New Jersey Regiment; Lieut. Thomas
Holcomb. jr.. L. s. Marine Corps. and
Private Il Il Leizear, Sixth Pennsyl-
van.a.
Private Cook is the recognized cham
pion marksman OF the United States
lie won the Presidents prize at Sea
Grit, won the Senatorial Trophy at ord
way last year. is d member Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia brigade team, and has
Won numerous. prizes. Private WetheraId
runs Cook q close second. He has won
basketful Of prizes, and is one of the
best men with the rife that Washing
ton has ever produced. Capt Horace
Bell is a son OF Major James f Bell.
OF Washington. He is product OF the
District OF Columbia and one Of whom
Was in Cuba in 1898.
He enlisted as a private in the Dis
trict Of Columbia National Guard and
went TO Cuba in 1898. was appointed as
second lieutenant in Company B, First
District OF Columbia Regiment, and
when the regiment came home he was
elected first Lieutenant He was APP
pointed inspector OF rifle practice Of the
Second District of Columbia Regiment
until year or more ago, when he
moved to Newark. \. J. He was made
captain and chosen as inspector Of
rife practice OF the Second New Ter
sey Regiment.
Lieutenant Holcomb is one of the best
shots in the Marine Corps. He does not
live in Washington, but his father. Judge
Thomas Holcomb. resides here. and Is
one OF Washingtons best-known and
most respected citizens. Up 10 a year
or SO ago Private H. II. Leizear, now
q member Of the Sixth Pennsylvania