The Washington times., 1903-09-01
National Contest to Open
Tomorrow on Largest and
Best Rifle Range, With
Finest Targets in Country.
HEAVY RAIN INTERPRETERS
WITH THE TEAM PRACTICE
Representatives of District
Make Good Showing on
the Range-Other Teams
Arrive and Enter Camp.
fsneeial to The Washington Tins

tSpeclai 10 The W Washington Times. +---
RIFLE RANGE. SEA GRIT. y. J., Sept
1.-Teams are ready this afternoon fer
the annual rifle and revolver tourna-
ment which opens tomorrow morning
the twelfth meeting of the National
Rife Association. the thirty-frst of the
New Jersey Rifle Association, and the
fourth of the United States Revolver AS
sociation. The range. the largest snd
best in the country, has dried off since
the three-day deluge; the grass has been
given a final moving: the telephones.
IN charge of the New Jersey Signal
Corps. from pit to firing lines. are up:
the clubhouse is filled with visiting
rifiemen and army, navy and National
Guard officials: and the cracks which
for the first time have the honor of
representing the various arms of the
service and the respective States are
spending the last hours Of ante shoot
practice.
As the first day will be given up to
individual matches, the State teams will
p use il in practice. The arrangement of
the program, which delays the team
matches a little, is an especial blessing
TO the District and other teams whom
the storm cheated out Of practice Friday
and Saturday. All the teams went to
the 200 and 500 ranges after lunch yes
terday as soon as the water got out OF
the pits sufficiently to allow the mark
ers 10 work. -tFA4
Connecticut in Camp.
Connecticut arrived today and teok
hor
in the square of 1875 tents which occupy
the middle of the camp grounds back of
the 1.O0O-yard firing line, along with
Maryland Ohio. Pennsylvania. New Jer-
sey, New York, Massachusetts, United
States Navy and the United States Ma
rine Corps. The teams yet 10 arrive are
the army. Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine
and Michigan
Practice on the long ranges yesterday
afternoon was slow. and, to the District
lean. >0nsa tisfaetory because. The mark
srs in the pit were not used to the new
SYSTEM which has been established this
year. / The new system is that the
Americans found in use at Bisley this
year and at Ottawa last year-a single
target instead of the sash target which
has heretofore been used here For the
single target the claim is made that it
gives less chance for mistaking at the
firing point the value OF the shot. Irri-
tating delays-some times three min
dates long-resnlted yesterday from the
ignorance of the men and boy markers
Jas to the manner OF manipulating the
novelty. ~
Fifth Maryland Uncertain.
Whether the Fifth Maryland team,
which arrived Sunday night. viii get
permission TO represent the State and
enter the national match, Capt Wash
lngton Bowie, jr.. who is in command
until Col. r.. Dorsey CoaIe arrives this
evening. does not know. OF the nine
members cf the team, all were here last
year. Captain Bowie Orderly Sergeant
C. ". Kaesemexer. Color Sergeant Al
bert Dogge. First Sergeant E. o. Wright.
QuaTtermaster Sergeant J. E. Givan.
Corporal P. A. Miller. Corporal D. D.
Porter. Corporal E A. Smith. and
Private J. r. Plumley. AT all events the
Fifth will compete in the regimental
team. the skirmish, the Dryden Trophy.
and the company team matches.
Troop A. of Maryland. will not attend
the shoot. contrary 10 the recent eX-
pectations OF some OF its officials and
OF the rife authorities here. Inability
TO get practice on account Of the closing
OF the range is given as the reason. The
troop has been here the last three years.
taking a prominent place in the carbine
and revolver matches.
The National Trophy presented by
Congress. rs the first prize IN the new
national matches. contrary 10 genera
expectations, las arrived for this year g
shoot. 1t stands as the show piece
among the many trophies on exhibition
at the clubhouse.
The Districts practice yesterday at