Evening star., 1903-07-29
NO LONGER A MENACE
ORDWAY RANGE PUT IN
THOROUGH CONDITION.
Precautions Taken Against Accidents
Maj. Bell Explains to States
Attorney Levin,

There is no longer any danger of persons
living in the vicinity of Ordway getting In
jured by stray bullets from the rifle range,
and the residents of Prince George county,
in the vicinity Of the rife range. have ex-
pressed gratitude to States Attorney Levin
for the interest he displayed in the matter
after Mrs. Wheeler was injured during the
rifle practice that was engaged in by the
artillerymen from Fort Myer. After the
acting Secretary of War issued an order
Withdrawing the Fort Myer soldiers from
the range a message was sent to Gen. Geo.
II. Harries, commanding the District of
Columbia National Guard. The result Of
the correspondence shows that the range has
been put in perfect order and that there is
no longer any danger of accident
In letter received by States Attorney
Levin from Maj. James E. Bell. inspector
general of rifle practice. the matter Is ex-
planned as follows:
Your letter of the 22d instant to General
George II. Harries commanding the Dis
trict of Columbia National Guard. relative
to complaints of certain citizens OF Prince
Georges county Who reside In the vicinity
of the rife range near Magruders station.
whom you represent to be in a condition
bordering upon terror, because of the bull
let's which they say come from the guns OF
the marksmen practictng at the range ETC..
has been referred to me for answer. / am
glad to be able to assure you that the con-
diton which did exist during the time that
the cavalry occupied the range ceased from
and after June %, the day following the
day which the unfortunate accidental
shooting of Mrs Wheeler occurred. The
marines continued their practice. however,
until Wednesday, July Is, but l failed to
find after careful inquiry that there were
any Of the shots fired by them which went
beyond the property leased by the National
Rifle Association, which the range is
located.
Care to Be Exercised.
AT present the only shooting is on Tues
day and Friday afternoons, by the expert
marksmen of the brigade, who are practic-
place early in September, and this is over
distances where there is no danger OF balls
ricocheting the hill to the danger or
annoyance of the residents in the neghbOr
hood. You may assure those who have ap-
pealed to your good offices that before any
shooting other than that mentioned above
is permitted, the backStop which was burn
ed by some one and to which is due the re-
Sponsibility of the accident, and the subse
Quent annoyance, will be replaced and rem
dered doubly secure.
"Appreciating the fact that range which
is dangerous to the citizens ought not to be
maintained, l can safely say that General
HarrieS will not permit the of this one
II he is satisfied that such a condition as is
represented by you does exist at this time.
As to the complaint of firing across the pub
lie road, l would state that in view of the
precaution which has been taken to prevent
annoyance to the very few paSserS-by, that.
if it be Objectionable. the practice will cease
and the shooting confined to the limits of
the property of the National Rifle Associa-
ton of the District of Columbia.