The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-09-11
Major Nc Caughna's Interesting Letter
From Sea Girt, NJ. j..

From Sea Girt, N. j.
In view OF the fact that the Michi.
gan team was on the rifle range yester-
day at Sea Girt, N. j., competing for
the national trophy, makes Major Geo.
B. McCaughna's letter, given in full
below, an added timeliness. The let
ter was read at the meeting of Compa-
ny Fl Tuesday evening by Corporal Lee
r. Clarke.
Sea Girt, N. j., 9-5, '03.
Lieut.. M. J. Phillips, Owosso, Mich.
Knowing the interest taken by the
boys Of Company FL in the national
rifle contest which takes place here
Sept. SO, 1t affords me pleasure to COM
ply with your request for letter at
this time, and trust that it will reach
you in time for the regular company
meeting Tuesday evening.
Before telling you of the contest,
however, just few words relative to
our trip to Sea Girt. AS you know,
the Michigan team assembled at Port
Huron and under command OF Major
G. A. Wagner, Inspector OF small arms
practice for Michigan, we boarded
Grand Trunk flyer at las Thursday
AMI journeyed to Hamilton, Ont,
where Pullman sleeper was attached
for the team, the members OF which,
by the way, were more interested in
dining car which was picked up at
the same place. Knowing that you
are more or less familiar with soldiers
appetiteS, / will ask you to imagine
the inroads made on an ordinary bank
account by turning fourteen such ap-
petites loose in a dining car. . Surely
no one but an authorized agent Of Un-
Gle Sam would have the courage to
face such a proposition, and even gen.
erous and genial Major Wagner was
obliged to remind the boys, that he
was allowed bat $1,000 to pay the ex-
penses Of the trip which would cover
several days.
From Buffalo we travelled over the
picturesque Lehigh Valley route so
familiar to Michigan tourists, and our
train being an hour late gave Us the
early morning hours In the most in
teresting portion Of this justly cele-
brated route.
l am aware that both you and Capt.
Ross would question the bare state
ment that l was up at O'Clock, but
when you know the circumstances you
will no longer doubt. 1t is 10 trouble
at all to get up early while travelling
at D 90 mile an hour rate around some
OF those curves in the Lehigh valley.
In fact, got up before l awoke, and
when / picked everything up from the
Car n)or, recalled having heard some.
where that it was nothing uncommon
to Use force In turning" democrat
in Pennsylvania, which no doubt ac-
counts for the usual 10000 republi-
can majority.
But the scenery Of the Keystone
state Is grand even though it's politics
may need liking, and our party enjoyed
it very much. At Newark the team
changed for Sea Girt, while Mrs. Nc
Caushna and went into New York
where we took the boat for Sea Girt
In tao afternoon. The weather being
due, we had an excellent opportunity
Of seeing Greater New York from the
haroor, al experience we'll worth the
effort, especially ii ones time Is linn
tied On our way out we passed the
Reliance" and shamrock, the ex-
tensive decorations Of the former
telling the story Of her victory OF the
day previous, while the opinions ex-
pressed Oh board our boat would have
been diScouraging to Sir Thomas, to
say he least
AS we passed down the harbor
almost within stones throw OF the
Statue of Liberty and out from the
shadow Of the fortiiications CON nand
Ing the entrance, / thought OF the
millio IS from foreign lands who had
passed the Qualifications unchallanged
other than "Do you c)me in peace"