Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-22
At FORT RILEY RANGE
District Rifemen Will Com
pete for National Trophy.
JOURNEY TO KANSAS
TRIP ENL1vENED BY ROBBERY
AND OTHER INCIDENTS.
Shooting Facilities Wellnigh Perfect
Other Teams That Will Strive
for Prizes.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

IunCn. Inc teams winch Idu pSCeucu oS
were those from Rhode Island and the
state of Washington. under the captaincy
of Generals Tanner and Drane, respec-
lively. The hot weather experienced while
passing through the states east of the Mis-
sissippi river was tempered by showers en-
countered after leaving st. Louis.
Kansas City was smiling after the right s
Storm which was quite severe in that To-
cality, and it's effects were noted In the
| flooded roads paralleling the railroad track
over which we passed. Traces of the great
flood of two months ago were to be seen
while crossing the river. The twisted and
broken iron of the destroyed bridge gave
unmistakable evidence of the power of the
| flood and one of the sights Of particular in
terest was the effort which was being made
to dig out of the mud an immense lOcOmO-
tive which had fallen from the destroyed
bridge and was exposing only its wheels
to show It's bed in which 1t was quietly re-
posing.
Sherlock Holmes Needed.
Our journey was without incident beyond
a robbery, which occurred between St
Louis and Kansas City. On account OF our
early arrival at the latter place, all were
up and stirring. The first to discover the
robbery was Major Glendie B. Young, who
failed to find his shoes, and when question
ed the porter stoutly maintained his in
nocence of the theft. saying:
Il amt seed no low-quartered tan shoes
dis Mite
After thoroughly policing the car the
search was given up and Major Young was
satisfied he was ShoeleSS until he came UP
with his trunk which contained an extra
pair taken along for emergency. Lieut..
Cookson came to the rescue and loaned the
major his tan slippers, so that he was not
obliged to leave the car in his stockings.
Next excitement was caused by Major
Bell calling out:
who has my hat?"
Every fellow reached for his own and all
but the major had a capillary adornment
and the laugh was on him. Here again
Lieut.. Cookson Owed down into his mys-
FERROUS satche! and brought out from it's
depths a much-mashed campaign hat,
which any one would concede had been
through number of campaigns and Of
fered it to the major with apology, stat
Ing that 1t was his shooting hat. 1t was
all right, however, as 1t covered the bald
spot. and Capt Robbins remarked:
It's all right major, you are not quite so
handsome, but 1t covers the spot all the
same
The losses were reported to the railroad
officials at Kansas City, SO there will be no
necessity for board of survey, as the ar
ticles will probably be replaced
The camp, which Is about three miles
from the railroad station, was reached by
means Of ambulances. On our way we
passed through the camp of the cavalry
competition for places on the team to rep
resent 1t In the national shoot to axe place
mex week.
We have assigned to cur use, three wall
four conical and one hospital tent in the
street leading to and nearest to the i'm
mense circus tent. in which the teams mess
We were evidently located by some one ia
miliar with our failing.
There is but one Richmond" in the field
Oieut Duncan s. and he is ours not
outstanding the fact that he Is somewhat
broken up On our arrival at the depot. he
devoted himself to getting us off to camp
and there remained to see that the baggage
was safely brought up. In attempting to
alight from the wagon he accidentally
caught his foot. causing him to fall heavily
to the ground and in his effort to save his
natty drab uniform he sprained his right
wrist which has caused him much pain and
inconvenience. He is being watched and
petted by the entire outfit. He deserved to
be the first to have his trunk and belong
ings in camp but instead of coming dire city
with the train which brought US. 1T had
been sent via Chicago. 1t was not lone
some however. as it was accompanied by
the valse belonging to Sergt Fink They
arrived late yesterday evening.
Range Wellnigh Perfect.
After lunch Capt. A. c. Macomb the ex-
ecutive officer, escorted Maj Reichelderfer
and several members of the team to the
range for an examination of the targets
lions, and it was the unanimous opinion of
all that perfection was only a short way
around the corner.
With another years work on this range
it will be without doubt the greatest and
most complete range in the world for
matches of this kind. 1t Is located on what
Is known as the Republican river flats, with
the targets at the foot of the hills, which
rise abruptly at their back forming a SUI
perb background and backstop. The shoot
ing is toward the north, so that the targets
are In perfect light the entire day. The
only criticism l hear is in relation to the
distance and inconvenience in being
reached
The teams are beginning to report. Mary
land, New York. Kansas, Georgia, Massa-
chusetts, Pennsylvania, the navy and Ma
rine Corps the two army teams and those
from New Jersey and Florida are here.
Nineteen teams have entered the competi-
tons and many strong shots-in fact the
best known shots in the states-being scat
tered among them. ii is difficult to find any
one willing to risk his reputation on nam
ing the winners. Our team has done some
good work. considering the fact Of having
been deprived Of facilities to practice at
home Shooting has been over the 200,
300, 500, COO. 800 and 1.00O-yard ranges
with skirmish runs.
In looking over the names of former Dis
trict of Columbia riflemen connected with
the meeting we find the following: Capt F.
L. Graham of the Porto Rican regiment
and Col. r. p Carleton, l. G. r. p, state
of Florida
DR.. S. l. Scott is coaching the team of the
Marine Corps. and Chaplain Ed Scott, his
brother, the team representing the navy.
These men have all been members of the
District Of Columbia Brigade team, and are
all distinguished marksmen.
The health Of the members of the District
team is excellent, but some little concern
is felt on account of Lieut.. Cooksons loss
OF appetite. Capt Robbins was the man
ager Of personally conducted tour to
Junction City Tuesday night, and he re-
turned the party, which consisted of Lieu
tenants Cookson, Heidenreich and Britain,
| safely to camp some time during the night
There was snake story connected with
the recent camp at Harper's Ferry which
was thrown into the shade by one brought
into camp by Capt. Skinner and Lieut. Holt
on their return from the skirmish ground,
after it had been gone over by them Tues
day evening. They claimed to have killed
several while on their trip, and as neither
of them are in the habit of visiting the
| post-exchange the story had to be accept
ed with mary grains of salt, but the team
captain is keeping his eyes on these gen.
| tlemen as precautionary measure.