Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
CLOSE OF NATIONAL MATCH.
Comment on the Big Shoot by Dis
trict Rifieman.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
FORT RILEY, Kan, August p, 1901.
The most remarkable contest in the an
nails Of rifle shooting is closed. and for the
second time the New York state team came
off victorious. No one begrudges them their
laurels. The jackies of the United States
navy put up beautiful fight, and for. a
time 1t was thought they would be the
winners of the national trophy, but as 1t
stands they will hold the famous Hilton
trophy and occupy second place, with
score of 4,294. which is twenty-eight points
less than that made by the New Workers..
The infantry team of the army captured
the Soldier of Marathon, with $3.50 as their
total. These three represent the winners of
all of the trophies included in the meeting.
There are, however, four others who come
In for cash prizes-United States army cav
airy team, Marine Corps. District of Column
bfa and Pennsylvania. While we from
Washington were not big winners, all are
contented with the knowledge that only one
state team was ahead of us, and In view Of
the fact that have been without range
facilities for practice all satisfied with
our finish The criticisms on the manage
ment of the meeting thus far have been Of
a favorable nature, save in one instance.
The rules of the match require that the
timed fire shall be at the rate of one shot
per minute. New Jersey was slow at each
o. the ranges. and when the 1OOO-yard
stage on they were not able to finish
within the specified time Consequently the
last fourteen shots were fired under protest.
Their team total for all of the shots was
3,SS3 but 81 points were deducted by the
executive officer, leaving them with 1907
as their official total. General Bird Spencer
was very indignant at the decision and pro-
poses to take it before the board of twenty
one for decision Notwithstanding the de-
duction made no difference in the standing
or his team. The point he makes is
that the targets were worked so slowly that
the time consumed was due to no fault or
lack of speed on the part of his team in
shooting. The tail-ender was the team
from Alabama. 1t did pretty well consider
Ing the fact that the distances shot over
were new to the Alabamians. They came
up to learn, and they go home filed to the
brlm with new ideas, which, / believe will
result In the state having a fairly good
team In the contest next year. Lieut.. ]. G.
Ewing or the Delaware National Guard
Kindly took them In charge, and succeeded
by careful coaching in keeping them on the
ranges. e
Majors Reichelderfer and Bell and Lieu
tenant ID. S. Richmond have left for st
Louis. Captains Robbins and Summers and
Lieutenant M. =. Britain leave in the
morning. The other members of the team
nave entered the individual matches, and
VIII remain the balance of the week 1t
Is not generally known that this post IS
situated In the geographical center of tie
United states, and the exact spot so far
as the surveys have been able to locate It,
Is marked by monument erected to the
memory of Major Ogden, the founder of
the fort.
Major Bell, Lieutenant Cookson, Sergeant
Groome and Privates Fink and Pile paid
a visit to the spot this morning and while
there were photographed, lined up before
the monument, which bears the following
inscription:
Erected to the memory of Brevet Ma ior
r.. A. Ogden, the founder of Fort Riley
distinguished patriot and generous friend
rehned gentleman; a devoted husband
and father and an exemplary Christian
Few men were more respected and loved in
their lives or more lamented In their
death. AS much the victim of duty as of
disease, he collectedly closed a life in the
public service distinguished for integrity
and faithfulness."
On the reverse side of the monument is
the following: "Brevet Major e. A. Ogden
assistant quartermaster, United States
army, died at Fort Riley August g. 1865
aged forty-four years" This was followed
by Scriptural quotation. The view from
where the monument is located is one of
magnificence. regardless of the direction
which attracts the attention. The difficulty
In reaching the spot is likely to deter one
who has once climbed the steep hill The
beauty of the view and the knowledge that
one has stood on the exact center of our
great country, as it used to be- is quite
sufficient to satisfy most any one