Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26
CONSPICUOUS BY ABSENCE.
Scant Interest Taken by Western
States in Fort Riley Shoot.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
FORT RILEY, Kan, August "a, 1904
When the board for the promotion Of rifle
practice selected this place for the ma
uonal match they were prompted to do so
by the desire to accommodate the western
states. They were led to believe that they
would be largely represented and that the
meeting would result in awakening greater
interest in rifle shooting in this section of
the country. There is a large representa-
tive gathering here of rifiemen. but those
for whose convenience and benefit it was
located are conspicuous by their absence.
Michigan, Iowa, Kansas and Washington
are alone the representatives of this section.
Georgia, Florida and Alabama represent
the south; Connecticut, Rhode Island, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland
and the District of Columbia represent the
eastern states, with teams from the caval-
~, infantry, United States navy and Marine
Corps representing the regular establish
ment
This gathering of nearly four hundred ex-
pert rifiemen is an event of greater moment
than is appreciated by the average citizen.
Those who are short sighted think 1t a
waste of time and money, while those who
understand the necessity of the nations be-
ing ready for any emergency applaud the
sacrifice made by the individuals compos-
ing it and vote the money necessary for Its
encouragement and continuance.
What could you do with this aggrega-
tion?' / asked an army officer of wide ex-
perience while discussing the value OF rifle
shooting from an army standpoint
II could withstand division of ordinary
Shots he replied.
We have Just experienced a Kansas
twister, as they call it out here, ana IN
our mess tent and landed it in heap II
was a success. There was no doubt about
the mess when it was through, but the two
companies of colored soldiers detailed from
info trV
the rain, which followed the blow, had
ceased.
Without much inconvenience to the teams
they were bic to have supper IN their &C
customed places.
Capt. 8. M. Murray, subsistence depart
ment of the army. filled his difficult task
of supplying the meals to the entire salts
faction of the camp and Lieut.. +. L. Gus
of the 4th Cavalry won the respect and es-
TEEN of the team captains by his courteous
and prompt treatment OF all demands lor
the requisites for the comfort OF the men.
The health of the camp was excellent,
and there was but one accident to any one
connected with the meet. Woman Griggs
of the navy team attempted to ride a horse
of one of the cavalrymen with the result
that he is now in the hospital with broken
leg The naval team attract considerable
attention on account of their snow-whlte
uniforms.
names of the District team stated that the
selections had been made after tabulating
the totals of the first four days shooting,
which showed the individuals to stand as
lows: First, Lieut.. F. H. Heidenreich; sec
ond, Capt. Alfred P. Robbins; third. Private
Maurice Appleby: fourth. Maj. Glendie B.
Young; fifth, Lieut.. Ralph Alderman; sixth.
Sergt Charles H. Groome; seventh. Lieut..
w. w. Cookson; eighth, Capt. Frank E.
Skinner; ninth, Lieut. Frank w. Holt:
tenth, Mai VIM. E Harvey; eleventh, Pri-
yate R. L. Pile; twelfth. Samuel B. Wether-
aid, Alternates. Private E. ]. Fink and
Captain Summers. J. E. b.