The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-10-24
DID FINE SHOOTING
ON RANGE SUNDAY
SEVEN MEMBERS FINISH COURSE
Test Can Only Be Made Once a
Year and Is Final for
Proficiency.

Seven members of the local militia
completed the regular army course
on the Mckee rifle range Sunday.
This is the final test for proficiency
in the use of he rifle as laid down
by the army and shot by the mill
tiamen when they have reached the
highest qualification under their own
course. 1t differs from Special
Course c prescribed from the ma
tional guard, in as much as it can
only be shot once year, and if any
man fails to reach 6S per cent over
the whole range there is no other
show for him till the year following.
The course shot includes one
score of five shots and one score time
fire, thirty seconds time, at two,
three and six hundred yards, two
scores slow fire at one thousand
yards and one skirmish run. After
going over these ranges the sue
cessful rifleman is put through
trial at estimating distances. Five
estimates are required from each
man at objects between five hun
dred and one thousand yards distant,
one trial is all that is allowed in
after making in his estimation finds
himself marked down and out for
year to come.
One year ago on this same score
there were sixteen man Co. e.
shot the required ranges. Thirteen
of these scored high enough to pass
and not one man failed on the dis
lance estimating this year ten
men have gone over the range, sew
en- of whom made the necessary
scores, and everyone of these made
better than the 80 per cent in the
Judging of distances. The examina-
tion in this last part of the trial
was more severe and practical than
Capt. Curry. noted for hard ones in
This line, has ever given.
The men were required to stand
on the point of hill above the
surrounding country, which added
greatly 10 the difficulty, and then es-
innate The distance to a house,
small green bush on ditch bank,
a bunch of weeds, a gate in wire
fence, and last and most trying OF
all 10 tell how many yards it was
between two houses in the distance.
The day vas a fair one for the
test and some good scores were
made, Sergeant Humphrey was
high on the two hundred yard range
with score of 40 out of a possible
so, and also on the skirmish, with
So from a possible 100; Corporal
Linse lead at three hundrd, with
AZ and at one thousand yards First
Sergeant Bolles lead with score
of Sc
Private s. E. Sanislo had a streak
of bad luck on his skrmish, which
kept a very promising shot from quail
flying this year When starting out
on his skirmish run at six hundred
yards a cartridge damned in his
rifle, causing him 70 become little
ratified Everything went all right
from then on Until he had reached
the rapid fire at two hundred yards,
when owing to some nervousness
another jam occurred, spelling his
asst two shots Corporal Goulet. an
ether very good shot lost out by
having made two much allowance for
wind all his shots striking just
rev inches 10 the right of his target.
No u an need feel at all discouraged
a missing such a mark by so small
a margin, for this work is the most
battling required in he American
course and omitted by the armies of
almost every other nation owing to
The extreme difficulty of mastering
T. for the ordinary recruit.
Qualification In this grade en.
I'M as a man to silver medal
uron completing the course and an
additional bar for such three years
reaaal fication In addition 70 This
whe. N the service an expert re-
ceives 50 month extra pay and
the privilege Of using set triggers
and a telescope sight in battle. The
names of all those who are passed
inc this class are forwarded to the
secretary of war and filed by him
FOR use in case of trouble. TIE
rames of those completing the course
Sunday follow. The reports have
not been made out, so it Is impossi-
Bile 70 Civ the standing Of each man
Captain j. NJ Curry, Lieutenant A.
C. Pierce. First Sergeant L J.
Eolles, Sergeant H. R. HUMPHREY
Corporal W. A. Berg, Corporal 8. D.
Iinse Private c. E. Stout