Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
FIFTH TR|ENN|AL
SHOOTING FESTIVAL
Letter From President Com
mending Bund's Pur-
poses.

CHARLESTON. s. c.. April ,i.-President
f H. Jahrz OF the National Schuetzen-
huud which Will hold its fifth triennial ma
tinnal shooting festival in this city May q
to H. has received a letter from Pres-
dent Roosevelt commencing the purposes
of the organization. and the service it is
doing for the country in raising the stand
ara of craftsmanship among citizens. The
Presidents letter is follows:
1.-The White House. Washington. D. c.
My Dear Sir-I wish you hearty good
luck in what you are doing for rifle shoot
ing The National Schuetzcubund can per-
foam real service To the United States by
working In the future as in the past for the
promotion Of craftsmanship
"Cur country has regular army of such
small size Though may say in passing of
such trained efficiency as to be one of the
best national assets that in the event of
war the great bulk of our forces will have
to cons ST Of volunteers. Accordingly, it is
Of prime Importance that there should be a
thorough familiarity with the use of the
ritlc among those ~ our people from whom
the ranks of the volunteers would in time
of war naturally be filed.
Therefore, In helping raise the standard
of craftsmanship among our people and in
pCpularizirg rifle shooting the SChuetzen-
hund is performing great service for
which the country is your debtor. Sincerely
yours THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The President will fire the first shot at
the festival disCharging a rife. carefully
sighted and secured in position. by cleo
tricII connection leading direct from the
White House to the target box at the
SohuetZenbund at Charleston. The Pres!-
dent was invited to attend the festival in
person. but his engagements would not per-
init him to accept.
Many Notables to Attend.
has promised to attend. and other dis
tinguished visitors are expected
This will be the first national shooting
festival of the association which has ever
been held in the south. The Getermina-
tiOn to hold the festival in Charleston was
made in 1904 at the triennial meet in New
York. upon the invitation of the German
Rifle Club of Charleston. which is the old
est organization of its kind in the United
States. having celebrated two years ago
its golden jubilee on the fiftieth anniversary
Of It's establishment.
The German emperor, William H. is an
honorary member of the Charleston club.
this being the only association in the United
States in which he has accepted such mem
bcrship. He was elected in place of his
grandfather. the first emperor. who was
elected shortly after his proclamation as
head of the German empire. The club has
six French rifles which were presented by
the old emperor. trophies of war captured
in TIE Franco-Prussan conflict These
ri9es will he exhibited in the grand parade
with which the fest will be opened
Elaborate Preparations
Eaborat" preparations have been made
for the shooting festival and FOR enter
taiumcut Of the many hundreds of visitors
who are expected in Charleston for the &C.
castor. The grounds of the rifle club. &C
Cupying a beautiful section of the suburbs
on the banks of the Ashley river. have been
put into fine condition. the most approved
target ranges have been erected and the
buildings have been arranged for accom-
notation of the ceremonial and festival fea-
lures Of the gathering. The membership of
the local club has been increasing to more
than thousand in authorization of the ma
tional meet, and all elements of the com
mUnity have joined in the effort to make
this festival the most successful that has
ever been held by the National Association.
The prize list for the marksmen is very
extensive. the medals and purses being Very
numerous and valuable. Altogether. about
twenty thousand dollars will be hung up
in purses a, the various targets, besides
numerous medals of honor. For these
prizes and honors it Is expected that some
of the most expert riicmen in the United
States will compete. and some very close
contests are assured.
5000 Rifiemen Expected.
OF the 10 clubs which are members of
the National Association nearly one-half
have already signified their intention of
sending representa- lives TO the Charleston
meet and IL is estimated that there will
he an attendance of at least 5000 rifiemen
from every part of the country. Seven
teen clubs in New York will send delegates
ten In California will be represented. one
in San Francisco having voted special
prize of $40 to be shot for at one of the
targets. A number of clubs from Ohio
will send marksmen. and from the south a
large number are expected Arrangements
for the accommodation of these visitors in
the most comfortable manner have been
made and there will be many entert ain
men have chartered steamer for the trip
and have engaged almost the entire ac-
CgmmOdatOns OF one of the large hotels.
Tie shooting will begin in the afternoon
Of May and will continue through May
II, and also will be held on May ID
Throughout the day. from am. to : pm.
'At rifles VIII be busy, with an hours in
PERMISSION at noon. The principal targets
at 2u yards. will be association targets for
members only; honor targets, Columbia;
Stitch targets Gcrmania. There will also
b" special targets for the ladies'
Many Valuable Prizes
At the Columbia target the associa ton
guarantees three cash prizes of S4O0 $500
and SIJ". besides number of small prizes
which. il is estimated, will assure prac-
traNy every one making a fair score a
p~zn AT the Germ3nia target there will be
Sf'"r hung uV H. sixtv-tw0 prizes. the first
q" hr'ug valued at So - At the ring
Target there will be pgiz,s Of the same
number and value. SJnn in prizes is Offered
al the standard American target, and 81 900
-------------s----'-- -----~'s-----7----7------