Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-10-30
WORLDS CHAMPION
TELLS OF HIS WORK
RELATES HISTORY or SHOOTING
CAREER.
Champion WelI-known Here, and His
NumerOus Friends Proud Of
His Record.

J. s.. Tanning, more Familiarity
known throughout the sporting world
a. Jack" who is representing the
Dupont Powder Company. and who
expects TO be here renewing old ac-
quaintances and friendship which he
has gained on previous visits 70 this
city in connection with his aflliation
with the Gainesville Gun Club. was
the center Of attraction among the
local sportsmen at the Brown House
yesterday, when scores came to shake
his big-hearted hand and express
themselves as being glad to see him
again They have made him promise
to stay over until the middle Of the
week, 50 that they might enjoy the
opening Of the hunting season in his
company
Mr.. Tanning Is indeed an interesting
figure, since he has seen more ex-
perience In marksmanship and hunt.
ing than possibly any other man In the
United States Notwithstanding that
he is yet under fifty by several years,
his "reminiscences Of hunting expe-
rience, almost covering the world. are
interesting. and at intervals tinged |
with a weird excitement
Mr. Tanning is none too willing to
talk Of his experiences for publica-
ton, but. after some persuasion. gave
a representative OF The Sun brief
outline Of his life since a young lad
4 man with his modesty and the rec
ord obtained by his marksmanship do
not work well together, since his ex-
periences are well worth the atten.
tion Of the reading public, as he has
for years held the championship OF
the world for Workmanship in trap I
shooting, and has a number OF certih-
Gates and gold medals to sustain this I
record.
Mr. FannIns's Biography s
As has been previously said, Mr.. I
Tanning refraIns from making much Il
reference to himself, but. when push a
ed, he was induced to give the follow.
ing story In brief:
Il am Californian by birth, having =
frat seen the light Of day IN San
Francisco forty-four years ago. My
father owned a fairly nice farm and
ranch within few miles Of San Fran.
cisco, along the bay, and when l was
nothing more than swaddling tor
we moved TO this place. as my father =
desired to take up the country life =
again. L
Being regarded as an exceptional Q
~ good shot, and loving the things OF a
nature. my father used 20 hunt IA
great deal for his pleasure, ana, Incl =
dentally. for the benefit of his neigh 5
bors, who were very fond of game u
and who were less expert In shooting =
than he The result OF an afternoon =
shoot used to be good game supper .
for most everybody around our home, =
for father used Co bag the game.
In the course OF time naturally v
inherited the instinct OF my father, ,
and became accustomed to go with +
him regularly, and II was not long
before the neIghbors actually used 10 i
Kid father about HIS 'unfaillng aim o
as his son brought In more game II
than he. n
Il do not deserve any credit for
craftsmanship, because, as I say, Il >
was inherited; but must admit. judg. .
ing from my own experience and what =
others had TO say, that was making Q
extraordinary good progress. for sci. u
dom missed a shot, and when | went
out for an afternoons sport Il used o
10 be a universal conclusion that there Z
would be something doing In the =
game hno for supper. v
THE country must have taken no. .
lice OF my marksmanshlp. for when
! was seventeen received an invita-. !
,lon 10 participate Ia the State champ =
lonship OF California in glass ball p
shoot. IN competition with a number .
II experienced marksmon. and 20 my y
surprise I won the championship.
breaking my straights out OF hty-
h other words. 60 use a modern OK. I