Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-25


Edwin c. Burlcigh in 1889 and '93; on
| the staff of Gov. Henry B. Cleaves in
| 1898 and '97 and on the staff of Gov.
Llewellyn Powers in 1897 and '01.
During those years he had charge
of the instruction in rifle practice for
1.-THE Maine Volunteer Militia From
1882 until 1885 he was in the employ
J of the United States government at
| the custom house in Portland. He was
Ian engroSSing clerk in the office of the
secretary of State in 1889 and was 1t
| that time appointed secretary to the
| Board of Railroad Commissioners, Il
position which he held until the time
of his death. He had also been the
secretary of the Maine Sportsmens
| Fish and Game Association since its
| organization.
| Col. harrington was not only the fa-
Their of military rifle shooting in Maine
Ibut deserves to rank as one of the
leaders in military rifle shooting as g
national work. He was appointed gen.
eral inspector of rifle practice on the
staff of Gov Daniel F. Davis April %,
1850. and with the exception of the pc
Rod from Jan. 3, 1889, to April 2S, 1891,
|
3. 1901 On May Z, 1901, he was placed
upon the retired list with the rank of
brigadier general. During that period
! of 20 years he served on the staff of
Governors Davis. Plaisted, Robe. Bod
well, Marble (actins), Burleigh, Cleaves
anG Powers
At the time that Col. Harrington be-
gan his work with the Maine militia
Interest in rifle shooting so far as the
militia was concerned. was at very low
IeEb. In New York, Gen. George W.
Wlngate was performing excellent
work, and here and there, some of the
states We're giving passing attention
to rife practice. In this State little or
nothing had been accomplished and
Col. Harrington had to start at the
very bottom of the ladder. He was al
ready an enthusiastic rifeman himself
and soon succeeded in arousing inter-
est throughout the State. The condi-
tons which he had to meet are best
described in his first report made I'M
der date of Dec 20, 1885, in which he
Isays: IAN examination of the different
companies disclosed the fact that 60
per cent. of the entire militia had new
er fired 2 rifle and but very few were
average shots. The outlook was dis
oouraging. There was no range in the
state. The companies did not receive
| their 45-caiber Springfield rifles I'M
til the very last of June; but the ear
nest desire of the officers and men to
become skilled in this most important
part OF soldiers duty encouraged mo
to do all that seemed practicable for so
short i time"
1t was during Col. Farrington's first
wear that the State rifle range was es-
tablished in Augusta. This was the
old range on the Trotting park Just
south of the State House grounds, and
many Augusta people who We're inter-
esteI in shooting in the sos will recall
the old iron targets with plate glass
covered traps which We're then in use.
| Throughout the winter and spring
following his appointment Col Far
Irngton was untirins in tho matter of
larmory instruction and at the end of
| the second outdoor season he was able
to say in his annual report: '"rhe re-
suit of the rife practice this season
eXcelled my most sangune eXpecta-
lions and 7 am proud 20 inform you
1
cheney in rifle practice is not excelled
| by any state in the Union. From 81
marksmcn. qualified in 1880, the mum
Der has now increased to 264."
| From that time on there was
steady upward movement in rife prac-
tice in Maine, and in 1896 and 1897 the
National Guard Of this State stood
very high among the several states OF
the Union. The Spanish War made so
many changes in the Guard that after
peace was declared and the volunteer
organizations were returned to State
authority very much of the work ac-
complishcd in years before had to be
begun over. Qualification systems We're
changing, changes We're being made in
the rife and from 1898 to the close of
1900. which was Col. Farrngton's last
active year with the Guard there was
not the same opportunity for steady
progress that there was prior to 1895.
AS result of the work accomplish
ad by Col harrington the LIST Maine
infantry left the State in 1898 with a
majority Of its officers and great
many Of its men thoroughly familiar
with military rifle shooting and so
qualified that they could have given
an excellent account of themselves as
sharpshooters, had the fortunes of war
sent them to the front instead of a
summer OF sickness in Chickamauea
| Park.
| Col. Harrington was able during tine
summer of 1895 to thoroughly instruct
| TIE officers and men of the battalion of
| Heavy Artillery which went from this
state to Savannah and afterwards to
una. His influence was also felt in
| the far-off Philippines when volunteer
officers who had learned to shoot I'M
Ter MIN in the National Guard of this
stat" entered Zealously and intelH-
gently upon the training of the voun
'eers. Pine companies of Capt. Baker.
capt. Paul and others became known
N the Philippines as Shooting COM
9anles because their commanding Of
1cers had been thoroughly trained bv
Col. harrington
Throughout his service at the head
ot the department of rifle PRACTICE in