Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-19
SHOOTING SOM e.
When Lincoln With carbine Hit Bulls
Eye Repeatedly.

II
When Lincoln With carbine Hit Bulls
Eye Repeatedly.
A gentleman in this city, says an old
issue of the Indianapolis Sentinel, has
in his possession a curious relic Of the
late President Lincoln. In August,
1863, Mr.. 8. was a clerk in the navy
department at Washington. The ac-
cumulation Of business at that time
frequently compelled him to work after
Office hours. About 6 o'clock on the
evening of the 31st the clerks having
all left the department, and the watch
man not yet on duty, Mr.. s. sat at his
desk alone, as he thought, in the build
ing. Suddenly he heard some one
walking up and down the hall with long
strides, muttering to himself.
81 do wonder II they have gone on
and left the building all alone" he
heard the voice say as he came to the
door. Looking down the hall, he saw
President Lincoln, who presently turn
ed, and seeing Mr.. s. approaching said:
Good evening, sir. I was just looking
for that man who goes shooting with
me sometimes" said Mr.. Lincoln. Mr..
8. happened to know that President
Lincoln was fond Of firearms, and was
in the habit Of testing every new gun
invented, which at that time was
pretty frequent occurrence. The mes
senger Of the ordnance bureau general
ly went with Mr.. Lincoln on his trial
trips, so Mr.. s. told him he would see
if the mssn was still In the building.
Finding that he was not, Mr.. s. onered
his services "All right" said Mr'
Lincoln, get your coat on and come
on" He followed Mr.. s. into the room
and stood ct his desk, drumming on
1t with his fingers and keeping up a
running fire Of talk about the amount
of work they all had to do, how hot
the weather was, etc. Mr.. 5. being
ready, they started. But hold on"
said Mr.. Lincoln. 1--WE must have some
thing to shoot at" So Mr.. s. went
back to his desk and got half sheet
of congress letter paper; this he fold
ed twice, making the target four thick
nesses Of paper.
At the door Of the navy department
they met q man from the White House
with a box Of ammunition and Spen-
Ger carbine, which gun had been re-
Gently invented, and the qualities OF
which Mr.. Lincoln was going to test.
Mr.. S. took the gun and Mr.. Lincoln
the cartridge box, and then Mr. s. took
three steps and Mr. Lincoln took one,
and with a trot and stride the TWO
made their way across the lot soutn
of the White House. Arriving at a
safe distance, Mr.. S. placed the target
against a guy post standing In the
ground, and the president, having load
ed the carbine, paced off the distance,
about 80 to 100 feet, raised the rifle
to a level, took quick aim and fired
the round Of seven shots (the Spencer
carbine is a seven barreled revolver)
in quick succession, the bullets clip
ping all around the target like Cat
ling gun, and one striking near the
centre.
81 believe can make this gun shoot
better" said Mr.. Lincoln, after they
had looked at the result of the fire.
With this he took from his vest pocket
small wooden sight which he had
whitfield from a pine stick, and adjust
ed it over the sight of the carbine. He
then shot two rounds, and OF the four
teen bullets nearly dozen hit the pa
per. Mr. Lincoln then wanted Mr. 5.
to shoot, but as that gentleman wasn't
proud Of his craftsmanship he declin-
ed, and the two walked across the lot
to the White House, Mr.. Lincoln with
the cartridge box and carbine on his
shoulder, chatting like a boy nome
from hunting, and Mr.. S. with the tar
get in his pocket, getting In word
edgeways when he could.
At the White House door they part
ed, and with a CHEEKY good night,
from Mr.. Lincoln, in the whirlgig OF
time yesterday brought the target be-
fore the eyes of a Sentinel reporter 1t
is now a faded piece Of paper about
four inches square. Near the centre
is a blackened hole, through which Mr..
S. said the president, having got good
range, sent five or six bullets in sue
cession. A little to the right Of this
is another spot pierced by two bullets,
and just below a third perforation.
These within radius Of about two
inches At the left lower corner
piece Of the paper is Clipped out, and
another at the right centre, while thel
post all around the paper, Mr.. S. said'
looked as If 1t had the smallpox.