Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-10
HOGANS A HELP TO The TRAP
Famous Shooter Does Much to Pro-
mote the Popularity of the Sport
All Over the Country.
ORIGINATES NEW METHODS

fective than any other in developing the
popularity of the sport of trapshooting
in this country It In the stimulating In
fluence given to the sport by that unique
organization the Westy HoganB OF
America. whose annual trapshootlng tour
nament in Atlantic city. N. j.. Is now
locked upon In sporting circles as an
event Of national Importance and Justly
takes rank with other sporting events
OF national character.
Tint the Westy Hogans have done good
work in promoting target shooting Is
probably more generally recognized in
that section Of the country usually re-
ferred 10 as the east for the reason that
the members OF the organization, with
few exceptions. follow their vocations in
the eastern states.
II was in the east-in Pennsylvania
that their organization originated their
annual tournament is conducted on the
shores OF the Atlantic ocean. and the
great majority OF the shooters who at
tend their tournaments come from east
ern cities and towns.
Name Spread Everywhere.
But the name and fame OF the westy
the United States. as witness the fact
that at the tournament IN September OF
this year more than one-half OF the
states in the union were represented
among the contestants.
Conceived over night In little Penn
sylvania mining town. where a one-day
shoot had beoen held during tho day. IN
the summer of 1907, the organization wal
launched and In the following September
held It's first tournament on Young's ole
pier In Atlantic City. The membership
OF the Westy Hogans. then consisted o
scarcely dozen well known professional
trapshooters. Now II numbers fifty odd
Il might be said. by way OF explRna
tion. that membership In the organiza,
tion Is confined exclusively TO representa-.
tives Of firearms and ammunition man
ufaoturers. Also. be Il known. that thell
only object as westy Hogans Is 20 pro
mote the welfare OF the cleanest and
most wholesome outdoor recreation there
IL. They are entirely unselfish In this
and mercenary motives are beneath them
It is cardinal principle of the Westl
Hogans that no shop talk shall be in
dulged in at their annual tournaments
and this rule is strictly adhered 70.
The first tournament was a gratifying
success and a personal triumph for th'
men who shouldered the responsibility!
for undertaking the venture. Also.
foreeasted the future success of th'
weaty Hogans' tournaments. SlNty-thre,
different shooters took part In the sew
erai events OF the first tournament. and
| al
attendance
Provides Novelties.
When the tournament was over IN
Westy Hogans realised that in providinl
the novelty of shooting from an oeeal
pier they had introduced something new
ana attractive in trapshooting. and from
that time until the next shoot was he'll
all the shooters who took part in IN
first tournament were talking about H.
Tho result was that AZ the nvxt tourna
/ ment In 1905 there were iQ entries Il
1909. 10 different shooters participated
and in 1910. 2sa The high water mar
In attendance was reached In the fol
lowing yeAr-l9ii-with 800 entries, an
there Is no telling what It would hRv
been in the following year II the Hogan
had not been deprived OF the use Of tn
pier through It's destruction by fire 4
the winter OF 1911
At this period in their career the West
Hogans were confronted with the prob
lem OF securing another equally sttrae
tive place TO hold their tournamtnt'
much TO their dlsmay, and doubtless I
the disappointment Of their friends.
was found impossible to secure anothe
pier available for trSpshootlng.
sheet AZ Venice Park.
Convinced that II would be mistRk
to take the shoot away from AtlantI
City the Hogans found a suitable. bl
perhaps less attractive. location in N
suburbs OF Atlantic City. and since the
their shoots have been held IN VenlC
Park. an ideal shooting ground. ThrS
. tournaments. those la 1912. 1913 and 1871
have been held there. ami while the a
{ tendance, for obvious reasons has NJ
= been a. large as Il undoubtedly woul
5 have been ON Young's pier. the West
Hogans shoot continues to be as populs
{ az ever
q The attendance Jumped from 80 IN n
:. TO ssl in isia and a Il doubtful II a batt
4 pleased party OF trapshooters than tho
who participated ~ this last tournamel
2 could be found anywhere.
= The rise Of the Westy Hogans has bee
! truly noteworthy. They are a credit
y the Same and all outdoor. sport-loviI
enthusiasts who know them win subscril
TO this.
p ~ -. -