New-York tribune., 1916-07-29
ROOKIE IS SHOT.
AT RIFLE RANGE
Target Marker at PlattS-
burg Struck-Injury
Not Serious.
tr-,, SAN co,r..nona.p, o, The Tribun.

from . stan Correspondent Of The Tribune
Plattsburg, n. Y, July 2S.-While
Noinp duty as a marker in the target
pits to-day, Fred w. McConkey, jr., OF
Portland. Me-, a rookie in Company h.
7th Regiment, was struck in the back OIL
the head by a ricochetting bullet and
knocked insensible. The skin OF MS
scalp was punctured, but as the bullet
was almost spent it did not penetrate
his skull. He was taken to the posi-
bospital. and it was reported to-nlghV
that he was in no danger.
At the time he was struck he was
walking with Corporal Rector, of the
regular army. Captain W. 5. Woodrun,
Iieutenant Townsend Whelen, the
range officer, and Lieutenant Charles
r Amory held an investigation, ana
reached the conclusion that the bullet
had undoubtedly ricochetted, and that
nobody was to blame.
First Accident of Kind.
Duty as marker falls to the lot OF
every rookie. and they have an inter
esting experience while listening 10
tbe bullets smashing into the parape'
of the pit, crashing through the tar
gets. and often tipping the top OF the
trench and bringing deluge Of sanu
down upon them, but they have
learned to have no fear of injury as
long as they follow the precautions
Grilled into them by the enlisted men
who supervise the work.
There have been rumors of previous
injuries, but investigation has proved
them false, this being the first aecl-
dent of the kind that has happened al
these ranges.
BIDS for more than 100000 worth
Of food for the August rockies were
opened to-day. For the present rooS,
les il has been computed that 1T Will
cost $4,000 a day TO feed the men
on the hike, somewhat less than IL
costs in camp, as desserts Will oe
eliminated, except for ice cream on
Sunday.
One rookie has solved the way u
beat the income devouring taxicao-
the chief means of communication be-
tween the training camps and the town
of Plattsburg is by mosquito heet OF
iitneys. They do such prosperous
business that the statistician OF the
curious might spend pleasant sum,
mer figuring out how many Fords ana
60 forth the town-wending rockies
have bought, are buying and VIII puy
for thrifty Plattsburgers with their
quarter fares.
A Crowd Each Trip.
By town law the charge per HlP
within the city limits is twenty-tEe.
cents, the discovery OF whlcn Iae.
takes the breath completely away IRON
the New Yorker when ne nrst goes ~
town nv motor. But the car owners
are not starving at that price, pecause I"
several trips an hour may De mace,
and there is no law agalns' io"u'"e
their cars, seats and guards.
That is to say, the charge limit IS
+wentv-fve cents a trip up to ii
o,cIoci and strictly within the town
limits as Harry y. Sanford, first wee
nresident of the Adams Express Com.
nanv discovered. He is member o.
Company A in the Seventh Regimen,
seniors. He had one OF the Jitheys
ont the other night, came TO town. ran
nm TO the Hotel Champlain' stopped
awhile and then went back TO ms resi-
ment at a seemly hour. When ne came
10 nav his bill it was SfO.
Gee whiz, it is cheaper to buy
.or tban hire one up here" he said;
the the first thing he did in the morning
vas vas 70 telephone an auto agent to de-
80 him a machine, and get driver
for II. c
Auto for Company.
More than this. it must be especiaily
antioned that there is nothing selhsh
about Mr.. Sanford. II was not Tor
b;mself alone that he wanted that car
~ heat the taxis with; the troubles
- ali his comrades in Company A
were u o. olso resting heavily on his mind
~.'; instead Of getting the car as pri-
yste % possession, he bought 1t for the
Good of the company. To prove II ne
sovu IN characters a foot high