Norwich bulletin., 1919-04-16
26 YEARS OF TRAPsHHoTlNG
By PETER P. CARNEY ,-a-- =

k1ltOr National sports SNHdlCdle
 Fer 26 years years Elmer E. Shan CT managed the affairs of the Inter- states Trapshooting Association, talk
 ing hold in 1892 when conditions were chaotic and retiring this yaar after trapshooting had reached the front ranks of sporting pastimes.
 Shaner is the man who put the trap in trapshooting" He brought order out of chaos in the early days through a determination to do right by all at all times. Everyone got a fair daal from Elmer Snaner and the present satisfactory condition of the sport is a tribute to him. Trap shooting never took backward step under his guidance.
 With the retirement of Shaner as manager the Intnrstate Association ceased to exist and the American TrapshootinS Association came into being It is our belief that Mr. Shaner knows more about trapshoot- ing conditions of tha past and pres we therefore asked him to prepare brif history on tropshooting which he has done in his masterly way.
 Here is MT. Shaners story:
 "The statem ant that perfection is a plant of slow growth, repeated un- til it has become canonical has been jolted by the Interstate Trapshooting Association, for this organization, though sickly in it's infancy, reached the prime of lifa in phenomenally short time.
 The Assoc iation originally came into being in 1892 as the Interstate Manufacturers and Dealers Associa- tion It was not the idea of any one person, but was the product of di- varse interests and time has proven that they builded better than they know as the most sanguine of the originators never dreamed their pro- geny would bound into first place in the world of trapshooting.
 "The first board of dirnctors was comprised of Charles Tatham, O. D. Delano, H. A. Penrose. J. A. II. Ores sell George H. Sampson, Justus von Lengerl1e and Noel Money l was ! selectad as manager and continued in that position until January of this 1 year.
 The credit of the organization was 1 at a rather low ebb in 1893, it's bus i mess being handled in a crude way; vigorous enough, but not method. | But one tournament at a time was arranged and quite often it was not 1 known where the next one would be given, instructions freuently being telegraphed me where I had a tour nament in progr ass where to ship the associations outfit for the next tour nament. So much friction was caus- ed by the want of proper direction. and so much tribulation experienced,
 that the associations continued ex- | istence bacame a serious problem. ! Beginning of Live Bird Shooting | Tt was soon happily solved by an I event that acted like an infusion of new blood into a consumptive It l American Handicap at live birds at Dextnr Park, Long Island in 1893.
 The ultimate success of this venture l was predicted at the time, para
 graph in the yearly review saying: | There is evary reason to believe that
 in course of time this contest will be | looked upon as the greatest pigeon
 shooting event in the United States Evaryone knows how triumphantly 1 this prediction was verified
 Tn 1895 the name of the associ-
 ation was changed to the Interstate Associa tion for the Encouragem ant of
 Trapshooting. This year was the bes
 to date. Members who were singing
 the Miserere in 1893 now shouted | 'Veni, Vidi Vici,' and buriad red fire.