Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-14
D. c. RIFLE TEAM
IN CLEAN SWEEP
Guard Marksmen Take All
Prizes in Individual Cham
pionship Match.
Speci al Dispatch to The star.


SEAGIRT, y. J., September IA
Banking the field and running off
with all four prizes. the rif1emen of
the District of Columbia National
Guard made clean sweep in the
Guard division of the 1926 Seagirt in
dividual championship match. The
eagle.eyed team coach, Capt. Clarence
S. Shields, Company E, 121st Engi-
neers. took first honors with a score
Of $40 out Of a possible 375. while his
consistently shooting corporal, George
F.. Votava. also Of Company f, fin
ished close second with a score Of
1876 Third place went to Capt.
Fletcher F. Bernsdorff. Quartermaster
Corps, who scored $50. and fourth
place to Capt. Just c. Jensen, Guard
Ordnance Department, who made 327.
Being an aggregate of the scores
made in the Navy Cup match, which
consisted Of 20 shots standing, at 200
Yards; the Spencer match, Of Is shots
prone, at 1900 yards; the first stage
Of the Marine Corps Cup match, of
90 shots prone, at 800 yards, and the
final stage OF the national individual
match, which consisted of 20 shots
prone, at 900 yards, this champion
ship match called for the highest de-
gree of consistency in rife marksman-
ship.
Top Rank in Guard craftsmanship.
II is such performa nces as this that
have stamped the District miltiamen
as the best marksmen among the Ma
tional Guard Sof the Eastern States. and
that have caused the we'll seasoned
service shooters to be careful of their
i'm. lest they also suffer defeat. The
local team hopes to maintain this
reputation when they journey to Camp
Meade, Md, to participate in the Sd
Corps Area matches. which will be
held Friday, Saturday and Sunday of
this week.
Something out of the ordinary was
afforded the visiting service rifle ex-
perts when they entered the Daniel
Boone f1int-lock rife match yesterday
afternoon. Using the identical type
of weapon that was fired by our colo
mist forefathers in their war for indie
pendence, the marksmen learned some
of the difficulties and hardships the
soldiers of that era endured. Some of
the participants were even slightly
burned when the wind blew the ig-
nited primer charge into their faces.
Although surprisingly accurate at dis
tances up to 100 yards, the chief draw
hacks of the f1intlock seemed to be
IN the time and tools required for re
loading and the care that must be eX
ercised in keeping the powder dry.
F'Iintlock Not Popular.
Since none of the local Guardsmen
were able to hit the bullseye. their be
lief In the superiority of the present
service rife was greatly strengthened.
The match was conducted by Capt.
John G. Dillin, author Of The Ken
lucky Rifle" and member of the Phila-
delphia Rife Club
This morning the marines under
went an inspection, the second they
have had since being on duty here.
Maj. Gen. Ely Kelly Cole, United
States Marine Corps. who is the com
manding general Of Quantico post.
was the inspecting officer.
Davis S. McDougal. aged a. and
his brother. Douglas G. McDougal, jr..
aged 16. again brought honors to the
Western High School rifle team when
they qualified today as expert rif1emen
over the national individual champion
ship course. Their scores of 261 and
1862, respectively. was we'll over the
?55 points out of possible 800 re,
\uired for the rating. Capt. John r.
Brooke, jr., representing the director
Of civilian craftsmanship at this
tournament. awarded the boys the in
sigma appropriate of their classical
ton.