Evening star., 1927-11-06


won in competition with the most ex-
pert rifle shots of the globe, attest his
craftsmanship. His ability to hit the
buIl's-eve with monotonOus regularity
has carried him to two Olympic cham
pionshps, two world championships.
several national championships and
numerous lesser titles, all of which
brought him one or more trophies to
add to his collection.
The question might arise in the
minds of many as to what to do with
so many medals. Sergt. Fisher has
effectively solved this problem by hav-
ing them put in large glass case,
such as Is used to exhibit stamps or
other small objects in museums, and
this case. mounted on corner table,
forms a unique yet harmonious addi-
ton to the furnishings of the living
room of his Anacostia home.
In spite of his imposing array of
awards, many more than he could pos
sibly wear, the broad-shouldered Ma
rine sergeant insists he IS not col
| lector of medals. Those he has were
earned in actual competitive matches,
and their number would be much
greater, he states, If he had gone into
the shooting game" with the idea
Of amassing all the prizes he could
for merely making "qualifying" scores.
| Such medals he calls junk, not
| worth getting. much less preserving.
| Locality apparently makes very lit
| tie difference to the sharpShOoter, for,
| though most of his trophies were won
| in America, Sergt Fisher has in his
collection medals brought home from
Switzerland. Belgium, France, Italy
and Peru.
In the center of the display case
l.. lisI- oil hoo
| ing the likeness of one of the famous
Swiss civilian shooters. 1t is the last
| medal won by the sergeant. and com
| memorates his victory in the interna
| tional matches at Geneva in 1925. by
| wav of contrast there hangs close by
| a Marine sharpshooter' bar. the first
concrete recognition Fisher received
of his prowess with the rifle. , He still
values this modest medal highly. and
recalls that he felt as though he had
| reached the pinnacle or fame when
he won it, Another trophy which is
pr.Zed greatly by this medalist Is one
given him by Mayor llylan of New
| York upon his return from the Olym.
pic games of 1924. Similar medals
were given by MIR. Hylan to all Ameri-
can victors in the Olympics of that
| year.
~
r:flemcn with as large an assortment
of medals, SerGt. Fisher modestly re-
piled that, though perhaps few shoot
| ers had been as fortunate as he, there
were innumerabe athletes in many
other lines of sport who could surpass
| his collection.
1.-THE prizes given winners Of rifle
matches" he declared. seem insiSnlfl-
/ cant when compared to the costly
| trophics awarded in other sports.
! good local swimmer might win more
cups and other elaborate prizes in
! single season than an expert rifeman
could collect In "A decade. This lack of
/ high quality stakes is, to me. one of
the most discourasing features of tar
| get shooting
| In reply to query concerning
! the greatest thrill of his shoot
| ing career. this - twice worlds
! champion replied promptly that
! he was most clated when awarded
a silver cup by the Adelphia athletic
club of Philadelphia. an organization
that recognizes only the top-notch
ntan in each branch Of sport. Cham
rions who refuse to defend their title