Year: 1874

Shot That Struck the Targets.


Those who stood on the Creedmoor rine range
on Saturday. to witness the great trial of skill
between the famed Irish marksmen who had car |
ried or the Echo Shield from the best shots Of
England and Scotland ana the comparatively un.
known representatives OF American marKsman-
ship, are not likely soon to forget contest that
destined to remain a landmark in the history Of
ride shooting. When the challenge to trial of
skill was accepted 1t was not thought possible that
America could furnish team OF long range marks
men capable Oh competing successfully with the
victors OF Wimbledon. And 1t must be confessed
that TO good uc1 as much as superior skill do We
success in the very close contest. The error
Of making BULBS eye on the wrong target made by
one of the Irish team gave the victory to America
Had 1t not been for this mischance our
plucky visitors would have carried back their fame
scotched indeed. but still secure. AS 1t is they
have the consolation or knowing that the points
actually scored by their team exceed by one that
made by their opponents. But the ruling out of
Mr.. Miners mlsdlrected shot deprived them OF
four points, and decided the contest in favoro
America By three points. With such record de-
feat loses all Its sting, and the unsuccessful marks
men may console themselves with having merited
victory If they did not achieve 1t. The score made
on Saturday has never been equalled In any long
range competition, and even the Irish rlnemen
surpassed all their former efforts. This renders
the victory OF the Americans the more honorable,
while 1t ls an achievement OF which the defeated
team may be prond. We republish to-day the
target diagrams Of the shooting, freed from one or
two slight inaccuracies that had crept into our
issue OF yesterday owing to the shortness OF time
at our disposal for the preparation OF the neces-
sary plates Although the tmperiecttOns were con-
fined to a few burs that marred the cearness OF
the diagrams, we are anxious that iull justice
should be done to the splendid craftsmanship
displayed on Saturday, and hence we reissue the
diagrams In q perfect state, each diagram ac-
cOmpanied by its proper score. In consequence
OF the delay in returning to town, caused by the
gross neglect and incompetency displayed by the
managers Of the Long Island Central Railroad, 1t
was impossible to review as fully as we should
have desired the problems presented by the inter-
national contest. There were to rinemen and
military men questions Of grave Importance un-
derlying the struggle between the twelve men
who were doing battle for the fame Of
Ireland and America, and to the men
who watched closely the progress OF the
contest the value OF the so-called Improvements
effected Of late years In small arms for military
purposes must have appeared extremely doubtful.
In England for many years there has been In pro-





leaders, and each has found its strong supporters.
1t was at first thought impossible to construct
breech loading gun that would fire as accurately
as the muzze- loader, but the experiments yester-
day showed clearly that this was not quite correct
The trial would, however, have been more salts
factory in Its results had Lieutenant. Fulton,
who made with the Remington breecnloader the
highest score ever made. charged it as a
muzzle-loader. In one point the muzzle-
loader elfectually established Its superiority
a. o military service arm. Alter every shot
the marksmen using the breech-loadlng ride were
obliged TO wipe ont their weapons with painful
care, while the Irish, who used the Rgby muzzie-
loader, fred their whole score without once clean
ing out their rifles. Nor did the accuracy OF their
shooting seem to suffer IN the least. On the con-
trary their best scoring was made on the last
range. 1t was noticeable that they were able to
IRE more rapidly than their adversaries. With
the breech-loader the marksman Is compelled to
wipe out carefully his barrel alter every shot,
under pam OF making inaccurate shooting. In
target shooting this is not much disadvantage,
hut in the field 1t would be impossible lor troops
to stop and clean out their weapons alter every
shot. The result would inevitably be that alter
few rounds all existing breech-loaders would be.
come louled and unreliable as the old musket,
while troops armed with muzzle-loaders would



when they FIRST opened 1res


The outward conditions under which the con.
test took place were more favorable to the spec
tators than to the marksmen. From the point
where the RED nsgs marked the position to be taken
mp by the firing squads, spread out an immense
rectangular lawn, terminated By range OF tar
gets, behind which rose up the massive earth
mound which the unskilful marksman makes q
billet for his lead, smooth, well nigh, as the face
OF billiard board; not a wild flower or blade OF
grass peeped up to intercept the vision. Every
where along the greenswsrd was visible the mark
Of the moving machines, that made sad havoc
among the humble field flowers. No one. how
ever, seemed TO regret the flowers, but every
Marksman's eye lighted up as ne looked along
that level track, with outspoken promise OF fair
neld and no favor. Like most pictures, 1t had It's
shady side. The hot sun poured down on the open
space with more than september ZEAL and the
slight exhaaton far down near the targets told
She practised eye that the mirage would be likely
to bother the rinemen good deal. What wind
there was blew up the range In the direction Of
the targets, with scarcely perceptble drlft to
the right So far everything was as the American
team could have wished it--a total absence of
wind and q mirage doubly deceptive to the
strangers.


Under this aspect OF afYairs the competing teams
COOK their places at the firing points, the Ameri-
can party being assigned TO 10 and 20, the latter
being looked upon as the most favorable to good
shooting. On the practice days these targets had
been occupied by the Irish, but having won the
toss ior choice OF place they voluntarily chose 10
and H. the intervening target ffS) being thrown
down SO as to prevent mistakes In arng at wrong
targets. The object OF the change was made visi-
bic during the progress OF the match as by 1t the
irish team obtained the shelter OF large tree that
stands at the 1000 yards range. Il was evident
from the moment the Irish marksmen appeared on
the ground that they suffered considerable incon.
ven:ence from the unusual heat. BY the aid of
friendly umbrellas they endeavored as mucn as
possible to shield themselves from the sun.