Year: 1874

Rihe Practice at the National Rine


Range by the Fifth Regiment, N. G.


s. N. VA swsltering Day That Was


Hard on the Boys.


The Filth regiment, N. @. 8. N. Y, being the
senior corps OF the Second brigade of General
Shaers First division OF the State National Guard.
turned out for ball practice yesterday In compli-
ance with previous orders from Adjutant General
Rathbone. The troops were supplied with tho
customary days rations and ammunition. Thew
marched out OF their armory IN good
time to get to Creedmoor and COM
mence firing by ten O'Clock A. M. There were
on the route to the range 307 enlisted men with
the usual cadre OF officers. or these, however.
only 2eo, officers, non-commissoned officers and
rank and file, fired; 80 that there were on the
ground some orty-seven men in uniform who did
not use their firearms or burn the cartridges that
were issued by the state for their instruction.


While shooting at the short range the troops dis.
played very creditable amount OF discipline ann
sobriety. Orders were given that one or TWO lager
beer wagons and unfortunate vendors Of
savory ham sandwiches should be driven or
the grounds, at the point OF the Dayonet,
II necessary, q ieat which was victoriously
achieved by the commanding officer in person..
This would have been well enough if the enticingn
liquor had been kept all day out OF the men'a
reach, but, in justice to the truth, it must bos
stated that during a long interval between the
shooting at the first and second ranges. the reg
iment, after stacking arms on the field, was
marched up to the hotel at the Creedmoor railway,
station where all the lager that they could paw
iOr, and more than was good for many OF the mem
to drink, could be had, and was had.


CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY.


In the Creedmoor Hotel Colonel Spencer gave q,
sumptuOus dinner to his Officers ami extended
an invitation to the members or the press who
we're on the ground. With such liberaity dld the.
chief treat his numerous guests tnat champaQn6
was even more plentiful than water and spring
chickens were in everybOdy's mouth.


by the time the festivities were over and the
men had regained the firing lines there were
among them few unsteady hands and waverlne
which was record their skill IN marksmansnip.
One man VINO was on sentry in front OF the lire OF
arm stacks, deliberately turned his rlne down tho
range and let ny swift winged messenger OF
DEATH without taking aim at any particular object.
aud that, too. while all the danger hags were
hying. He might have made some poor woman
widow or children orphans; but that aid
not seem to matter much in his eyes, that he
got his Wild reckless, random shot. The more
man formed part tried to arrest him but as he
was swift or foot and cunning to escape, his fellows
were very amuslngly exercised In the chase alter
him tor considerable portion OF time; buG at last
they succeeded IN bagging the game.


The great warmth OF he day was the only draw.
back to the shooting. The much desired cearnesS
Of the atmosphere and calmnesS OF the wind were
very favorable to good shooting yesterday. The
shooting was at the ranges prescribed BY the
500 yards, FIVE rounds and two sighting shots at,
aa