Year: 1875

Captain A. H. Bogardus the champion pigeon shooter
Of the world, who returned from Europe u this city in
company with tha American rifle team was yesterday
visited at his hotel by representative OF the HERALD
in order that expression OF his opinions and expo
riences the which pigeon shooting con
tests are conducted in England might be obtained
Captain Bogardus expressed himself very freely upon
the subject, and his remarks. which given below
will be read with interest only by the pulers Of the
trigger but by the public generally


lie said: :'T had for long time felt desire to visit
England where had heard there were a large number
of crack shots with whom anxious to try concu
sions. felt confident that could beat them |, as
you know, went with the American rifle team.
took this opportunity for the that desired to
witness the contest in which they engaged and
also because it suited my private arrangements
Before my arrival in England had engagements to
enter into any matches whether in the form of exh
| btons or otherwise; but l inserted challenge in
Bells Life two days after my arrival in which offered
TO make match with any one for from GlO0 to $500
side. l then obtained several engagements for exh
bton shooting various conditions accounts of
which have already been published in the HERALD, as
also have been the results of my contests with ndi
vduals, whether for the championship or otherwise.
| "My experiences while in England of the pleas
ATTEST kind, and think have every be grat





is true had many overtures made to me- after they
found out what could do to lose certain matches or
miss certain birds; but considered that, the cham
pion of America and


AN CITIZEN,
my honor was at stake, and secuted all such propo
sails, and in unmistakabe terms gave the makers of
such propositions to understand that was the wrong
man to DO approached in any such way. My intention
when started to shoot my best in any contest
might engage in and to carry of the palm of victory If
could for the honor of the Stars and Stripes rrespec
| tive of any pecunary consideration.


''You see, continued the Captain 81 have been in
the habit of mixing with all classes and kinds of So
cety and was perfectly able to take caro- of myself
These overures, which refer made by certain
betting men who had evidently mistaken my character
for am proud TO say never sold match in my life
| very soon compelled them also to understand that
! whenever engaged in shoot 1t square
basis and that intended to win if l could might
have made more money by acting differently to what
! did, perhaps; but | quite satisfied with the
result of my trip, for not only paid all
my expenses, but away with of these to
the good (here the Captain exhibited pile of fifty
pound Bank of England notes. which have doubt
be sold for few greenbacks. got good deal of
chatting on some occasions when 1 was shooting, but
| my not very weak, and managed to stand
! 1t all


"Desdes my exhibition performances shot matches
with Shaw at Manchester, with Rimell at London,
with Stevens at Hendon, and two matches in South
Wales. In all of them l was the victor. also again
shot George Rimell for.


CHAMPIONSHIP WORLD,


where won the match and the badge. The only time
whom was treated in ungentemanly way in
my match with Shaw. On this occasion the arrange
ment was for each to trap and handle for the other
| Shnvv tn | eho ton alt hon
always kept my gun down below the elbow, according
to the American rules, and raised until the
signal pull given. Even then | waited also ac-
cording to the rules until the bird the fly In
order to trick me and show that | fired before
! the bird could leave the trap Shaw occasion
placed dead pigeon in the trap, and when the signal
was given to pulp | raised my gun and waited to get
sight of the bird the wing; but bird rose, and
! did not fire at once called out NO Bird and
claimed the match from the referee when found that


dead bird had been put in the trap That official how
ever ordered another bird to be given The match
| ity The referee afterward admitted that had
not, ut the time claimed the match,
| been 80 far ahead he would have given me
the stakes With this exception l was generally well
treated |, however, kept myself to myself and de-
/ clined all the proners of hospitality which were ex
tended me, Tor the reason that wanted to keep
straight and my nerves In good order This l could
not have done had gone the rounds with those who
asked me to go out with them On the whole / must
| say | particularly well pleased with my trip.
| went


A


and was handsomely treated, notwithstanding that
bore letters of introduction; for thought that the
fact of my being the champion Of America
sufficient passport To carry through
and | found it. l felt from the first that
could oushoot any of their crack shots and feel
now and, as stated in challenge published yester
| day am willing to make match with any ono in
! England elsewhere for the championship Of tho
world for from S5 900 S25 900. Ii any Englshman
| wishes to make such match will return 10 Eng
land and shoot it of within two months, or even
month If necessary


'Wh regard to the quality Of pigeons used in matches
the other side must certainly say that they
| The birds used there what termed
! blue rocks They strong, healthy birds and,
rule fly very swiftly and quick to get away.
! But under the rules governing matches, would
have the birds here there, Tor 1t makes but little diff
ference when opponent traps and handles for the
Others for each will naturally pull out the strongest
and best birds TO put up for his antagonist With the
practice have now had on these English pigeons,
could sure, Kill as many OF them as of American
birds.


I'm respect to the rules governing matches in England
the only radical difference appears be in the
matter of the distance of the boundaries. There the
usual thing is sixty yards while here Is eighty yards
| would US soon have the one the other although
of the opinion that the putting Of any boundary
into which bird shall drop is mistake entirely; for
although one might make splendid shot yet the bird
might drop few inches out Of bounds and thus be
lost This often happens every pigeon shooter
knows bird may be badly hit, but fly breath out
drop within bounds and BY rebound just get outside
tue llnc, anu thus count Is lost would rather
propose that three minutes should be allowed from
time OF the shot to


GATHER IN THE nIRp,


and do away with any boundary whatever.
"At the Hurghngham Grounds and at the grounds Of
! the London Gun Club they have fence surrounding
the shooting grounds, some ten twelve feet high,
! which Is considered as the boundaries. This fence
places l30 yards oil and others less but from
its height II gives better chance the gunner show
large scorc for pigeon WILL when badly hit often
times strike tins fence and all within bounds where
were IL not Tor this barrier, they would bo outside tho
pale. In my opinion on these grounds man can Kill
from ten TO fifteen more BIRDS in hundred than he can
/ rhara ale uI.r Al h,n iNfN
eighty yards without fence offered 10 make
match that l would kill more birds in hity than were
killed either OF these grounds, but could get
no one to accept the proposition.


IAN other rules governing matches on the other side
much the here although there Is one
that think should be changed for am decidedly OF
the opinion that


TIg AMERICAN RULE rs TIE DRsT


and faresL refer 10 the manner IN which the gun Is
held while waiting for the trap to be sprung and the