FOREST AND STREAM. 



71 



RIFLE NOTES. 



L. Weber, American team, lias gone to California for 



his health. 



0. E. Overbaugh, who did 66 well at Crecdmoor hist 

 •week, has been trying his hand at billiards this winter, He 

 don't move the ivory balls quite as well as he docs the 

 leaden ones. 



The fate of an International rifle match (his year is now 

 in the hands of the rill e clubs throughout thecouDtry. 



Yale wants to back his "lemon and white setter" against 

 Judge Gildersleeve's dog. There is no chaDee for the 

 "setter;" his pedigree cannot be traced. 



L. 31. Ballard has invented a "locking cork," so that no 

 one can steal a drink from a bottle locked with one of his 

 corks. Iluw about stealing the bottle? 



E. H. Madison, who won the bronze medal presented to 

 the Amateur Kifle flub by the N. R. A. last November, 

 had the honor of carrying off the hist prize in the pigeou 

 match at Jamaica, a short time ago. 



Judge Smith made some splendid "word" shooting at 

 Conliu's Gallery last week. 



Lying-down shooting is a specialty at Hellwig's Gallery. 



A match in the lying down position is the next thiug on 

 the programme at Miley's Brooklyn Gallery. 



Elogardus is in the city. lie is making arrangements for 

 a large match to shool at glass balls (brown from a trap 

 He thinks shooting at them is almost as good practice as 

 shooting at pigeons. 



The riflemen of Spy-Pond Range, Boston, are talking of 

 challenging any team from New York or vicinity to shool 

 an off-hand match. The Jamaica ftifle Club are doubtless 

 ready, judging from their splendid scores. 



L. C. Bruce, American team, cannot shoot at Creedmoor 

 to any extent this year through press of business. 



An Inter-Slate match, allowing foiir different teams to 

 enier from each State is suggested. 



Thirteen thousand dollars were expended in rifle compe- 

 tition last year by the Dominion" fiifio Association of 

 Ottawa, Canada, flow much does it cost the N. II A. loi 

 prizes S 



Fulton is iulerested in the Maynard rifle now. He will 

 shoot that rifle this year in the long-range malches. 



A mutch between the riflemen of Brooklyn and New 

 York, at long range, vs ill probably take place at Creedmoor 

 this season. 



After the meeting of the Amateur Rifle Club, which was 

 held at the Seventh Regiment Armory last, week, C. F. 

 Robbins inviled the members to see the rifle range situated 

 in the basement of the building. Two teams were formed, 

 and quite a rifle match took place. 



New York — The 83d of February was observed by the 

 Saratoga Rifle Club in the following manner: Messrs. How- 

 ard and Aiusworth were appointed captains, to choose 

 sides of all the riflemen who wuuld participate in a match 

 for an oyster supper, conditions, etc., N. R. A. rules, ex- 

 cept that any gun and trigger was allowed. The following 

 were the teams and scores; distance, 200 yards. 



IIOW-AltD TE15I. I AIHaTTOBSH TEAM. 



Name. Score. Name. Score. 



11 \V Hayed 11 Odell Uatea 11 



Irvtriu Divis - «|W. H. Benson «" 



JohiAVebt) 40(1. Armstrong ":' 



O.H.Cromwell 4u J. W. .Slimier 



0. J. Whig *) *v. udell.... 



J. M. Andrews, J 

 A. Q. Warriucr... 



John Moody 



J. n. Famngton 38 



J. N. Kuinsdell 3' 



_ . Pitney... 



W". J. Leggtat 



3. W. Aiuovvorth 



li W. Auiedtrn 



J. Hiys 



laches 



W. 11. Smith lei 



W. Klein 10 15-16 



vy. K: Brown 11 1-10 



L. C. Brace 11 2-8 



Winners of Minor Prizes. 

 i„. Names. Inches. 



!( >T. li. Thurston 11J 



11 7-1U 



Total tfi| Total ...446 



The Howard team won by 26 points. After the match 

 the vanquished side escorted their victors to an up-iown 

 hotel, where all partook of an elegant supper. 



Covlin's Gallery.— The Amateur Piize shooling match 

 ended Feb. 28ih. It commenced January 10th, and was 

 liberally patronized by most all of the amateur indoor rifle- 

 men of this city. The well known names of the crack 

 shots of the gallery do not appear in the list, of winners, 

 as they were all "barred out," and termed experts. The 

 conditions of the contest were ten shots; rifle, 22cal., off- 

 hand; 110 feet, at ieady measurement targets, by which a 

 string of shots can be measured from center of shot to the 

 center of bullseye to the fractional part of an inch. The 

 total number of competitors was about 100. The follow- 

 ing gentlemen are winners of prizes; their scores are the 

 measurement of the ten shot; 



Names. Inches 



Frederick Kesslcr 74 



J. D. Ctieever 8 3-lfi 



M.B.Ennel 84 



Walter Campliell 8} 



Thoma» SVilds 8 6-fc 



h. Bird 8 15-Mj 



B. S. Brown «U 



C. B. D.Foreet.. '.» 1-18 G. A. Bake 



I ,,: " .■■■■■!■. 



B. Zetiler 9 5-16|d. J. Cut 11 9-16 



U.K. Urohman a T-1B Homer Lee US 



M.L. Bliigf 9 15-11'. M. P. Lennon 11 6-8 



J1D Miller 101-1. 0. .Mfiuillim 1st 1-JB 



Frank Mnrcu #.-. 10 DRIB'S'. P. HforK - !-'}- 



V. Feiniing 10 7-16 '. Harris 1315-16 



10 13-H.V. Keltz 13 3-1(1 



The first competition for the Amateur's Badge took place 

 at Coulin's Gallery last Monday evening, March 5ih. The 

 badge is a gold one, beautifully designed and made by Win. 

 Hityes, of Newark, N. J. It is to be won three time, not 

 necessarily consecutively. All those who have made bet- 

 ter scores than 46 out of a possible 50, or winners of gold 

 badges or first prizes, are "barred" from entering the com- 

 petitions. The conditions are as follows: 10 shots; rifle, 

 .22-cal. : offhand- range, 110 feet; 200 yards Wimbledon 

 target reduced for the distance; Creedmoor rules to govern 

 the match; entrance fee, fifty cents. The following ate 

 the best scores: L. C' Bruce winning the badge, 

 Name. Total.] Name. Total. 



K. Hewitt SB 



41 Homer Leu -»t'i 



..40 t'hos. Fentoo 31 



■• vler 31 



f. C. D'oodo 34 



W. B. Brown 38 



33 



q. Wmm 3-" 



Dominion Rifle Association.— At the Dominion Rifle 

 Association annual meeting held at Ottawa, Ontario, 

 March 1st, the report, lead shows that $13,000 were ex- 

 pended in title competition during the year. Twenty- 

 seven associations affiliated during 'the year. The Presi 

 dent read a letter from Lord Warucliffe accepting the Do- 

 minion Challenge Trophy, presented by the Association to 

 the National Rifle Association. The "Dominion Govern- 

 ment will give gold medals to the members of the Kulnpoie. 

 team of 1877. The election of officers was held mid the 

 meeting adjourned for a week to allow the Committee time 

 to revise the rules. 



§Htne §hq nn d gun. 



GAME IN SEASON IN MARCH. 



Hares, brown and gray. Wild duck, geese, brant, &c. 



F. Morch 



A. E. Ixme... 

 M. B. Engle. 



B, S. Brown.. 



. LONG Island. — The ducks came into Shinne- 



coel-: Buy last Friday, and brother Lane telegraphed the 

 news to the city, whereupon the gunners who had slept 

 on their arms for some days past set out instanter, and we 

 understand had excellent success. 



— Since the ice disappeared Ihe tributaries of the Chesa- 

 peake Bay (Md ) have been full of wild ducks. 



—A well known physician of this city, now in his sixtieth 

 year, has been having some tine shooting lately in Georgia, 

 where forty -nine quail and one hare dropped to his gun on 

 one day . 



Massachusetts— CVewsett, March 1st, 1877.— Our season 

 lor spring shooting just commencing. First ducks shot Ibis 

 week — shelldrake and dippers. A large eagle was shot 

 here lately, measuring over seven feet, an off-hand shot at 

 225 yards, with a Frank Wesson 32, by a young man only 

 seveuteeu. a. K , Jit 



Minnesota — Nobles County, Felt. ItBth. — Captain Du- 

 caigue, a bibliopole from Porkopolis, desiring belter air 

 than that in a sooty town, went to the northwest and finally 

 selected a homestead and shooting box in Nobles county, 

 Minnesota, to which he makes semi occasional pilgrimages. 

 This county, containing many lakes, 178 miles southward 

 from St. Paul, has within its borders the highest laud in 

 the State. Sometimes this region can supply a few "grass- 

 hoppers," while of other sorts uf game common to a prairie 

 Stale it furnishes an unstinted variety. D.says in a recent 

 note, that "a large, grey prairie wolf, was caught two 

 weeks since, near Worlhington, by Mr. Brant. He heard 

 of the lupine gentleman, and succeeded in nabbing him 

 with a ten pound trap. There is a bounty of §3 on each 

 wolf, which, wilhlheskin, will make the animal net Mr. B. 

 about $5. So far this winter the same man has caught nine 

 loxes. In this part of Minnesota appearances indicate an 

 early spriDg. The eagles at Graham Lakes have already 

 commenced to build their nests." 



ENGLISH AND AMERICAN GUNS. 



New Yoiik, Feb. 28th, 1877. 



EDITOK FOIIEST AND StIIEAM: — 



Your correspondent, "Forty Five," in the issue of Feb. 



83d, is, I think, rather disposed to be harsh, at the same 



time not being able to say anything against American 



guns. He did say a great deal in praise of English guns in 



his Centennial article, hut had not a word to say about 



borne manufacturers. When this omission was mad' 



parent to him, he lot the first lime avows his intention of 



saying something about "our guns," and begins an effort 



i to run down the Remington gun, but the gentleman is so 



j frank, that- he can say "nothing worse than" that Messrs. 



Remington make a good gun for $4.5, which he seems lo 



think is criminal and unfair to English makers. For the 



j fact that I hey do make a good gun for §45, I can \ i 



1 having shot one for several years! and so far as shooting is 



concerned, it can not be beaten. The locks are equal to 



»W, and the barrels (cylinder) are as guod as 



any in the market These are the only re 1 essentials in a 



gun, everything else can be obtained by those who waul. 



"a beauty," and aie willing to pay fur it. Remington's 



make a pretty gun for $70. but 1 do not believe it shoots 



any better than the $45. 



As for the Parker ahd other home made guns, I believe 

 them to be good and equal to imported guns costing twice 

 as much, Some prefer one action, and some another, but 

 this is a mere matter of taste, they all du their duty, and 

 the matter is boiled down to tbe chief requirements of n 

 good gun, the inside finish of the bane's, and good locks; 

 qualities claimed and justly so too, by the Remington's. 



Mr. Hepburn is an eutire stranger to me, but 1 must fully 

 indorse. all that he said about "Forty Five's'' ignoring A ui- 

 erican guns in his Centennial anicle. I, with my $45 

 Remington, killed a quail nearly 80 yardj distant, anil 

 have made many other good shots. 



The gentleman can have my address by calling at the 

 office of Forest and Stream. A. B. B. 



[We fear that our correspondent in his zeal is rather 

 over doing the thing. Ho surely would not. have our readers 

 believe that the decarbonized steel barrels on a $45 gun ate 

 as good as laminated or Damascus, and yet he says plainly 

 that they are as good as any in the market.— Ed ] 



DEER HUNTING IN WEST VIRGINIA. 



Moorefield, Hardy Co., W. Ya., March 1st. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



1 wish that space in your valuable column? would per- 

 mit me to set forth some of the attractions which the 

 Moorefield Valley, W. Ya., offers to those seeking sport at 

 deer hunting. Perhaps some of your readeis are familiar 

 wiib Porte Cravon's descriptions" of it. It is Ihe "gaideu 

 spot of the old Dominion's viigin daughter. 



In December last I was the favoieel guest of Hampton 

 Older, Esq., of this valley, and to his hospitably, his 

 hounds and horses, I am indebted for a month's pleasure 

 and sport. At the northern end of the valley the south 

 branch of the Potomac finds an exit between two lofty 

 mountains, forming a miniature canon for a distance of 

 five miles. In this "Trough," as it is called, are situated 

 the deer stands. The most famous is the "Sycamore," 

 which takes its name from an old sycamore stump, now 

 used as a seat for the walcher. 1 feel confident in saying 

 that there is no other spot in America upon which as many 

 deer have died. The liver here is about eighty yards 

 wide; above the slump there is a a beautiful cascade, and 

 below a riffle; back of it there is a gap in the mountain 

 down which the deer come to reach the liver, the moun- 

 tain being loo steep at most other points. The hounds are 

 started across the mountain, several miles distant, and 

 larely fail lo bring their game to water. I have known as 

 many as eleven deer to be killed at the Sycamore in one 

 hum, and it is nothing uncommon to kill from three to five. 

 I had Ihe good luck to knock over a buck and doe in one 

 uioruing, not twenty yards apait. The Sycamore is .used 

 i.y tbe bears as a crossing point in winter. Nine crossed 

 iu two days duiiug our Christmas snow storm. Unluckily 

 no one was there, and so they only left their tracks with 

 us. The hounds of this region are descended from slock 

 imported when the people were in better circumstances, 

 and arc tine specimens of the hound species. Mr. Hitler's 

 gyp Bashful, is known throughout the whole valley, and 

 well she deserves her reputation, for a fleeter or more saga- 

 cious deer dog never put foot lo ground. No spot ihe 

 hunter ever dreamed of could afford him a prettier shot 

 than the Sycamore. He may see Ihe noble buck as he 

 comes bounding down the gap and hear the deep-mouthed 

 dogs. What a sight! What music! for the hunter! The 

 deer generally stop at the river's edge, but, if let alone, they 

 plunge iuto the river and swim down or across, so the 

 hunter may choose his shot, running, standing, or swim- 

 ming, as he lancies. 



When the deer are not in season the lover of hounds 

 may still find good sport in fox hunting. 1'cs, as good as 

 old England affords, except lhat the country isn't open 

 enough for fast riding. Small game abouuds in great 

 quantities. Sycamore. 

 ■♦•♦■ 



Singular Capture or Deer. — A California correspond- 

 ent, T. H. E., of Nicasio, sends us the following: "On 

 Saturday last, as the passenger train was passiug near 

 Olema, it came suddenly upon three deer, a buck and two 

 does. The latter made their escape, but the buck jumped 

 up a bank where lie became bewildered, and sprang against 

 the express car with force enoMgU to break the door and 

 his own back." 



Curious Gushing Accident —A correspondent sends 

 us the following particulars of a very remarkable accident 

 which occuired to a friend of his while shooting m 

 Maine: — 



"Mr. S. P. had a Steven's breech-loader, with which ho 

 was trying to shoot some birds. His shell was one of 

 Union Met alie Cartridge Co 's make. The cap, or primer, 

 wa9 a common G. D. cap. The sbell had neen loaded 

 about four weeks and exposed to wet. It is not certain 

 what make of powder was being u.-ed, but my friend thinks 

 it was made in Maine. He struck the cap with the ham- 

 mer three times and as it did not explode, he opeued ihe 

 breech of the gun, took out the shell, lumed it up lo look 

 at the cap, when it 'went offy the charge goiug into ihe 

 ground. The shell broke his cheek bone and lore the flesh 

 tp to the corner of his eye, and has not been seen since. 

 1 he question is was this an improper use of ammuuiiion, 

 or was there a defect iu the material? Or ou account of 

 wet did the thing 'hang fire?' Will some one rise and ex- 

 plain? If the Fouest and Stream cannot answer, it must 

 be a case among the lost arts." 



It would be desirable to know whether the injured party- 

 heard anything like a snap from the cap. We are inclined 

 to think that the powder neatest the cap had become 

 damp- and burned for an iuslant slowly until the fire 

 reached the dry powder, when the explosion occurred. 



PIGEON MATCHES. 



Philadelphia, March 1st, 1877. 

 Editor Forest and Stream-.— 



Having witnessed the pigeon match at the New Hunting 

 Park, I fully indorse your report respecting the arrange- 

 ments under which it was conducted, and 1 was surprised 

 that Mr. Bogardus participated in it, after being subjected, 

 as Ihe shooters were, to the continuous annoyances and 

 difficulties by the promiscuous crowd. There was another 

 feature about the match, which, to my mind, rendered it. 

 anything else than a fair test of skill. I allude to the lati- 

 tude allowed in the use of guns and of powder. 



Without in any way retracting from the reputation of 

 Mr. Bogardus, 1 am constraiuetl to stale that the bestSCOK) 

 made was by Richard Wood of Lazaretto. He used a 

 No. 10 Scolt gun, and but four drachms of pow 

 killed all of his~birds outright, while a large majority of the 

 birds shot by the rest, who used from one-half tot/nee- 

 fourths moie powder than he did, were crippled (huge 

 numbers of them only wines broken), and were gathered 

 with difficulty iu many cases. This, to my mind, provc3 

 that Mr. Wood covered his buds fully, while a greal tnauy 

 of the others secured theirs by mere chance, and I think 

 he is entitled to the credit of having done the best shout- 

 ing. This is the opinion of a great many gentleman, 

 who have no more personal interest in the mailer than I 

 have. . , . 



I should like to have your opinion on the merits of this 

 Question, for it seems to me there can be no real and fair 

 lest except Under uniform conditions. A great many ol Ihe 

 birds, especially the secoudday, could not have been kiln d 

 outright with four diachms of powder u 

 Will you please give your readers the benefits and judg- 

 ment as to what constitutes a fair match? 



Yours, respectfully, M . 



[A fair match is one in which the prescribed condidons 

 are fully complied with, and whatever might be the rela- 

 tive merits of the shooters or their guus, when birds were 

 fairly gathered within the boundaries, they were as rightly 

 credited as though they had been killed within ten feet of 

 the trap. We observed, on the first day, a large number 

 of wing-broken birds, and have no hesitation in slating 

 our conviction that Ihe shooting of tame pigeons from 

 ground traps entails a needless amount of cruelty and 

 suffering, and should either be done away with entirely or 

 the use of the second barrel permitted, that the bird might 

 be put out of his misery. "With plunge .traps and wilt] 



