186 • 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Mr. Francis tells how, on a fishing excursion, he met not 
with one hull, but with two of them, one on each side of 
the river. There was a Scotch laddie with him, and Mr. 
Francis was debating in his mind whether he would not 
lower his English dignity in the Scotch boy’s opinion by 
running. We copy the story as we find it. “Just then 
the laddie shouted out, ‘He’s coomin’! he’s coomin’!’ and 
bolted like a wild goose. I looked back, a hasty glance 
over my shoulder, and there, horror of horrors, came the 
bull thundering down the bank, about eighty or a hundred 
yards away, straight for us, having just caught sight of us, 
An open moor was before us; no shelter whatever but a 
river, which we might have taken to, only there was a bull 
on the other side, too, and likewise cows, which count for 
something in a scrimmage. I really am ashamed to admit 
it, but I belted, tco. As I bolted I glanced back; the bull 
was gaining. It might have been a pretty race to a looker 
on—equal to the boat race, in fact; but the bull here was 
Cambridge; it was all 3 to 1 on him, and the horns of a 
bull are much worse than the horns of any other dilemma 
I know of. Fortunately, just then we came to a place 
where peat had been cut, and there was a bank four or five 
feet deep. ‘Bob down! hide!’ I called to the boy,who was 
close to me; and I jumped down and crouched under the 
bank.” And so the editor of the Field was saved. We 
fancy everybody must have been chased by a bull, though 
few can tell of it so pleasantly as Mr. Francis. Our most 
excellent confrere tells, too, of shooting the famous blue 
rocks in their native cliffs, and says:—“Talk of partridge 
or grouse driving, ora rocketing pheasant! It is child’s' 
play to it. If you didn’t hold a couple of yards ahead you 
had no chance, and often when the distance I pitched my 
gun in front seemed almost preposterous to me, it was quite 
wonderful how they came in for the thick of it. 
—The members of the famous Gun Club, at Notting Hill, 
are now trying their skill. We notice that in the handi¬ 
cap sweepstakes Mr. H. S. Jaffray was the winner, among 
nineteen competitors. Mr. Jaffray used sawdust powder 
in both barrels, and shot off a tie with Sir Charles Mor- 
daunt, winning in the second contest. 
—The hunting season of 1873-4 now draws to a close in 
England. Foxes have a chance for life once more. Boots, 
pinks, and breeches are put aside for the coming fall. As 
careful registers are kept, the following details may be of 
interest. The old Berkeley hunt had sixty-two field days, 
killing twenty-nine foxes. The old Berkshire were out 
ninety-five days, killing fifty-two and a half brace of foxes. 
The Yale of White Horse has taken the palm so far of fox 
killing, having hunted seventy days and killed ninety-three 
foxes. m 
—An amusing and novel race is that of the Manchester 
Polo Club, which is to come off on Tuesday, the 28tli of 
this month. There is a Liliputian cup for ponies for a half 
mile, and a Polo cup for three quarters of a mile, with five 
hurdles. Ponies are not to exceed fourteen hands in height, 
and the riders must be members of the Manchester Polo 
Club, save for the stranger’s cup and military cup. When 
we come to know the weights the ponies carry the facts 
will be quite interes ting. _ 
jf hot 0 utt and 
MAY ISA CLOSE MONTH FOR GAME. 
Details of pigeon shooting and scores of Hfle matches , and other interest¬ 
ing matter, should he mailed so as to reach this office on Tuesday morning 
in each week. _ _ 
New members are rapidly enrolling themselves in the 
lists of the National Kifle Association, and a notable quan¬ 
tity of life memberships have been added. The officers of 
the Association are untiring in their efforts to increase the 
scope of their undertaking. The weather has been very 
unfortunate of late, preventing much active work in repair¬ 
ing damages at Creedmoor, but we have no doubt but that 
early next month the crack of the rifle will be heard at the 
range from that time on until cold weather commences. Our 
prognostications of seeing thousands on the grounds we 
fancy will be fulfilled more than once this season. All 
those desirous of joining the National Rifle Association 
should send in their names at once to Colonel Gildersleeve, 
Secretary of the N. R. A., whose office is in the new Eei aid 
building, New York. 
What our Irish Friends think of the Coming Rifle 
Contest. —We take the following form the Dublin Times of 
April 7th: 
The approaching rifle contest between the crack shots of 
America has created quite a furore in the latter country. All 
the American journalists have discussed the matter, and, 
we are happy to say, in the most genial and friendly spirit. 
One journal, Forest and Stream, a sporting paper, has 
reproduced some observations of our own, and is publish¬ 
ing a series of short but carefully written letters upon long 
range rifle shooting, and upon marksmanship in general. 
It appears that the Americans can bring to the front almost 
any number of first-class shooters at a range, say of 400 
yards, but that it is somewhat doubtful whether they can 
show in the field a team assured of victory over the Irish 
Eight at long ranges of 800, 900, or 1,000 yards. The rifle¬ 
men in the several States are called upon to practice incess¬ 
antly at the longer ranges, and to send by the middle of 
July to the Secretary of the Amateur Rifle Club, New York, 
formal declarations respecting the numbers of bull’s eyes 
made by each at the long ranges. Forest and Stream, 
writes thus concerning the approaching trial:— 
“When her Majesty’s subjects are chivalrous enough to 
cross the seas to meet us, we should try and be ready for 
them, and whether we beat them or not we should, at all 
events, give them that right hearty welcome which they 
deserve. But we must not expect that these men will be 
easily beaten.” The American journalist thinks that a 
practice, extending over fifteen years, has eliminnted, by 
frequent trials, the men possessing the requisites of a good 
long range rifle shot from among a much greater number 
of riflemen than there are in the United States, familiar 
with that branch of shooting. The writer forgets that in 
Ireland we have no volunteers, and comparatively very 
few rifle clubs. A single American State could, with ease, 
bring forward a greater number of adepts in the use of the 
rifle than the whole of Ireland. Although the Amateur Rifle 
Club of New York gallantly took up the gage thrown down 
by the Irish Rifle Association, it may so happen that not a 
single member of that club will be placed among the com¬ 
petitors. The Amateur Club, determined to win the vic¬ 
tory if possible," calls upon all the rifle clubs in the several 
States to enter upon a course of steady practice until next 
fall. From among the numbers who will then have proved 
themselves to be the best shots^will be selected the antago¬ 
nists of the Irish Eight. Our few riflemen, therefore, 
boldly enter into competiton with the very best shots of all 
America. The rules proposed by the Amateur Rifle Club 
are these: None but rifles of bona fide American make cun 
be used; the rifles must not weigh more than ten pounds; 
the triggers must not have a pull of less than three.pounds; 
all sights can be used except telescopic magnifying, and 
such as conceal the trigger so as to prevent the danger sig¬ 
nal from being seen; ary position will be allowed which 
can be taken on level ground without artificial rests. The 
States in which the greatest attention has been devoted to 
practice are New York, California, Maine, and Texas; and 
if from each of these great States but two champion shots 
are selected, the eight will equal the whole number of the 
Irish Team. The Secretary of the Amateur Rifle Club has 
already received numerous letters from riflemen m various 
parts of the Union who are anxious to enter the lists against 
the Irish Team. One of them, known as Texas Jack, pro¬ 
poses that the programme should include different modes 
of shooting, such as practice in the saddle, &c., which is 
the Westerner’s ‘ ‘long suit. ” This marksman has evidently 
enjoyed the pastime of shooting the “flying buffalo,” or 
perhaps the Red Indian. The Any Rifle Association of 
Ontario have decided to challenge the Irish Team, but we 
suppose that if the Irish Team accepted the contest with 
any club but that one which the members challenged they 
would have to contend against all the clubs existing in 
America. It is but just to say that the American journals 
with one accord express their admiration of the manliness 
and pluck of the Irish Eight in challenging the best shots 
of all America, and provoking them to action. The Messrs. 
Remington have forwarded £50; Mr. James Gordon Ben¬ 
nett £150, and others have given lesser sums to defray the 
incidental charges of the contest, and yet the American 
marksmen have not to bear the very heavy cost of a pas¬ 
sage across the Atlantic and back. The contest is regarded 
as a national one throughout the States, as it should be re¬ 
garded here, and no more should be required from the 
champions of each nation than that they should give their 
time and skill to support the honor of their respective coun¬ 
tries. 
—The last number of the Volunteer Service Gazette which 
has reached us, of April 11th, has a series of letters ad¬ 
dressed to the Editor in regard to the change in the targets 
at Wimbledon. Very few of the writers seem to approve 
of the changes. If in some few cases, the round target is 
spoken of with favor; the system of marking is objected to. 
Perhaps the strongest advocate for the change is the late 
Secretary of the National Indian Rifle Association. Dr. 
Hamilton states that at 600 yards, the shots striking the 
paper target, unless the wind is. blowing towards the target 
can be heard quite distinctly. One other peculiarity men¬ 
tioned by this same authority, is quite curious. It is, that 
the older the target is, the stronger it becomes, which is ac¬ 
counted for by the fact of its being patched and remended 
over and over again. We wait with some anxiety the so¬ 
lution of tlus subject. Perhaps a great many of the criti¬ 
cisms are premature. When the targets are tried we trust 
some conclusion will be arrived at. We must *still regret 
the change, as far as our own interests are concerned. We 
are inclined to think, as has been suggested by our able 
correspondent T. C. C., that there are much better methods 
of marking. Some automatic method is quite possible, 
which will be suggested in time by our own marksmen. 
Weston, Yt., April 25, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream;— 
The articles on the rifle and rifle shooting have in me an appreciative 
reader. That by A. M. S. in the last issue is eminently suggestive and 
practical, and the concluding paragraph demonstrates the writer knows 
whereof he writes. Let the veterans be encouraged to “shoulder the 
-crutch and show how fields were won.” The “has beens” are of use by 
way of comparison with the present, and in this light I would ask 
brother marksmen to read the following: 
Till past the prime of life my favorite arm was the sporting rifle, 
shooting always off-hand. Latterly I have used a target rifle with teles¬ 
copic sight, resting. Copies of two targets made at 210 yards are on tile 
in the Patent Office, Washington. One of five consecutive shots, with a 
wind drift of eighteen inches, measures 2f inches. The other of ten 
consecutive shots, with a flawy wind of average three feet drift, meas¬ 
ures 8£ inches. The string measure is from centre of shot to centre of 
bud. 
On another occasion, at 100 yards, (and the only target shot at so short 
a range) ten consecutive shots made but one hole in the target, and that 
in the bud, the largest diameter of which was 1£ inches, all the slugs be¬ 
ing welded in a mass in the wood backing of the target. The string 
measure of this target was impossible to take. Weight of barrel, 16 
lbs., muzzle-loader, and inside made by N. & G. Whitmore, Mansfield, 
Mass. 0» L. W. 
—Captain A. H. Bogardus, of Elkhart, Ill., matched 
himself for $500 to kill thirty-eight out of fifty pigeons in 
the following singular manner. The match took place at 
WoodsidePark, Stamford, Conn., on April27th, and created 
considerable excitement among amateur and professional 
pigeon shooters. It was the greatest performance on record. 
The conditions of the match were that Bogardus should 
stand midway between two plunge traps, placed forty 
yards apart, both to be sprung at the same time, so that 
while he faced the first trap his back was to the second, 
thus making it practically double bird shooting, as lie had 
to turn completely around in order to kill the bird at his 
back. At two P. M. the traps were placed at the distance 
specified. Ira A. Paine, of this city, trapped and handled 
against the shooter, and Mr. Jesse Smith, of the Astor 
House, was chosen referee. Bogardus killed the first i • 
and missed the second. He killed the third, fourth ^ 
fifth and missed the sixth. Betting was then 10 to 4 a ~ a ?7 
him. He then made extraordinary shooting by brin/ St 
down twenty-nine in succession. He missed his forti 
bird, but brought down his forty-first and forty-second a 5 
won the match with eight birds to spare. The four V d 
that were scored against him fell dead out of hounds \f 
was remarkable shooting, and eclipses,anytliing of the ki ] 
ever attempted. 
—The Philadelphia Sportsman’s Club, despite the terri 
ble weather, held their social pigeon shooting meeting 
Saturday, April 25th, at the Tinicum Fish Club House 11 
There were thirty original entries to shoot at ten birds 
each, twenty-one yards rise, eighty yards boundary, and 
1-| shot; of these entries fifteen gentlemen came to the 
scratch. The shooting—taking into consideration that 
every bird was killed in a driving storm—was a remarkable 
performance. Two of the members killed ten straight 
birds each, and in shooting off ties one killed five 'birds 
and the other four. The prizes consisted of two elabo¬ 
rately wrought gold medals, ornamented with a woodcock 
and snipe, one beautiful silver souvenir in the shape of a 
pair of double guns embossed crossways, a silver medal 
and a leather medal. 
Every arrangement that could be made for an enjoyable 
day had been attended to by the efficient president board 
of managers, and ground committee, and but for the storm 
no larger gathering of gentlemen sportsmen would have 
taken place in America. Governer J. F. Hartranft of 
Pennsylvania, an honorary member of the club, visited 
Philadelphia, and would have attended had it not rained so 
incessantly. A number of outside private matches were to 
have taken place, and five hundred pigeons had been pro¬ 
vided for the occasion. Certainly those that shot cannot 
be called feather bed sportsmen. After the conclusion of 
the “amusement” in the field, the party repaired to the 
“Fish House” dining hall and discussed planked shad and 
other eatables, which were bountifully supplied. The 
Philadelphia Sportsman’s Club is fast increasing. It has 
already 300 members on its roll, and ranks as the first 
society of its class in the United States. The following is 
the score:— 
Name. 
H. B. P. 5 
J. K. 
Dr. S. P. i$. 
J. N. P. 3 
B. N. M. 5 
J. W. M...... 5 
Capt. A. A. C. 
O. P. G. 
Maj. J. A. 
J. C. R. 5 
A. S. O. 4 
S. P. W. 
Capt. W. A.M. 
C. S. W . 3 
T. S. 0 
TIES FOR FIRST PRIZE. 
O. P. G. 5 5 Winner 1st gold medal. 
Major J. A. 4 4 Winner 2d gold medal. 
TIES FOR SILVER MEDAL. 
Capt. W. A.M. 5 5 
J. W. M. 5 5 
SECOND TIES. 
Capt. W. A. M. .3 3 
J. W. M. 3 3 
All their shells being exhausted, they agreed to shoot off another time. 
LEATHER ‘MEDAL. 
T. S. 3 3 
We have to tender our especial thanks for the handsome 
manner we were received and entertained "by the officers 
and gentlemen of this true sportsman’s association. 
—Ira A. Paine, of New York, and Capt. A. H. Bogar¬ 
dus, of Illinois, shot a pigeon match at Woodside Park, 
Stamford, Conn., on April 27tli. The conditions were to 
shoot at ten birds, twenty-five yards rise, 100 yards bound¬ 
ary, and one and a half ouuce of shot, for $100. Bogar¬ 
dus won, killing ten birds to Paine’s five. 
Philadelphia, April 23,1874. 
Eiitor Forest and Srream:— 
Some of the members of the Kensington Hunting Club of Philadelphia 
had the first pigeon match on April 23, seven birds each man. 
The following is the score; 
Name. Score. 
F. Widmayer. 1 1 1 1 
WilliamDeissroth. 1 1 1 1 
M. Brierly. 1111 
J. Staiger. 1 0 1 1 
G. Sonneck. 0 1 1 1 
J. Magsam. 1 1 1 1 
Fred. Deissroth. 0 1 1 1 
G. Schultz.. 0 0 0 1 
E. Steers. 0 0 0 1 
The match was 21 yards rise and 80 yards boundary. 
y onr8j Fred. Deisseoth. 
Montgomery, Ala,, April 17,1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— ,- 
I herewith send you the score of Montgomery Shooting CluD 
quarterly match, held on the 13th. Number contestants, 1 i 
each; 21 yards rise; 80 yards boundary; high wind, cloudy day. 
* _ J_'trainA 
Straight. 
Killed. 
Gun used. 
5 
7 
Peterman B. L. 
2 
4 
Kryder M. L. 
4 
7 
GreenerB. L. 
3 
. 6 
Greener B. L. 
5 
8 
Evans M. L. 
5 
8 
Peterman B. L. 
4 
6 
Kryder and Moore, 
10 
TO 
Peterman B. L. 
10 
10 
Peterman B. L. 
5 
6 
Greener B. L. 
4 
8 
Peterman B. L, 
2 
5 
Peterman B. L. 
6 
8 
Peterman B. L. 
3 
6 
Moore M. L. 
0 
3 
Krider M. L. 
1 0 
1 1 
1 
0 
I 
1 0 
1 0 1 
1 0 1 
1 1 
1 1 
1 
0 
0 
•) 
0 1 
Total. 
5 
7 
6 
5 
5 
6 
& 
2 
3 
—first, Club Cup—second prize, value $10; third prize, value 
Name. 
H. B. Metcalf. 1 
Dan Fraser.•— 1 
George H. Todd. 1 1 
W. D. Brown. 1 0. 1 
IT. Crommelin. 1 1 1 1 1 
Wm. Davidson.... 1 1 1 1 0 
Score. 
1 1 1 
1 
1 
0 
1 0 1 
1 0 0 
1110 
110 1 
10 0 10 0 
Total. 
6 
4 
6 
5 
7 
5 
2 
4 
0 0 
1 1 
B. Holt. 
H. C. Dayidson. 0 0 1 
T. S. Doron. 1 0 1 
J. G. Crommelin. 0 1 1 
Jas. Cafliey. 1 1 1 
Morgan Gilmer. 1 0 1 
Results—IT. Crommelin winning the Club Cup, value i 
6 were shot off. „ 
Metcalf... 10 1 o 
Todd.. 10 1 | 
Crommelin. ... Oil g. 
Gilmer. 110 , g r0 m- 
Second ties were then shot, first miss out, when Me tea aa oUti 
melin killed their bird. Todd and Gilmer, having mrise , 
Metcalf and Crommelin then shot for choice of prizes, when i 
declared winner of second prize and Crommelin of third P nz 
6 
5 
6 
The ties o 11 
