282 
FOREST AND STREAM 
shows that among the directors of the National Rifle Asso 
ciation, in addition to certain executive abilities, there are 
some leading marksmen. Rain now came down, which 
had been threatening, and a long hour and a half was 
passed before the second match, offered by our most worthy 
contemporary, The Turf , Field and Farm , was in order. 
Match 2— Turf, Field and Farm Badge; open to members 
of National Rifle Association; weapon, any breechloader 
within the rules; distance, 200 yards; position, standing; 
rounds, five, with two sighting shots; entrance fee, $1. 
Prizes—1st. Turf , Field and Farm Badge, to be held sub¬ 
ject to competition, and $25 in money presented by the 
association. 2d. Life membership in National Rifle Asso¬ 
ciation, which may be transferred by the winner if de¬ 
sired. 3d. Cash, $12. 4th. Cash, $10. 5th. Cash, $5. 
6th. Cash, $5. There were sixty-two entries. The scores 
of the best six were -as follows:— 
Name 
Rifle 
Score 
Total 
New Springfield. 
3 4 3 3 3| 
16 
.Ballard. 
4 4 2 3 3 
16 
.Remington sporting... 
4 3 4 3 2 
16 
Remington sporting... 
3 3 3 3 3 
15 
,Remington sporting... 
2 3 4 3 3 
15 
Springfield. 
3 2 4 3 3 
15 
jl jvj vvxj-caiu ▼ ▼ w T * v ~ ~ - ~ ~ o w x- 
when praise is due, under the circumstances, rain or no 
rain, save a fog, which might have in some way discon¬ 
certed the shooters, the scores made with “any breech¬ 
loader” were not immense. But it will happen s© some¬ 
times. It must be remembered that there were some excel¬ 
lent marksmen in the lists, to witMr. Klein, the winner of 
ever so many of the German shooting matches, and Mr. 
Madison and Mr. Collins and Mr. Richards, who are all 
representative marksmen. Perhaps waiting so long for the 
match demoralized the men. Colonel Wingate, with his 
Springfield, score 16, carried off the prize again, making 
him a twice crowned victor, staggering, in fact, under the 
weight of his honors. Match No. 3 was now in §rder; in 
fact, matches 2 and 3 were somewhat mixed up in the 
shooting. 
Match 3—Military Match; open to members of the Na¬ 
tional Rifle Association only; distance, 200 yards; weapon, 
any military rifle. Prizes—1st. Gold badge, presented by 
National Rifle Association, value, $50. Life membership 
National Rifle Association, which can be transferred by the 
winner if desired. 3d. Cash, $25. 4tli. Cash, $10. 5th. 
Cash, $5. 6th. Cash, $3. The best six scores were as fol¬ 
lows, with fifty-three entries:— 
Name 
Rifle 
Score 
Total 
.Ward-Burton. 
3 4 3 4 4 
17 
.Remington military- 
4 4 3 3 2 
17 
Remington military.... 
3 3 3 3 4 
16 
Remington military.... 
3 3 4 3 3 
16 
Remington military- 
3 2 3 4 4 
16 
Sharp military. 
4 3 4 2 3 
16 
Mr. Bethel Burton, with a score of 17, took the prize, 
which gave unfeigned pleasure to all the contestants, as it 
was fully deserved, and we trust that this opening match, 
in which he was conqueror, will inaugurate a series of vic¬ 
tories for him. It will be observed that the apparent tie 
between Messrs. Burton and Wood was in favor of Mr. 
Burton, from the fact of his having made no outers. The 
whole score of the six is fair, and above the average. 
Now took place a short interval of time to rearrange the 
targets, during which the clouds blew away and the sun 
came out piping hot. At about half past three o'clock the 
most interesting of the matches took place, being the first 
slage at the longer ranges. 
Match 4—Military Long Range Match; open to members 
of National Rifle Association only; distance, 500 yards; 
weapon any military rifle; rounds, seven, with two sight¬ 
ing shots; entrance fee, $1- Prizes—1st. Gold badge, pre¬ 
sented by National Rifle Association, value $25. 2d. Life 
membership National Rifle Association, which may be 
transferred by the winner if desired. 3d. Cash, $15. 4th. 
Cash $10. 5th. Cash, $5. 6th. Cash, $5. There were 
fifty-five entries. The eighteen best scores were as fol¬ 
lows :— 
Name ' 
H. A. Gildersleeve.Sharp military. ...... ., 
rr ■p'nlfnn ...Sharp military. 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 
R Unrtoii..Ward-Burton. 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 
T M Ballard •. .Sharp military. 344433 3 
1 ' TraeXer Sharp military. 342 4 4 3 3 
W S Smith •..Remington military... 4 4 4 2 4 2 3 
Xs 'Gardi er' .. .Remington military... 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 
TiSiSuSS:■ i15S iU 
Score 
Total 
3444444 
27 
4444443 
27 
3 4 3 4 4 4 4 
26 
3444333 
21 
3424433 
23 
4442423 
23 
3 3 3 3 3 4 3 
22 
4422424 
22 
3443232 
22 
3044244 
21 
3244440 
21 
3423*32 
21 
3334044 
21 
2224343 
20 
0 3 3 3 4 3 4 
20 
4343033 
20 
3 4 3 3 8 3 0 
19 
0424323 
18 
A Robertson .Remington military... 3 4 4 3 2 3 2 
a' Wood ' .Remington military... 3 0 4 4 2 4 4 
f" r Bruce. • • - • Sharp military. 3 2 4 4 4 4 0 
fWral sSier .Sharp military. 3 4 2 3 * 3 2 
Gcnei airier... Ward _ Burtcm . 3 3 3 4 0 4 4 
It Ornaml 6 . ‘.''.Remington military.... 2 2 2 4 3 4 3 
j p. M. Richards.Sharp military. 0 3 3 3 4 3 4 
KP Tlare .Springfield . 4 3 4 3 0 3 3 
r' Crouch. .Sharp military. 3 4 3 3 3 3 0 
C. M. Yale!!!!!!!.Sharp military. 04243 2 3 
The analysis of the arms in the eighteen best scores 
shows ten Sharps, five Remingtons, two Ward Burtons, 
and one Springfield. Col. Gildersleeve’s and Mr. H. Ful¬ 
ton’s scores of 27, in a possible 28, with Sharp’s military 
rifles was famous shooting. The 26 made by Ward Bur¬ 
ton with his own gun, was also most commendable. In 
fact, the total score of the leading eighteen showed fine 
practice. The figures of the remaining contestants, of 
course, tapered off to nothing, and whether from having 
rifles improperly sighted or not, some of our best shots 
were found having zeros appended to their names. The 
question may be asked by those not familiar with rifle 
shooting “how does it happen that the shooting at 500 
yards was so much better than at 200?” The answer is in 
the position. To shoot off hand at 200 yards is to many a 
harder task than to shoot in any position at 500 yards, that 
is, the rifleman having the privilege to shoot any way save 
with an artificial rest. 
Pool shooting formed quite an interesting amusement, 
and quite handsome scores were made; some pf the prac¬ 
tice, too, made was quite good. General Dakin, with a 
Remington Creedmoor rifle, at 500 yards, off hand, made 
488332833 4—31, and Mr. A. Alford, with Colonel 
Wingate’s Creedmoor rifle, at 500 yards, scoring 4 4 3 3 4 
3 4—25. 
To conclude, then, if at the opening match of 200 yards 
the winning scores were not exactly first class, at 500 yards 
the shooting was remarkably strong, in fact, wonderfully 
so, when it is recollected that military rifles were used. 
Weather changeable, occasionally thick and foggy, with 
rain, and sunshine about half past two o’clock, cloudy to¬ 
wards the conclusion of the match; wind variable, puffy 
not strong, from V to III. 
The order during the whole match was excellent. If 
markers were a little slow, it is to be supposed that in time, 
with more familiarity with their business, they will im¬ 
prove. Occasionally, as it will always happen, some shoot¬ 
ers were inclined to discuss the accuracy of the marksmen. 
It is no common occurrence to find a no doubt truthful 
person declare that he i§ on the targets, and a host of 
friends may be found who are ready to affirm that they 
heard the ball strike, and that the signal, white, red, or 
black, not having been displayed, must mean that the 
marker is either blind or absent. In about 999 cases in a 
thousand, by carefully adjusting glasses on the target, it is 
found to have been untouched, and a subsequent shot on 
the part of the aggrieved person generally ends, when he 
is watched closely, in discovering that his ball, from an 
improper sighting of his piece, was lodged safely in the 
embankment over or under the target. The general rule 
to be adopted, if not absolutely true in theory, is at least 
necessary in practice, and that is, that the marker, like a 
paying cashier in a bank, makes no mistakes. It would, 
however, be quite well, as we have before observed, to 
have more glasses on the field. Two or three field glasses 
are not enough. In an important match, when the whole 
line is firing, a dozen would not be too many. 
On the presentation of the various prizes, General Shaler 
made a most appropriate speech, particularly felicitating 
Mr. Ward Burton, who, the speaker said, had worked long 
and faithfully in developing his arm, and whose excellent 
shooting entitled him to the prize. 
The Remington Diamond Badge Match was postponed, it 
being six o’clock when the fourth match was concluded. 
This match will positively take place next Saturday. The 
regulations in regard to it are as follows:—Open to mem¬ 
bers of National Rifle Association; any rifle; distance, 
500, 800, and 1,000 yards. The twenty making the highest 
score at 500 yards to compete at 800, and the eight highest 
at 800 to compete at 1,000. Prizes—1st. The Remington 
Diamond Badge, to be held subject to competition, and 
$25. 2d. Life membership in National Rifle Association 
which may be transferred by the winner if desired. 3d. 
Cash, $10. 4th. Cash, $5. 5th. Cash, $5. Time of 
match, three o’clock. Entries maybe made at the office of 
the association anytime before the 13th, or upon the ground 
on that day. 
The regular amateur match on Saturday will be post¬ 
poned. 
We have every reason to congratulate the officers and 
members of the National Rifle Association on the opening 
of the season at Creedmoor, as its successful termination 
may influence future leading events. It will not do for us 
to say that the coming match in September with the 
Irish team is a foregone conclusion, and that we are sure 
to be beaten. To look at it in this disheartening way is to 
welcome defeat. Now is the time, we say, to commence 
work. We have fully three months before us, and a fair 
amount of industry and practice is all that is wanted. We 
still believe that there are enough good marksmen in the 
State of New York, not counting what valuable adjuncts 
may be had from other parts of the country, to make up 
an excellent team. It behooves us, however, to lose no 
time. We hope before the 1st of July that the measures 
proposed by the Amateur club—the process of sifting, as 
it were—will bring the best men to the front. We think 
that already some two may bo found who certainly, for 
accuracy, nerve, and staying powers, could be counted on 
as ready to make the nucleus of our American team, and 
subsequent matches will certainly develop other talent. 
It must be recollected that it is the ranges beyond 500 
yards which require the greatest : practice. In June, 1873, 
what kind of shooting could the best shots make at 500 
yards? The most skillful 'at that distance were more fre¬ 
quently off the target than on it. We have acquired a 
great deal in a year, and the arms have been improved, 
and we are not likely, we fancy, in the next three months 
to learn dummer, like the famed Dutch soldier. We are 
by no means in despair about the International match, nor 
do we suppose that anybody else is. 
—At a meeting of the executive committee of tire Ama¬ 
teur Rifle club, in view of the number of applications for 
membership, and it having been thought proper to put 
some limit to the size of the club, it was determined that 
150 members in all would make up the complement of the 
club, and that after that number had joined no more can¬ 
didates would be eligible save when vacancies occurred. 
At present the American Rifle club has over 100 members. 
THE ILLINOIS STATE SPORTSMAN’S 
CONVENTION. 
—There are two large sporting clubs in Syracuse, the 
Central City and Onondaga, both of them are in a flourish¬ 
ing condition, numerically and financially. A handsome 
set of silver was shot for by the two clubs last fall, which 
was won by the Central City, they making the handsome 
score of 86 out of 100 birds to 84 by their opponents.. 
[by our special correspondent.] 
HE Illinois State Sportsman’s Association held their 
first annual meeting under the auspices of the Prai¬ 
rie Shooting club, of Chicago, at Dexter Park, Chicago, 
Iliinois, on June 3d. On the previous evening a meeting 
was held at the Tremont House, when the president of 
the convention, Mr. Le Moyne, called the meeting to order, 
and explained in plain,” practical language the objects of 
the association. Among other facts and truths he stated 
that “game and fish are rapidly disappearing from the 
State of Illinois, perhaps not to that extent which would 
interfere with the field sportsman and angler of the present 
generation, but he would impress upon the gentlemen 
present to use their utmost endeavors in the protection of 
game and fish, especially in the breeding and spawning 
season.” Mr. Le Moyne continued, and among other re¬ 
marks stated what they should do is to stop the sale of 
game and fish out of season. Between killing and selling 
they should, as members of the association, strive to stop 
the latter, as that would virtually stop the other. A mate¬ 
rial objection to the present law is the allowing of parties 
to sell what birds are on hand when the shooting season is 
over. Every one knew how impossible it was to tell 
whether the birds thus sold were killed in or out of the 
season. The law should be modified so that it would be 
unlawful to have birds in one’s possession after the shoot¬ 
ing season terminates. Upon this point he did not look for 
opposition from the dealers. They understood very well 
that the wholesale slaughter, as at present indulged in, will 
aoon exterminate the game, and thus an important branch 
of business be forever ended. But the real delinquents, 
said the speaker, are those snobbish persons who are will¬ 
ing to pay out money to put upon their table game and fisli 
at all times of the year. For these things hotel keepers 
and other caterers are much to blame. 
The following were among the prominent sportsmen who 
attended the meeting:—W, F. Milligan, Esq., Gen. J. D. 
Webster, Joseph Butler, D. T. Elston, W. T. Johnson, 8. 
H. Turrill, George Sherman, Abner Price, R. R. Clark, N. 
Doxey of Geneseo, Dr. W. A. Pratt of Elgin, Gen. W. E. 
Strong, E. O. Dow, F. J. Abbey, H. H. Gray of Syracuse, 
N. Y., H. B. Sherman of Beloit, Wis., 
The convention now proceeded to business, and the fol¬ 
lowing gentlemen were elected to serve as officers during 
the ensuing year:—President—John V. Le Moyne, Chicago; 
Vice President—J. L. Pratt, Syracuse; Second Vice Presi¬ 
dent—Nathan Doxie, Geneseo; Treasurer—Abner Price, 
Chicago. 
The following prizes were presented and accepted by 
the convention. First prize, the gold medal of the associa¬ 
tion to be shot for by members only. Second prize will be 
a beautiful fishing rod and tackle presented by F. J. Abbey. 
Mr. H. Holabird presented a complete shooting suit, and 
the popular Mr. Joseph Butler of Chicago, gave an elegant 
split bamboo fishing rod and tackle. 
The shooting commenced June 3d, but the weather was 
anything but desirable for showing good scores. The rules 
for the tournament are, that the birds are to be shot from 
H & T plunge traps, 21 yards rise for singles, at 10 birds 
each 18 yards rise, for doubles at 5 pair each. The sports¬ 
man killing the most birds in the aggregate of both rises to 
be the winner. The following are the scores by squads for 
the gold medal. 
FIRST SQUAD. 
SINGLE. DOUBLE. 
Gun, Straight . 
Abbey. 3 pr 
Abbey. 0 
Abbey. 3 
Abbey. 5 pr 
e. 0 
Name. Str'ght. 
KiVd. 
T. Willimarth. 
10 
10 < 
E. T. Martin. 
6 
7 : 
R„ Williams. 
4 
6 
F. J. Abbey. 
4 
7 . 
W. B. Wilcox. 
10 
10 ' 
Aleck Price. 
2 
6 
Total... 
.. 46 
SECOND 
SINGLE. 
G. C. Shearman. 
7 
8 i 
T. J. Higgins. 
4 
8 
J. J. Kleinman. 
5 
9 
W. H. Chittenden. 
6 
8 
W. H. Orndoff. 
3 
7 
H.Young. 
7 
9 
Total. 
....49 
m 
THIRD 8 
SINGLE. 
W. Doxey. 
3 
8 
C. B. Miller.. 
7 
9 
7 
9 
H. N. Sherman. 
5 
9 
LI. Kleinman. 
10 
10 
Eri Bates. 
6 
8 1 
Killed. 
7 
3 
7 
10 
4 
Total 
.82 
Daly. 
Butler.. 
Dexter. 
2 pr 
2 
5 
1 
4 
Total.49 
double. 
Abbey. 2 pr 
Butler. 4 
Daly. 2 
Sherman. 3 
Abbey. 4 
14 ... 2 
Total. 
SINGLE. 
W. II. Way. 
S. Johnston. 
J. Y. LeMoyne. 
J. F. Lawrence. 
W. II. Fitch. 
J. F. Whiting. 
Total. 
.53 | Total... 
FOURTH SQUAD. 
8 
9 
9 
9 
10 
8 
.53 
6 
4 
7 
4 
10 
6 
6 
9 
6 
10 
9 
DOUBLE. 
Old Eng. 2 pr 
Jeffry. 2 
Secor M L —,— 2 
Abbey. 0 
“ "5 
.48 Total.. 
FIFTH SQUAD. 
8 
6 
9 
(3 
10 
9 
.48 
SINGLE. 
Alec White. 
2 
5 
C. F. Demuth. 
4 
7 : 
E. O. Dorn. 
5 
9 
G. W. Egleston. 
3 
5 
W. H. Brice.. 
4 
7. 
W. T. Johnson. 
6 
9 
Total. 
.42 
SIXTH g 
SINGLE. 
W. F. Milligen. 
6 
8 
A. A. Senale. 
2 
5 
Charles Morris. 
7 
8 
George Quigg. 
3 
6 
R. W. Phillips. 
2 
6 
D. ts. Ellston. 
9 
9 
Total...;; l i 
DOUBLE. 
3 pr 
2 
F. J. Abbey. 
O. T. Abbey. 
F. J. Abbey. 4 
G. T. Abbey. I 
Total. 
5 
7 
9 
5 
7 
9 
.42 
DOUBLE. 
J. F. Abbey. Opr 
« ! 
“ .. l 
« o 
G. T. Abbey . 1 
Total... 
.41 
