816 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jtot 29, 1886. 



THE INTERNATIONAL MATCHES. 



A REVIBW OF TWELVE YEARS. 



I" NTER N ATIO N AL rifle matches start with the Irish -American 

 match of 1874. In the summer of the previous year the Irish 

 team of small-bore marksmen had for the first time won the Elcho 

 Shield* from the Scotch and English shooters. They were the cham- 

 pions then of Great Britain, and Major A. Blennerhassett Leech, who 

 in 1867 had founded the Irish Rifle Association, was so pleased over 

 the doings of his compatriots, that he sent out a sweeping challenge 

 across the ocean, hoping to extend the fame of the Irish team in this 

 direction. His letter was published here in November, 1873, and the 

 Amateur Rifla Club, a young organization, at once took up the chal- 

 lenge. The club knew next to nothing of long-range work, but with 

 the hope rather than any expectation of victory, the conditions of 

 the challenge were agreed to by Col. Geo. W. Wingate. The match 

 took place on Sept. 26, 1874, at Oreedmoor. It was a very hot day, 

 and the foreigners suffered with the heat. The highest possible score 

 per man at each range was 60, under the old system of marking. The 

 score stood: 



American Team— Col. G. W. Wingate, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Lieut Henry Fulton, Remington 58 57 56 171 



G W Yale. Sharps 55 56 51 162 



Col John Bodine, Remington 54 51 53 158 



Col H A Gildersleeve, Sharps 53 51 51 155 



L L Hepburn. Remington , 53 50 46 149 



Gen T S Dakin, Sharps 53 45 41 139 



Team aggregate 326 310 298 934 



Irish Team— Major A. Blennerhasset Leech, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



John Rigby, Rigby 52 56 55 163 



James Wilson, Rigbv 54 51 55 160 



Dr J B Hamilton. Bigby 58 52 50 160 



Josnua Milner, Rigby 57 49 48 154 



Edmund Johnson, Rigby 50 49 51 150 



Capt Phillip Walker, Rigby 46 55 43 144 



Team aggregate 317 312 302 931 



There was a return match in 1875. The Irishmen wanted satis- 

 faction and on their own soil. A team was called together, and on 

 June 29, upon the historic Dollymount in Dublin harbor, the match 

 was fought. A fine team had been sent over under Col. H. A. Gilder- 

 sleeve, and another victory followed for the Americans. It was not 

 a good shooting day, but the scores ran high, as follows, same scor- 

 ing as before: 



American Team— Col. Henry A. Gildersleeve, Captain 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Gen Thomas S Dakin, Remington 58 55 52 165 



Col Henry A Gildersleeve, Sharps 56 56 52 164 



Col John Bodine, Remington 52 £9 51 162 



Maj Henry Fulton, Remington 58 57 46 161 



Geo W Yale, Sharps 57 52 51 160 



Capt RC Coleman, Remington. 56 48 52 156 



Team aggregate 337 327 304 968 



Irish Team— Major A. B. Leech, Captain. 



800yds. 800yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Jas Wilson, Bigby 58 50 55 163 



Edmund Johnson, Rigby 58 54 50 162 



Dr J. B Hamilton, Rigby 56 54 51 161 



J G Pollock, Bigby 59 53 49 161 



John McKenna, Rigby 52 44 53 149 



J K Milner, Rigby 55 37 41 133 



Team aggregate 333 292 299 929 



The Canadian =mall-bore men thought it would be a good stroke to 

 challenge the victorious Americans, and in this way jump in as 

 champions of the world. A challenge was sent by the Victoria Rifle 

 Club, of Hamilton, Ont.. to the Amateur Rifle Club, promptly ac- 

 cepted, and on Sept. 25, 1875, the match was shot at Creedmoor 

 against a junior team. There was a rear fishtail wind and the 

 Canadians suffered a defeat. The scoring was upon the present tar- 

 get, making each man's highest possible at each range 75 points. 

 The score stood: 



American Team— Gen. T. S. Dakin, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



W B Farwell, Remington 69 61 63 193 



A V Canfield, Jr, Remington 62 68 57 187 



L L Hepburn, Remington 60 62 62 184 



L C Bruce, Sharps 59 63 61 183 



F Hyde, Remington 65 60 56 181 



H S Jewell, Sharps 63 51 66 180 



J S Conlin, Sharps 51 55 52 158 



L Geiger, Remington 46 47 50 143 



Team aggregate. 475 469 467 1409 



Canadian Team— C. K. Murray, Captain. 



800yds. 900vds. 1000yds. T'l 



George Murison. Metford 67 58 64 189 



J J Mason, Metford 63 55 62 181 



D Mitchell. Metford 53 65 59 177 



Wm Mitchell, Metford 58 57 57 172 



F Schwarz, Metford 58 52 60 170 



C K Murray, Metford 60 51 57 168 



Geo Disher. Metford 59 50 58 167 



James Adams. Rigby 54 50 56 160 



Team aggregate 472 439 473 1384 



In 1876 the Centennial of the United States was celebrated and as 

 part of this celebration a "Palma" as the emblem of the long-range 

 championship of the world was provided and all the world bidden 

 come and shoot for it. It was to be a two days' match in teams of 

 eight men at the new targets, possible 75 per man per range, and at 

 Creedmoor on Sept. 14 the match opened with beautiful weather. 

 The teams and scores were: 



First Day. 



Scotch Team— Lieut.-CoI. J. H. A. MacDonald, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



R McYittie, Ingram 71 71 67 .209 



WmThorburn. Metford 65 70 67 202 



Dr J Mitchell, Metford 66 62 73 201 



Wm Clark, Henry 65 68 65 193 



Peter Rae, Ingram 71 63 62 196 



D Fraser, Henry 67 67 62 196 



Thos Whitelaw, Ingram 64 65 64 193 



Martin Boyd, Ingram 66 62 63 191 



Total aggregate 535 528 523 1586 



Irish Team— Major A. B. Leech, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'i 



Wm Rigby, Rigby 69 69 68 206 



Edmund Johnson, Rigby 75 67 64 206 



J K Milner, Rigby 67 66 71 204 



Lieut Geo Fen ton, Rigby 55 66 69 200 



Lieut A Ward. Rigby 64 65 65 194 



W G D Goff. Rigby 64 62 66 



Henry Dyas, Rigby 66 65 61 192 



W R Joynt, Rigby 65 64 J59 188 



Team aggregate 535 524 523 1582 



American Team— Major Henry Fulton, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Gen T, S. Dakin, Remington 69 6a 69 203 



L Weber, Remington 68 69 65 202 



Major Henry Fulton, Remington 66 64 70 200 



Ransom Ratboiie, Remington 70 66 63 199 



Isaac L Allen, Remington 68 62 63 



Col H A Gildwsloeve, Sharps 70 69 55 194 



Lieut-Col W B Farwell, Remington 70 66 56 192 



Col John Bodine, Remington 69 57 63 189 



Team aggregate 550 518 509 1577 



Australian Team— Augustus Morris, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Capt H J King, Rigby 69 68 69 206 



Sergt D Gee, Rigby 6^ 68 68 S01 



Maj J T Sleep, Rigby 69 69 61 199 



J S Lynch, Rigby f 64 6b 195 



J J Slade, Rigby 63 66 64 193 



Capt B J Wardill, Rigby 71 64 56 191 



Capt J McG Smith, Rigby 69 66 52 187 



Lieut T T Draper, Rigby 66 59 54 173 



Team aggregate 581 524 490 1545 



Canadian Team— Maj. O'Reilly, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Lieut J Adam, Rigby 69 67 66 202 



A Bell, Metford 65 64 71 200 



Capt J J Mason, Metford 63 64 64 191 



Maj J M Gibson, Medford 64 59 61 184 



George Disher, Metford 62 57 61 180 



G Murison, Metford 64 57 59 180 



William Cruit, Metford 67 52 59 178 



"~aj W H Cotton, Metford 67 56 52 175 



Team aggregate 521 476 493 1490 



Second Day —The scores on the second day, Sept. 15, stood: 

 American Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Ransom Rathbone, Remington 65 79 



Col H A Gildersleeve, Sharps 68 61 71 



Col John Bodine, Remington 65 69 62 



Lieut-Col W B Farwell, Remington 63 59 68 



Lawrence Weber, Remington 67 61 65 



Isaac L Allen, Remington 60 63 65 



Gen T S Dakin, Remington 66 68 54 



Major Henry Fulton, Remington 66 62 58 



Team aggregate 525 515 509 



Irish Team. 



Is. 900yds. 1000yds. 

 62 



203 

 200 

 190 

 :o5 



193 



Lieut George Fenton, Rigby 



J K Milner. Rigby •-• ' • 62 



Henry Dyas, Rigby 63 



William Rigby, Rigby 62 



Edmund Johnson, Rigby 61 



W R Joynt , Rigby 64 



Lieut A Ward, Rigby 66 



W G D Goff, Rigby 56 



62 

 62 

 54 



75 

 71 

 67 

 67 

 62 

 65 



485 435 



T'I 



190 

 198 

 196 

 191 

 190 

 188 

 185 

 175 



1522 



Team aggregate 502 



Australian Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



J J Slade. Rigby 70 



Sergt D Gee, Rigby 72 



Capt H J King, Rigby 68 



Capt J McG Smith, Rigby 59 



Lieut T T Draper. Rigby 61 



J S Lynch, Rigby 61 



Major J T Sleep, Rigby f-4 



Capt B J Wardill, Rigby 67 



62 

 61 

 67 

 60 

 62 

 60 

 56 



62 

 61 

 63 

 67 

 64 

 61 

 54 



Team aggregate 522 494 501 1517 



Scotch Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Martin Boyd, Ingram 66 69 71 196 



William Tborburn, Metford 73 57 64 194 



William Clark, Henry , 67 61 62 190 



R McYittie. Ingram 60 61 62 183 



D Fraser, Henry 70 59 54 183 



Peter Rae, Ingram 61 61 60 182 



Thomas Whitelaw, Ingram 65 57 60 182 



Dr J Mitchell, Metford 63 47 57 167 



462 



490 



1477 



Team aggregate. 525 



Canadian Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Lieut J Adam, Rigby 66 60 64 190 



Major W H Cotton, Metford 66 60 60 186 



A Bell, Metford, 63 57 63 183 



Major J M Gibson, Metford 69 54 60 183 



G Murison, Metford 58 65 59 182 



Capt J J Mason, Metford 60 .'9 61 180 



William Cruit, Metford 55 57 54 166 



George Disher, Metford 55 53 55 163 



465 



476 



1433 



Team aggregate 492 



Match Summary. 



American team 1175 1033 1018 3126 



Irish team 1037 1009 158 3104 



Scotch team 1060 990 1013 3063 



Australian team 1053 1018 991 3062 



Canadian team 1013 941 959 2923 



While the Irishmen were in America they asked and were freely 

 and promptly accorded another "go" at the American riflemen. The 

 match was set down for Sept. 21, 1876. It was a cold, gusty day, and 

 once again the Irishmen were beaten. The score running, with a 

 possible 75 points per man per range: 



American Team— Major Henry Fulton, Captain. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



General T. S. Dakin, Remington 71 67 70 208 



Ransom Rathbone, Remington 68 69 67 204 



Isaac L AUen, Remington 68 59 72 199 



L Weber, Remington 66 68 64 198 



Major Henry Fulton, Remington 70 54 67 191 



Lieut-Col W B Farwell, Remington 66 69 30 165 



Team aggregate 409 386 360 1165 



Irish Team— Major A. B. Leech, Captain. 



Joshua K Milner, Rigby 68 72 66 206 



H' nry Dyas, Rigby 66 64 68 198 



William Rigby, Rigby ... 69 61 67 197 



Lieut George Fenton, Rigby 66 59 64 189 



Edmund Johnson, Rigby 64 57 63 184 



W R Joynt, Rigby 61 56 68 180 



Team aggregate 394 369 391 1154 



The series of discomfitures which they had suffered seemed to an- 

 noy the riflemen of the United Kingdom very much. They were 

 specially anxious to have a distinctively national match, with the 

 best of America against the best of Great Britain. This came off at 

 Creedmoor in 1877, in a two days match. Sir Henry St. John Hal- 

 ford, a member of the Council of the National Rifle Association of 

 Great Britain, had chosen from the English, Irish and Scotch Elcho 

 "Eight" the best small-bore talent, and he confidently looked for a 

 victory. The contest took place in fine shooting weather on Septem- 

 ber 13 and 14, and the score stood : 

 First Day.— American Team— Gen. T. S. Dakin, Captain. 



800yds. 9O0yds. 1000yds. T'l 



C E Blydenburg, Remington 74 



H S Jewell. Remington 71 



Frank Hyde, Sharps 71 



Isaac L Allen, Remington 71 



L Weber Sharps 69 



L C Bruce, Sharps 70 



W H Jackson, Remington 69 



T S Dakin, Remington 73 



67 

 66 

 70 



73 

 73 



Team aggregate 568 547 



British Team— H. St. J. Halford, Captain. 



J K Milner, Rigby 72 70 



William Rigby. Rigby 73 65 



H 8 W Evans, Metford 71 70 



William Ferguson, Rigby 72 67 



Sir Henry Halford, M«tford .....71 63 



Lieut Geo Fenton, Rigby 65 70 



Lieut-Col Fenton, Metford 71 62 



A P Humphry, Metford 63 70 



Team aggregate 558 537 



Second Day.— American Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 



72 

 72 

 68 

 69 

 64 

 63 



67 

 71 

 69 

 65 



213 

 209 

 209 

 206 

 206 

 206 

 204 

 202 



209 

 207 

 207 

 206 

 205 

 204 

 198 

 193 



72 

 72 

 71 

 73 

 65 

 68 

 66 

 67 



1000yds. T'l 

 73 219 



L C Bruce, Sharps 74 



C E Blydenburgh, Remington 73 



L Weber, Sharps 74 



Isaac L Allen, Remington 70 



H S Jewell, Remington 72 



Frank Hyde, Sharps.... 72 



W H Jackson, Remington 70 



T S Dakin, Remington 70 



Team aggregate 574 



British Team. 



Sir Henry Halford, Metford 72 



H S W Evans, Metford 72 



Lieut G Fenton, Rigby 69 



Wm Rigby, Rigby 72 



Lieut-Col Fenton, Rigby 70 



Wm Fergusson, Rigby 70 



J K Milner, Rigby 70 



A P Humphry, Metford., 64 



Team aggregate 559 



Match Summary. 



American team 1143 1101 1090 3334 



Irish team HIT 1073 1052 8242 



The year 1877 brought its usual round between the small - bore men 

 o( Canada, and the Amateur Rifle Clab of New York, representing 

 the small-bore men of the United States. The match took place on 

 the Garrison Common Range, near Toronto, Sept. 3, 1877, and resulted 

 1 as follows, possible 75 per man per range; 



67 

 64 

 69 

 66 

 67 

 66 



536 



71 

 70 

 70 

 73 

 65 

 67 

 61 



66 

 66 

 70 

 62 

 66 

 63 

 63 

 63 



518 



m 



215 

 ~ 13 

 810 

 205 

 203 

 198 



207 

 205 

 203 

 203 

 202 

 200 

 198 

 195 



1613 



American Team— E. H. Sanford, Captain. 



, , „ SCOyds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



L L Hepburn, Remington 67 65 67 199 



H Fulton. Remington 64 59 62 185 



Wallace Gunn, Sharps 59 64 57 180 



W M Farrow, Ballard 56 63 59 178 



L Geiger, Remington 62 53 58 178 



R Rathbone, Remington 65 55 48 168 



Team aggregate 373 



359 



Canadian Team— Major Gibson, Captain. 



J Adam, Remington 68 69 



W Cruit. Metford ML 64 58 



A Bell, Metford ML 59 62 



F Schwarz, Remington 60 61 



Joseph Mason, Remington 58 66 



J M Gibson, Metford M L 55 59 



351 



57 

 57 

 55 

 48 

 57 



1083 



179 

 178 

 176 

 172 

 171 



1061 



Team aggregate 364 365 



There was a lull in this branch of rifle practice until 1880, when, in 

 response to a suggestion from the Irish Association that a visit from 

 an American team would be a welcome one, accordingly Col. John 

 Bodine led another team of his fellow countrymen over, and on the 

 same Dollymount Range another victory rested with ihe American 

 ieam. The match was shot on June 20, 1880. The day was a trouble- 

 some one, in a shooting point of view, but out of the possible 75 points 

 per man per range there were not a few perfect scores made. The 

 record shows: 



American Team-CoI. John Bodine, Captain. 



800yc ' 



H F Clark, Sharps 73 



S I Scott, Remington 75 



R Rathbone, Sharps 70 



W M Farrow, Ballard 74 



Homer Fisher, Sharps 71 



J F Brown, Sharps 73 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Team aggregate.. 



75 

 71 



73 

 78 



436 



Irish Team— Major A. B. Leech, Captain. 



71 

 74 

 70 

 69 

 69 

 6? 



219 

 218 

 215 

 214 

 213 

 213 



Geo Fenton. Rigby B L. . 

 J Russell Joynt. Bigby B 

 S S Young, Metford M L . 



800yds. 



900yds. 1000yds. 



T'l 



. 75 



70 



72 



217 



73 



71 



72 



216 



. 73 



74 



69 



216 



75 



70 



67 



212 



. 71 



71 



68 



210 



69 



72 



68 



209 



436 



428 



416 



1280 



vv mguy, -ttigoy dl 



J Rigby, Rigby B L 



Team aggregate 



In connection with this visit of the American riflemen to England 

 occurred the notorious Halford-Hyde match. Frank Hyde, a gun 

 agent, had, against the protest of Col. Bodine, induced a number of 

 the members of the reserve of the American team to join him In 

 making up a squad to meet a carefully selected team which Sir Henrv 

 Halfor i had collected. Thev met at Wimbledon, July 25, 1880, and 

 the result was a flat defeat of the Americans; the score standing: 

 Halford Team. 



800yds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 

 H 71 67 212 



Milner 



Fenton 73 71 



Humphry 73 TO 



Young 70 67 



Baker 73 71 



Joynt 71 72 



Godsal 72 68 



Evans 74 69 



65 



64 



209 

 207 

 69 206 

 61 205 



61 204 



62 202 

 59 202 



1647 



Team aggregate 580 559 508 



Hyde Team. 



SOOvds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Jackson 72 69 63 209 



Laird 67 71 67 205 



Scott 73 67 63 203 



Brown 71 71 60 202 



Hyde 69 63 66 198 



Dudley 68 64 67 197 



Gerrish 72 60 58 190 



Rockwell 54 50 60 164 



Team aggregate 544 515 509 1568 



The Canadians were roused again about this time to have another 

 match with the Amateur Rifle Club, and they were again accorded a 

 chance. Lieut. -Col. Gibson brought down a strong team from the 

 Victoria Club, of Hamiltoo, Ont., and Pres. R. H. Keene, of the 

 Amateur Club, acted as captain of the American team. The match 

 was shot on Aug. 14, under not very favorable weather conditions: 

 American Team— R. H. Keene, Captain. 



800vds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



J P Waters 74 70 73 217 



Col HS Jewell 73 70 « 215 



L Weber 74 71 69 214 



R Rathbone 74 67 72 213 



L D Hepburn 72 69 66 207 



IL Allen. 72 69 66 207 



Team aggregate 439 416 418 1273 



Canadian Team-CoI. J. M. Gibson, Captain 



800vds. 900yds. 1000yds. T'l 



Col J M Gibson 73 70 67 210 



Albert Pain 70 74 66 210 



Dr McLaughlin 74 65 69 208 



Joseph Mason 74 64 67 205 



F Schwarz 69 66 69 204 



Wm Mitchell 67 68 63 198 



Team aggregate 427 407 401 1235 



The match won by Col. Bodine seemed to convince the British rifle- 

 men that there was little chance of a victory at small-bore work 

 against the Americans. Accordingly, when in November, 1881, the 

 suggestion went over for a military match at short, mid and long 

 range, acceptance came promptly back, and it was arranged that a 

 double match should be had, the first to be shot at Creedmoor, in 

 1882, and the return match at Wimbledon in the f ollowlug year. The 

 rifles were of the class known as "special military" in the usual 

 classification. 



The composition of the two teams in the opening match of Ameri- 

 can militia vs. British volunteers waa as follows: The British team: 

 1— Lieut. J. Heap, Sixth Lancashire Volunteers; Private G. Boulter, 

 Second Cheshire; Major G. Pearse, Fourth Devonshire; Sergt P. 

 Oliver, Third Kent; Major A. P. Humphry, Cambridge University 

 Royal Volunteers, ana Capt. P. T. Godsal, Second Buc.cs. 2— Corp. 

 C. Parry, Second Cheshire; Private G. Goodear, Sixth Lancashire; 

 Sergt J. W Dods, First Berwick; Corp. W Caldwell, First Renfrew; 

 Corp. H. Bates, First Warwick, and Priv. R Mc Vittie. First Dumfries. 

 Of the American, Pollard, Hinmau, Atkinson, Dnlan, McNevin, 

 Howard, Shakespeare and Alder had Remington-Hepburn rifles. 

 Smith, Ogden and Hinds had Sharp-Borehardt rifles, while Pauld- 

 ing used a Hotchkiss repeater. 



The American Team: 1 - Private M. D. Hinds, Twentieth Separate 

 Company; Private D. H. Ogden, Twentieth Separate Company; Sergt. 

 J. McNevin, Thirteenth New York: Capt D. R. Atkinson, Thirteenth 

 Pennsylvania; Maj. E. O. Shakspeare, Staff of Gen. Hartranft, Penn- 

 sylvania; Col. G. P. Howard, First Brigade Staff, New Jersey 2— 

 Sergt. T. J. Dolan, Twelfth New York; Private F. Alder, Seventh 

 New York; Private C. W. Hinman, Fust Massachusetts; Capt. J. M. 

 Pollard, National Rifles, Washington; Private J. Smith, Ninth New 

 York, and Sergt. J. L. Paulding, Twelfth New York. 



On the British side Maj. Humphry, Corp. Caldwell, bergt. Dods 

 used a rifle made by Gibbs, of England, with a Farquarson breech 

 and Metford barrel; Corp. Bates and Capt. Godsal used the Webley 

 rifle; Priv. Boulter, Priv. Goodear, Lieut. Heap, Sergt. Oliver, Corp. 

 Parry and Maj. Pearse used a rifle with the Deeley breech and the 

 Metford barrel, all of .45 cal. i(IJlll . 



The first match was shot at Creedmoor Sept. 14 and 15, 1882. The 

 former day was given up to the shooting at 200, 500 and 600yds. It 

 was a day of strong wind from the rear. 



The Becond day was given to the long-range work at 800, 900 and 

 1000yds., and again it was a bad shooting day with a gusty 10 o'clock 

 wind. The full scores stood : 



British Team— Sir Henry St. J. Halford, Captain. 



First Day. Second Day. 





200yds 





28 

 . 31 



Robert McVittie. 











W Caldwell 



26 



J W Dods 



31 





27 





. 28 









27 





28 





. 31 



31 

 34 

 33 

 32 

 33 

 31 

 30 

 31 

 27 

 32 

 29 

 34 



Team aggregate. 840 



600yds. 



300yds. 900yds. 1000yds. 



T'l 



28 



29 



33 



27 



177 



30 



26 



30 



25 



178 



29 



25 



24 



31 



170 



32 



31 



25 



24 



170 



31 



25 



26 



25 



166 



32 



26 



26 



20 



166 



29 

 28 



21 



31 



27 



165 



24 



28 



25 



164 



30 



29 



24 



22 



161 



24 



21 



23 



32 



159 



24 

 26 



26 



26 



25 



158 



10 



18 



24 



143 



344 



293 



313 



m 



1975 



