848 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 19, 1895. 



Detroit. 



WHAT SHE IS DOING FOE TRAP-SHOOTING. 



Among the many notable products of the city of Detroit there is one 

 that is well known to the trap-shooters of this country. Jack Parker 

 (nobody calls him John, and only a few, such as Paul Weise and Louis 

 Gitschlag, know him as "Shon") at present rightly owns the trap- 

 shooting fraternity of that city. The success of his efforts to keep the 

 Scbraelzer Arms Company's trophy in Detroit has increased, if possi- 

 ble, his popularity with the members of the various gun clubs that 

 claim Detroit as their borne. 



When he and Capt, B. A. Bartlett, the expert representative of the 

 Burgess Gun Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., tied on 92 each in the con- 

 test for the trophy at Parker's shoot in the middle of September last, 

 defeating in that contest such men as Heikes, Dickey, MeMurcby, Van 

 Dyke, Upson, Worthington, etc, not to mention the late holder, Sex- 

 ton, the interest taken in the ultimate destination of the trophy was 

 more than doubled, so far as the trap-shooters of Detroit were con- 

 cerned The tie was carried over to the last day of the Rochester (N. 

 Y.) Bod and Gun Club's tournament, Sept. 26, and was the last event 

 shot at that tournament. On that day Bartlett made what we believe 

 to have been his bpst record, finishing the programme events with an 

 unbroken string of 151 straight at unknown angles. Parker's adher- 

 ents realized that their man had a big contract on hand, but took 

 comfort from the fact that Parker never knew when he was beaten, 

 and also that the contest was not at unknown angles, but at targets 

 thrown from traps pulled in reverse order. 



The result, which was chronicled in Forest and Stream of Oct. 5, 

 proved that Parker could manage to break targets at that style of 

 shooting, even it the light was a poor one. His score of 85 might 

 easily have been made 87 bad he taken more pains with his last two 

 targets. Capt. Bartlett's score of 80 was not up to his standard, but it 

 should be remembered that the strain imposed on 'him while making 

 his big run told on him in all probability when he came to shoot his 

 match aB above. 



On receipt of the news of Parker's victory, told in the Detroit morn- 

 ing papers of Sept. 27, several of his friends got together and decided 

 that he should be made the recipient of some small token of the 

 esteem in which they held him. The matter was brought to a head on 

 Tuesday, Oct. 8, when the River Rouge Gun Club held a little practice 

 shoot on its new grounds. It was a slice of luck that we were in 

 Detroit on that date, en route for New York after ten days in the 

 marshes of Michigan, where, as will probably be told in some future 

 ssue of Forest and Stream, the snipe and duck, particularly the 

 latter, found no trouble in eluding thelj^ozs. of shot destined for their 

 bodies. We attended that shoot and enjoyed the distinction of being 

 on the losing side in a four-men team race, the defeat being distinctly 

 traceable to three cyphers scored to Jack Parker as the net result of 

 bis three first shots. Another member of the team, also a native of 

 Detroit, compiled a score that was chiefly remarkable for the scarcity 

 of the figure 1, whereas in a private match immediately afterward he 

 broke 9 out of 101 Was it a throw-down, with the stranger as the 

 under dog? Anyway it was a case of settle, and Joe Cabanaw got the 

 benefit. 



After the shnot an adjournment was made to Cabanaw's Hotel, 

 where a round dozen sat down to a supper which, though he knew it 

 not, was gotten up hastily in honor of Jack Parker. At the proper 

 momunt W. F. GenicUe, as spokesman, arose and addressed Parker on 

 behalf of those who wished him to accept a small token of their 

 regard for him as a man and as a sportsman. The "small token" was 

 a diamond stud, and with it was presented the following: 



"We, the undersigned friends of John Parker, in appreciation of his 

 conduct as a shooter, and owing to the fact that he has brought to his 

 State and city the cup representing the world's championship at in- 

 animate targets thrown from traps pulled in reverse order, better 

 known as the Schmelzer Arms Company's trophy, do hereby tender to 

 him our congratulations as brother sportsmen, and do present to him 

 as a token of our friendship and approbation the accompanying dia- 

 mond stud. 



"(Signed') W. F. Genicke, Louis Gitschlag, Paul Weise, Hy. H, 

 Fleischer, Leon Bellaire (Sault Ste. Marie), J. Daniels, Albert Trautz, 

 Henrv E. Visger, William A. Ferguson, P. Wood, W. Proctor, J. Klein, 

 J. F. Fox, M Cicotte, Theodore Cicotte, R. H. Hall, H. Herbert, J. H. 

 Bortle, J. Cabanaw, G. Thurber, J. A. Marks, W. H. Brady, A. 

 QuaDdt." 



Parker was so overcome with surprise at the totally unexpected turn 

 the supner had taken that his efforts aB an orator were confined to a 

 brief expression of his thanks. The cup, the pedestal on which it 

 stands hung with the many medals that Parker has won as a shooter, 

 an oarsman^ and as an amateur boxer, is on exhibition in the window 

 of Mr. Gemcke's store on Michigan avenue. A fruitful topic of con- 

 versation in Detroit trap-shooting circles is the next challenge. Who 

 wants the cup? 



NEW SHOTS DEVELOPED. 



The recent tournament at Detroit developed a lot of young blood. 

 Wood. Parker's mate in the two-men team race, is a new shot. We 

 believe that this was his first tournament of any note. His score In 

 that race shows that he has both skill and nerve. Upson and Worth- 

 ington, two of the cracks from Cleveland, O., tied with Wood and 

 Parker with a score of 49 out of 50, each man shooting at 25 targets, 

 unknown angles. On the shoot-off, Upson and Worthington (Red- 

 wing) broke straight, scoring a clean 50; Wood also went straight, 

 while Parker again missed a single target, a complete reproduction of 

 their previous score. The totals for the match and the tie were: 

 Upson, 25 and 25, total 59; Redwing, 24 and 25, total 49; a grand total 

 of -99. Wood. 25 and 25, total 50; Parker, 24 and 24, total 48, making a 

 grand total of 98. The combined totals show 197 out of 200. Wood is 

 one of the new shots developed under the tutorship of Jack Parker. 

 Henry Herbst is another of the same kind, and there are several more 

 yet to hear from; in fact, Detroit may be said just now to be a ver- 

 itable nursery of trap-shooters. 



The sport has a strong hold on the affections of shooting men of 

 that city, and the various gun clubs are composed of enthusiastic ad- 

 herents of trap-shooting. The winning of the trophy above referred 

 to by Parker has had a very salutary effect indeed. Of course, just 

 now the shooting men of the city are more absorbed in duck and 

 snipe shooting than in cracking "saucers;" but every dog has his day, 

 and when the ducks aud snipe are busily engaged in the operation of 

 increasing their species next spring, guns will crack just as merrily as 

 ever in the vicinity of Detroit, although inanimates, not animates, will 

 be the targets. Edward Banks. 



The Reading' Tournament. 



Reading, Pa., Oct. 9. — The tournament of the Independent Gun 

 Club commenced this morning on the grounds of the club at the 

 Three-Mile House. Among those present were: F. Van Dyke, of the 

 Winchester Repeating Arms Co. ; B. A. Bartlett, of the Burgess Gun 

 Co.; Harry Thurman and H. L. David, of the Keystone Shooting 

 League, Philadelphia; S. Qlover, of Rochester, N. Y., etc. The best 

 average waB made by Van Dyke, who lost but 15 targets out of 195 

 shot at. Scores: 



Events: 123456780 10 



Glover « 17 16 18 17 16 15 16 17 19 13 



Van Dyke 16 18 17 18 20 19 20 17 20 15 



Bartlett 19 14 16 19 18 19 15 18 14 14 



Landis 18 10 18 14 19 15 17 18 14 13 



Schmeck 17 15 15 14 17 17 14 16 14 11 



Shaaber 15 16 15 9 11 19 16 16 16 13 



Thurman 17 15 16 16 18 17 15 14 18 10 



Gechter 13 



Wertz 13 



Benner 16 12 16 15 .. 14 .. 11 .. .. 



Ritter 15 14 13 



Raymond 10 12 11 12 9 



Frey 14 14 13 .. 15 .. ..11 



Smith 10 18 16 18 18 14 



Keller ,,. 15 15 13 13 13 .. 



Harrison 15 16 18 13 ,, 



Coldren 13 16 , . 



Sensenig 9 .. .. 



East 14 8 .. 



Weand 16 11 



Sheeler 13 



All the above events were at 20 targets, except No. 10, which was a 

 15-target event. 



South Side Gun Club. 



Newark, N. J,, Oct. 12. — The heavy storm of rain and wind which 

 passed over this section to-day kept most of our shooters away, only 

 a few enthusiasts taking part in the South Side's Saturday shoot. 

 The following were the scores made: 



Events: 1 834 6 6 7 80 10 11 IS 13 



W Smith 16 7 6 10 9 8 6 9 



Thomas 25 8 9 9 6 9 8 7 7 9 5.... 



Couch 18 5 5 9 6 8 8 9 6 



Herrington 57869786647 



Folsom 5 9 8 6 8 5 7 5 



No. 1 was at 25 targets, everything known; the balance were all 

 1 0-target events, unknown angles. Secretary. 



TheY Atlanta Programme. 



'" The! programme issued by the" Clarke Hardware Co., of Atlanta, 

 Ga,, for its tournament on Oct. 23, 24 and 25, is one that will attract 

 the attention of shooters, and catch the fancy of any man who has an 

 average of anything over eighty-five per cent, to his credit. There is 

 "good money" in every event, taking the entrance fees only as a basis 

 and not considering the added money; taking both together the 

 purses will be well worth dividing. 



For each of the three days of the shoot the same programme is 

 scheduled: Three 15-target events, Nos. 2, 4 and 7, $2 entrance. $20 

 added in each event; four 20-target events, Nos. 1, 3, 6 and 8, $3 en- 

 trance, $25 added to each purse; a 25 target event. No. 5, $5 entrance, 

 $50 added to the purse. The above events are "open to the world, 

 known traps and unknown angles, A. S. A. rules to govern, black pow- 

 der and 10-gauge guns barred. All purses divided 30, 25, 20, vzy 2 and 



company will add ' $700, the added money in the above pro- 

 gramme footing up $630, the rate being $210 per day. We can find no 

 mention in the programme in regard to average moneys, so conclude 

 that the remaining $70 will be donated in some such form. 



There can be very little question as to the probable success of this 

 tournament. To the strong inducements offered in the programme 

 is added the single-fare-rate ticket to Atlanta issued by all railroads 

 on account of the great exposition now in progress in that city. The 

 Kimball House, one of the best hotels in the South, about a block 

 from the depot, will be headquarters for shooters during the tourna- 

 ment, special rates having been secured. Guns and shells can be 

 shipped in advance in care of the Clarke Hardware Co., the company 

 guaranteeing that the same will be delivered at the grounds. The 

 traps will be in position on Oct. 22, so that the early birds can get a 

 little practice prior to the opening of the tournament. We must not 

 forget to state that the shoot will be under the management of Jack 

 Parker, who is now in Atlanta getting things in readiness for the 

 above date of Oct. 22. 



The DuFont Tournament. 



Baltimore, Oct. 14.— Editor Forest and Stream: All arrangements 

 for the DuPont Smokeless powder grand championship tournament, 

 to be held here commencing Oct. 22, have been about completed. 

 Carpenters are at work on the grounds, building platforms, erecting 

 gun racks, putting down foundations for traps, etc., etc. 



Five thousand birds have been contracted for, with an additional 

 thousand within easy call if needed. Eight hundred small, hard-flying 

 Antwerps have been picked from the lot so far gotten in, with which 

 to open the grand championship handicap event. Mr. Halstead, whose 

 well-known hostelry adjoins the shooting grounds, will be prepared to 

 serve lunches in the club house on grounds or hot meals at hotel at 

 any hour. 



If all the shooters enter who have signified to us their intention of 

 so doing the entry list wi'l far exceed anything ever seen in this coun- 



Buft'alo, N Y., will be represented in the DuPont handicap at Balti- 

 more by at least a couple of entries from the ranks of the Audubon 

 Gun Club of that city. 



H. P. COLLINS. 

 General Agent Du Pont Powder Company. 



try. In addition to the club house a number of tents will be erected 

 on the grounds for convenience of shooters, where they can keep 

 their guns, shells, etc., etc., in perfect security. 



Shooters desiring to send their shells or guns by express can address 

 them care of DuPont Smokeless Powder Tournament Committee, 22 

 S. Calvert street, Baltimore, where they will be taken care of and sent 

 to grounds the morning of the opening day, if so desired. All parties 

 desiring to avail of the special rate issued by the Trunk Line Associa- 

 tion must secure certificates from railroad agent at the point at which 

 they purchase ticket. This certificate will be signed by the secretary 

 of the tournament committee and be vised by Trunk Line Association 

 agent, and will then entitle party holding same to one-third fare re- 

 turning. 



The handicap committee consists of the following well-known gen- 

 tlemen: Jacob Pentz, New York, Chairman; John S. Hoey, New Jer- 

 sey; W. L. Shepard, Chicago, 111.; T. A. Divine, Memphis, Tenn.; J. 

 R. Kelso, Baltimore, Md.; Dr. 8. J. Fort, Ellicott City, Md ; J. H. 

 Gulick, Washington, D. C, and H. P. Collins, general agent DuPont & 

 Co , Baltimore. 



We have received replies from all of these gentlemen with the ex- 

 ception of Mr. Hoey, but expect him to serve on same. 



DuFont Smokeless Powder Tournament Committee. 



[Mr. H. P. Collins, general agent of the DuPont Powder Company, 

 will take charge of the cashier's department during the shoot,] 



What is a Championship Contest? 



In our isBue of Oct. 12 we published a communication signed 

 48 Grains— . That letter touched upon a point of more than passin? 

 interest to the trap-shooting fraternity— that of championships. 48 

 Grains— took exception to the claim made on behalf of the DuPont 

 Powder Company that the result of its coming handicap would estab- 

 lish who was the live-bird champion of America and of the world. 

 He argued that the fact that contestants were restricted to the use of 

 DuPont powder, and that the affair was also a handicap, placed it out- 

 side the pale of championship events. 



Dr. Samuel J. Fort, of Ellicott City, Md., replies to 48 Grains— in the 

 following terms: 



"Brother 48 Grains— seems in a peck of trouble in regard to the 

 damper put upon his chances to win the DuPont trophy, plus fifty per 

 cent, of the big purse, first, because some other fellow may win 

 because he gets a good handicap; second, because 48 Grains — has 

 never used DuPont nitro and must use it in this race. 



"Now I am awfully sorry for our friend of the big charge, but as it 

 is at present we can not change our plans to suit him, and under the 

 circumstances, for his benefit and others who may feel as he does, 

 will give our side in the above matter. 



"The handicap race is practically a starter and enables every one 

 competing to get an even start, according to their ability. As 48 

 Grains— truly says, a 24 or 25yd. man will likely win the trophy and the 

 lion's share of the purse; but if 48 Grains— will read a little further in 

 the programme he will see that the committee thought about him, 

 and said that the winner must defend his title and trophy for one 

 year; so all that 48 Grains— has to do is come in with his forfeit, get his 

 handicap— which may not be as great as he thinks it is— and should he 

 not win the trophy, title and money, challenge the winner at once, 

 when both will shoot at 30yds. 



"Now, as to using DuPont nitro. Without discussing its numerous 

 merits it may be said that the plan of compelling its use in the handi- 

 cap race was simply and solely because it was, and is. and always will 

 be, a pure and simple DuPont tournament; it is DuPont money behind 

 it, and further comment is unnecessary as to the whys and where- 

 fores. No man ought to kick over the possible use of fifty cartridges 

 loaded with any make of powder that gives him a fighting chance to 

 win twenty times his entrance besides title and trophy, and especially 



when 48 Grains or any other man will have twelve months in 



which to make a winner's life miserable with any other powder, for 

 after this preliminary race the challenger may use any powder; so too 

 may the challenged, but likely he won't want to use anything else but 



DuPont; and after 48 Grains has used 39 grains of DuPont, he 



won't want to use anything else either, and one great object of this 

 tournament will be fulfilled." 



The above reply to 48 Grains answers a good many queries. 



Chief among them is that which relates to the powder to be used in 

 future challenges. Dr. Fort says that "the challenger may use any 

 powder." That point was not settled in the programme, and we our- 

 selves have been in doubt on that question, and possibly 48 Grains 



was also on the fence. 



The question of championships in shooting circles is a vexed one. 

 As a matter of fact, we have had so many live-bird champions that 

 the introduction of one more or less would make very little difference. 



Still, we agree with 48 Grains that every championship contest 



should be open to all, and no handicax) of any Icind imposed upon the 

 contestants. The nearest approach that we have had recently to a 

 championship contest at live birds took place at Watson's Burnside 

 Park, Chicago, 111., on Nov. 16, 1894, when George Kleinman won the 

 httle iron badge by killing 91 birds, defeating Brewer (89), Carver, 

 Elliott, Grimm, Budd, Bingham and Mott, The company was warm 

 enough to pick a champion out of, and, so far as we can see, Klein- 

 man's claim to the championship is a good one. The contest cer- 

 tainly possessed what we believe to be the essential point in any such 

 event — all shot from the same mark and were restricted only in the 

 amount of shot to be used. So much for the championship at live 

 birds. 



It is a remarkable fact that, although target shooting is mors than a 

 decade old, we have no legitimate champion at that branch of the 

 sport. There has never been a real championship contest at inani- 

 mate targets that we can find a trace of. The Schmelzer Arms Com- 

 pany's trophy, now held by Jack Parker, represents only the cham- 

 pionship at inanimate targets thrown from traps pulled in reverse 

 order, called for the sake of brevity the championship at reversed 

 order. There is no legal champion shot of America, although there 

 may be a moral one. Were it put to the popular vote, we think there 

 would be little doubt about Heikes getting the majority of the votes 

 cast, notwithstanding the claims of such men as McMureny, Van 

 Dyke, Dickey, Bartlett, Noel Money, Upson, Glover, Fulford, etc. We 

 could add a dozen more names to the above list, eacli one of which 

 would denote a man who has bona fide claims to a try for the cham- 

 pionship. 



To obtain the right to the title of champion target shot of America, 

 it would be necessary for a shooter to prove that he excelled generally 

 at the four branches of the sport now commonly in use: unknown 

 angles, expert rules, reversed order and pairs. With a view to ascer- 

 taining who is the champion target shot, we would like to see some 

 prominent gun club, or some firm interested in the manufacture of 

 sporting goods, adopt some such plan as the following: 



Get up a tournament and offer a valuable cup that shall be em- 

 blematic of the championship at targets. Let the conditions be as 

 follows: 100 targets, unknown angles; 100 targets, reversed order; 100 

 targets, expert system, and 50 pairs. The way to shoot the 400 targets 

 off might be thus: divide each of the three first systems into four 25- 

 target events, and the 50 pairs into four events of 15, 15, 10 and 10 

 pairs respectively. Make each 25 or each set of pairs a separate 

 event with a solid entrance fee; deduct 5 or 10 per cent, from each 

 purse to form a fund to be divided between the four highest averages 

 made out of the 400 targets. Let the man making the highest average 

 take the cup, title and 40 per cent, of the fund created as above; the 

 three next highest would take 30, 20 and 10 per cent, of the same fund 

 respectively. In a four days' tournament, a 25 at each style of shoot- 

 ing and one of the sets of pairs might be shot off without interfering 

 with a distinct programme, as the contestants in the championship 

 events would be formed into squads and could shoot right along in ah 

 events without disturbing the routine of the tournament. The idea 

 of dividing up the 400 targets into sixteen separate events would, we 

 think, Berve to keep the entries from falling off. 



Our claim is that the man who made the best general average on 

 the string of 400 targets at the four different styles of shooting would 

 be fairly entitled to championship honors. The conditions governing 

 future challenges could be easily formulated, 



A tournament that included in its programme any such champion- 

 ship event would surely draw a large crowd of shooters, and we think 

 the entry list in the championship sweeps would be highly satisfac- 

 tory. There, why wouldn't such a scheme as the above work? What 

 are its weak points, and where does it fall short? Let us have an all- 

 round champion at targets. 



New Jersey Trap-Shooters' League. 



CLOSING SHOOT OF THE SEASON. 



Owing to the scores given below being addressed to the trap editor 

 personally instead of to Forpst and Stream Publishing Company, a 

 delay of one week in publishing the same was unavoidable. 



The shoot took place on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Red Bank, N. J., under 

 the auspices of the Riverside Gun Club, of that place. Being the clos- 

 ing shoot of the 1895 series of the N ew Jersey Trap-Shooters' League, 

 a good attendance was the result, seven teams putting in an appear- 

 ance The Union Gun Club, of Springfield, led with 110 out of 125, the 

 Climax being a close second with 109. The Riverside club put up a 

 score of 105, taking third place from the Maplewoods by a single 

 break. The highest individual score of the day was a 24 made by E. 

 A. Geoffroy, for the Boiling Sprinus. Seven men made 23: E. D. Mil- 

 ler, N. E. Money, T. H. Keller, D. Darby, A. L. Ivins, J. Cooper, Jr., 

 and Warren Smith. The scores in detail were: 

 Union. 



E D Miller 1111111101111111111101111-23 



N E Money 1111111110011111111111111—23 



W Sigler 0111101111101111111111111-22 



T WMorfey 1011011111110111111111111-22 



ESickley 0111111111111110111101110-20 -110 



Climax. 



D Darby 1111111111111111101111101—23 



T H Keller 1101111111111111111110111—23 



R Manning 1101011111111111111111101-22 



RH Breintnall,.., 0011111111101011111111111-21 



C Smith 0111111011010011111111111-20-109 



Riverside. 



J Cooper, Jr 1111011111111101111111111—23 



ALIrvins lllllllllllOllOllililini— 23 



O Hesse lllllllOlllllOlOllin 1011-21 



E M Cooper 1111011111101110110011111—20 



P Daly, Jr Ill 11 lllOOllllliOOOHOOll— 18-105 



Maplewood. 



Warren Smith 1111111301] 11111110111111— 23 



ASickley 1111111111100101111111110—21 



F Van Dyke llllllimillimoilOOOll— 21 



Dr Jackson 1111111111111010111001011—20 



W N Drake 1111011111001011111111100— 19— 104 



Endeavor. 



RH Proctor 1111111111011011111110111-22 



E Collins 1110011110111011111111111-21 



Al Heritage 11 1011100110111 101 1111111-20 



G E Greiff 111110I011011110111101111— 20 



W Piercy ; llllll010011101101101l«JtO— 17— 100 



Boiling Springs. 



E A Geoffroy 1111111111111101111111111—24 



G S McAlpin 1111111011011110111011111—21 



OF Lenone 1111001111110011111110111-20 



ARStrader 0111101011000110010101011—14 



M Herrington lllOOlOCOOlOOOlOOlOOllOlO— 10— 89 



Elizabeth, 



C C Hebbard 1111011111001001011111111— 19 



W Farker lliomooillllliooioillll— 19 



N Astfalk 1011011111010101111110101—18 



J Williams 11001 10101 10] 101 1101 10111 — 17 



A Woodruff 0111110010001101111110110-16— 89 



Counting the five best scores, the clubs composing the league fin- 

 ished in the following order: 



Per. per. 

 Shot at. Broke, cent. Shot at. Broke, cent. 



Maplewood 625 540 86.4 Elizabeth 625 513 82 



Union 625 529 84.6 Endeavor 625 474 76 8 



Climax 625 524 83.8 Riverside 625 460 73 6 



SouthSide 625 523 83.6 Union Hill 625 340 53 7 



Boiling Springs.. 625 514 82.2 



BTwenty-five shooters made averages of 80 per cent, or better for five 

 completed scores, the following being the list in order of merit: 



Per Per 

 Shot. at. Broke, cent. Shot at. Broke, cent. 



Van Dyke ..125 120 96 Hoffman., 125 108 86.4 



Drake 125 115 92 Keller 125 108 86.4 



McAlpin 125 114 91.2 C Smith 125 108 86.4 



Sigler . ...125 114 91.2 W Smith 125 108 £6.4 



Apgar 125 113 90.8 Williams 125 108 88 4 



ASickley 125 113 90.8 ESickley 125 107 85 6 



Miller 125 113 90.8 Thomas 125 107 85.6 



Geoffroy 125 112 89.6 Parker 125 105 84 



NE Money 125 112 89.6 Woodruff 125 105 84 



Hebbard 125 110 88 Greiff 125 104 83.2 



Breintnall 125 109 87.2 Huck 125 103 82.4 



Collins 125 109 87.2 Terry 125 102 81,6 



Whitehead 125 109 87.2 



