May 25, 1895.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
429 
finely matted rib which, is matted by hand in a kind of 
frost-work pattern, and not machine milled. 
Several other improvements may be noted, notably 
the unlocking device, which in all the latest models is 
placed inside the finger guard, instead of in front, and 
the wooden pistol -grip which supersedes the original 
hard rubber grip. 
_ The folding police gun attracts a great deal of atten- 
tion, and visitors watch with unconcealed amazement 
the lightning-like rapidity with which Mr. Damon whisks 
it out from under his coat and pumps half a dozen dummy 
shells through the action. As the gun only measurt?s 20in. 
folded it is easily concealed when carried in its holster 
under an ordinary length coat. 
The Tatham Shot Tower. 
The first object seen, when entering the Garden, was 
the model shot tower erected by Messrs. Tatham & Bros. 
Provision was made for showing the complete process of 
manufacturing shot, from the molten metal to the per- 
fected pellets. From the top of the tower the melted lead 
dropped into a tank of water at the foot, whence it was 
carried up into the polishing cylinder, thence through 
various stages until it came out in the familiar Tatham 
shot bags. There was always an interested gathering 
about the tower, and the exhibit proved one of the most 
instructive shown. 
Horton Manufacturing Co. 
In fishing rods, the Horton Manufacturing Company 
exhibited their famous "Bristol" steel fishing rods in 
various lengths, and of two kinds, bass and fly-rods. 
During the week these rods have been closely scrutinized 
and have made many friends. Their lightness is remark- 
able, while the small space occupied by a complete rod 
when telescoped is also worth noting. For example: The 
bass rod, 10ft. in length, weighs but 10oz.; when tele- 
scoped it is only 37in. in length. In this rod the line runs 
through the center of the rod. The 10ft. fly-rod weighs 
9£oz., is jointed and has standing guides, together with a 
three-ring tip. The 9|ft. fly-rod weighs l|oz. less, and is 
a very pretty specimen indeed. 
Cushman & Denison. 
Cushman <$f Denison, of Few York city, placed on exhi- 
bition their pocket oilers. The exhibit consisted of the 
case which won the medal at the World's Fair in 1893, 
and was in charge of Mr. Jos. W. Cushman, with his 
assistants, Robert G. Grunert and Arthur Spiller. The 
"Perfect" Pocket Oiler is a remarkably useful oiler. 
It is made of only the best quality of metal, it regulates 
the supply of oil to a nicety and doesn't spill a drop. 
This oiler consists of a tube for holding the oil, fitted at 
the top with a patent tip, which can be unscrewed to 
refill the oiler. This tip prevents leakage, but additional 
protection is provided by a cap which fits over it, and pre- 
vents the tip from being bent or getting filled with dirt 
when carried in the pocket. The tip throws only a few 
all spilling or waste of oil 
as neat and convenient 
as 
drops at a time, preventing 
In shape and finish, it is 
possible. 
The Hazard Powder Co. 
A very neat and tasty little corner of the show was the 
display of the Hazard Powder Co., where drums, canis- 
ters, cans and cannikins enough were shown to blow 
Madison Garden into the sweet by and by if they had all 
bpen loaded. Back of the display an electric sign said 
"Hazard," and below this sign a number of little powder 
cans spelled out "Hazard Smokeless." It may not gener- 
ally be known but is none the less a fact, the Hazard 
Powder Co. has on the market— or will have as soon as it 
can get a shipment of the goods— still another American 
nitro powder. Of the old and reliable Hazard black pow- 
der of all sorts the public has long known, and to many 
visitors these seemed like old friends. 
Chamberlin Cartridge and Target Co. 
This exhibit was on the left of the main aisle as one 
entered from Madison avenue, and fortunate in a good 
locality and cheerful light. Here Paul North dispensed 
information, bluerocks, programmes, the latter descrip- 
tive of the second annual tournament which will be held 
at Cleveland, June 19 to 21, $1,200 in cash being added. 
The goods displayed in this exhibit were of course 
limited in range, consisting of targets (decorated uniquely 
and fetchingly with portraits of shooters), together with 
the traps to throw them, from the regulation battery up 
to the expert trap capable of a geometrical progression of 
curves, inshoots and angles. North's electric trap pull 
was of course in evidence. In fact, nothing lacked ex- 
cept shooters to start a tournament, and one half looked 
for the call "All ready, No. 1 squad!" One hardly needs 
attempt description of goods so well known, but the die- 
play of the goods deserves highly creditable mention. 
The design of the booth (in black and yellow— the trade 
color of the bluerock target) being by a professional 
decorator. The bands of yellow and black were very 
striking in effect, and the chief object of such an exhibit 
— to strike and compel the eye of a sated sight-seer— was 
obviously and handsomely accomplished. Very well 
might the visiting shooter obey the legend displayed on 
each face of the exhibit, "Shoot bluerocks." 
William Lyman. 
It is easier to see through a Lyman sight than through 
William Ly man. There were lots of people at the Garden 
who thought they ^ 
could do both. By 
the first night Mr. 
Lyman was hoarse. 
And after that he 
spelled himself by letting others 
tell of their actual experience with 
the sights, and there was always in 
the throng a rifle shooter to vol- 
unteer praise and indorsement, 
well known makes of Lyman sights were 
shown, and some new ones. Mr. Ly- 
man has lately perfected a rear revolver sight, 
which, in connection with his front revolver 
sight allows of very quick and accurate aim of 
a Smith & Wesson. The cut gives a good idea 
of how it appears. One advantage of these 
ights over any other revolver sights is that 
good shooting can be done in all kinds of weather and 
light. * 
!» hi 
Davy Crockett's Rifle. 
"Handle it reverently," said the 
Forest and Stream's Exposition 
booklet, "for it is a relic of a great 
man." And indeed so was it looked 
upon— the most interesting arm 
among those shown in this journal's 
exhibit. That Davy Crockett's rifle 
could have a place here was due to 
the thoughtful courtesy of Col. 
Rob't H. Crockett, of Arkansas; 
and scores of visitors to the 
Exposition had the privilege of tak- 
ing' into their own hands the histo- 
ric arm borne by the famous pioneer, 
bear-killer, statesman, patriot and 
hero. The rifle was presented by 
the young Whigs of Philadelphia, 
Crockett then being on a tour 
through the North. The maker was 
Constable, of Holyland, N. Y., who 
put it up in the highest style of the 
art. The lines of the gun are well 
shown in the illustration. The pistol 
grip is a beauty; we have never seen 
one its superior, nor did we ever hold 
any other rifle that "came up" so 
well as this grand old arm of Davy 
Crockett's. It shoots as well now as 
ever. 
The mountings are of coin silver, 
finely engraved, with representations 
of deer, bear, alligator and raccoon. 
Beneath ^the stock, just in front of 
the trigger guard, is, or was — all but 
the outline having been worn away 
by constant usage — the Goddess of 
Liberty, with the words "Constitu- 
tion and Laws." Upon the top of 
the octagonal barrel is the inscription 
in letters of gold sunk into the barrel: 
"Presented by the Young Men of 
Philadelphia to the Hon. David 
Crockett, of Tenn." And near the 
muzzle is the famous rule, "Go 
ahead!" 
The bore takes thirty-two balls to 
the pound. The gun has been in 
constant use since first the original 
owner carried it back to Tennessee, 
and innumerable deer, bears, turkeys 
and other game have fallen at its 
discharge. 
In 1829 Crockett was re-elected 
to Congress. The honest old "back- 
woods bear hunter" had won great 
fame among the Whigs by his course 
at Washington; and when in 1834 he 
made a tour through the North, his 
progress was a continued ovation 
from Baltimore to Boston. In Phil- 
adelphia, on his first visit, he was 
proffered the rifle: "I was hardly 
done making my bow to those 
gentlemen, before Mr. James M. 
Sanderson informed me that the 
young Whigs of Philadelphia had a 
desire to present me with a fine rifie, 
and had chosen him to have her 
made agreeably to my wishes. I 
told him that was an article that I 
knew something about, and gave him 
the size, weight, etc." 
While he was in New York, there 
was considerable curiosity to wit- 
ness an exhibition of his skill as a 
marksman, and this desire he grat- 
ified by a visit to a Jersey City range. 
"I now started to Jersey City, 
where I found a great many 
gentlemen shooting rifles, at the dis- 
tance of one hundred yards with a 
rest. One gentleman gave me' his 
gun, and asked me to shoot. I raised 
up off-hand, and cut within about 
two inches of the center. I told him 
my distance was forty yards, off- . 
hand. He loaded his gun, and we 
walked down to within forty yards 
when I fired, and was deep in the 
paper. I shot a second time, and did 
the same. Colonel Mapes then put 
up a quarter of a dollar in the middle 
of a black Bpot, and asked me to 
shoot at it. I told him he had better 
mark the size of it and put his money 
in his pocket. He said, 'fire away.' 
1 did so, and made sleight-of-hand 
work with his quarter." 
Returning to 
Philadelphia upon 
the adjournment 
of Congress, he 
found the rifle 
ready: "Next mor- 
ning I was inform- 
ed that the rifle 
gun which was to 
be presented to me 
by the young men 
of Philadelphia was 
finished, and would 
be delivered that 
evening; and that a 
committee had been 
appointed to wait on 
me and conduct me 
to where I was to 
receive it. So, ac- 
cordingly, in the 
evening the com- 
mittee came, and I 
walked with them 
to a room nearly 
foment the old state 
house; it was crow- 
Ik 
ded full, and there was a table in the center, with the gun, 
a tomahawk, and butcher knife, both of fine razor metal, 
with all the accoutrements necessary to the gun — the most 
beautiful I ever saw or anybody else; and I am now happy 
to add as good as they are handsome. My friend,' John M. 
Sanderson, Esq. , who had the whole management of getting 
her made, was present, and delivered the gun into my 
hands. Upon receiving her I addressed the company as fol- 
lows: 'Gentlemen: I receive this rifle from the young men 
of Philadelphia as a testimony of friendship, which I hope 
never to live to forget. This'is a favorite article with me, 
and would have been my choice above all presents that 
could have been selected. I love a good gun, for it makes 
a man independent, and prepared either for war or peace. 
" 'This rifle does honor to the gentleman that made it. 
I must say, long as I have been accustomed to handle a 
gun, I have never seen anything that could near a com- 
parison to her in beauty. I cannot think that ever such 
a rifle was made, either in this or any other country; and 
how, gentlemen, to express my gratitude to you for your 
splendid present, I am at a loss. This much, however, I 
will say, that myself and my sons will not forget you 
while we use this token of your kindness for our amuse- 
ment. If it should become necessary to use her in defence 
of the liberty of our country, in my time, I will do as I 
have done before; and if the struggle should come when 
I am buried in the dust, I will leave her in the hands of 
some who will honor your present, in company with your 
sons, in standing for your country's rights. 
" 'Accept my sincere thanks, therefore, gentlemen, for 
your valuable present — one which I will keep as a testi- 
mony of your friendship so long as I am in existence.' 
"I then received the gun and accoutrements, and re- 
turned to the hotel, where I made an agreement with Mr. 
Sanderson and Col. Pulaski to go with them the next day 
to the J ersey shore, at Camden, and try my gun. 
"Next morning we went out. I had been out of prac- 
tice, so that I could not give her a fair trial. I shot toler- 
ably well, and was satisfied that when we became better 
acquainted the fault would be mine if the varmints did 
not suffer." . 
Returning home with his gun he was greeted by many 
friends, who gathered around to inspect the arm. "A 
large fellow stepped up and asked me why all the mem- 
bers did not get such guns given them. I told him I got 
that gun for being honest, in supporting my country, in- 
stead of bowing down and worshiping an idol. He looked 
at me and said, that was very strong. 'No stronger than 
true, my friend,' said I. 
"In the course of a few days I determined to try my 
new gun upon the living subject. I started for a hunt, 
and shortly came across a fine buck. He fell at the dis- 
tance of 130 steps! Not a bad shot, you will say. I say, 
not a bad gun either. After a little practice with her. she 
came up to the prime, and I determined to try her at the 
first shooting match for beef." 
This is all that Crockett has told us about the rifle. In 
the latter pages of the Autobiography there are references 
to "Betsy," but this was his flint-lock, which he took to 
Texas, leaving the Philadelphia rifle with his elder son, 
John W. Crockett, from whom it has descended to the 
present owner. 
"The Only Lady Sharpshooters." 
"I have been doing exhibition shooting now for nine 
years," said Miss May Clinton, senior member of the lady 
rifle team, "Cooke & Clinton," who did the cleverest turn 
on the stage of amusements at the Exposition, "nine 
years of hard work. My partner, Polly, here — Miss Pau- 
line Cooke — has only been shooting five years. I found 
her in a burlesque troupe and we have been working to- 
gether since then. I was always fond of shooting, and at 
sixteen years of age I was a good field shot, and I love 
to go out for a bit of field shooting whenever I can,, 
though that doesn't come very often. We have to work 
pretty hard, and for forty weeks out of the year are prac- 
tically at work every day of the time. Polly doesn't care 
so much for field shooting as I do, but she will in time, I 
know, though now she does nothing: but rifle. I think 
we could both become good shots with the shotgun, and 
though I have never much fancied match shooting, I 
never refuse to shoot a race with any local man who 
wishes it. Of course, I win some of these — I don't know 
that I should boast, but you know, I like to shoot and 
have been handling arms a long time. 
"I have traveled all over the country in my business, 
though now we rarely go further West than St. Louis. I 
have been all over Texas and the South with good com- 
panies. About as hard a time as I ever had was away 
down in the City of Mexico. I was with a circus com- 
pany and we gave two performances each day with a 
parade, and on 'feast days' we showed three times. I was 
taken sick one day, and while I was doing my act I went 
dizzy, so I fell over against the center pole. I couldn't 
see for a while, but pulled myself together and finished. 
Then I went home and went to bed. What did I have? 
Oh, nothing, only smallpox! Yes, I got out of it well, 
without being marked by it. I shall always remember 
the kindness of the natives to me, and I could fairly love 
the American mining men and engineers who came and 
took care of me when I was sick. I was in bed twenty- 
three days. 
"In Mexico I used to see lots of bull fights, but I don't 
like them. You know, the matador doesn't dare kill the 
bull until the bull'makes a break for him. That is why 
he waves his cloak, to start the bull. Then he stabs it. 
He ought to cut the spinal cord at the base of the neck, 
but sometimes he misses, and the sword runs away in and 
the bull runs away — oh, it looks awful! You know, the 
pictures show the bull fighter with a sword with a straight 
handle, like any other sword; but that is wrong. The 
handle of the matador's sword is put on crosswise, like a 
gimlet handle. This gives him a better thrust." 
"I'm going to Mexico some day," said Polly, the junior 
member; "but I don't know just when, maybe never, we 
have to work so hard. We're going to take up pistol 
shooting to add to our act, before long, and I expect we 
will have to study hard on that for a while. It isn't easy 
to do acts. Oh, it's easy enough to learn the shooting of 
new tricks, if you know how to shoot, you know; but it's 
hard to have to keep on working all the time. If we could 
change off and go out hunting once in while, in our jack- 
ets and leggings and caps, as we dress on the stage, I would 
like that, I think." 
These two young women do some very clever trick and 
exhibition shooting with the .22cal. rifle, their rapid-fire 
