498 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Deo. 19, 1896. 
The Board of Trustees iS cdifiposed of the first five gentle- 
men. 
On July 5 the club inaugurated a commissary department, 
and for the first lime in its fourteen years of existence served 
meals to its members at the dub house. Over 1.500 meals 
were served from the openino: of the commissary department 
to the day of the annual meeting. The club house will be 
kept open all the year through in the future, and the steward 
and c7(t;f will be always in attendance. The membership is 
full — fifty active members and eight non-resident members. 
The boys are preparing for the coming ice boat season, and 
the prospects are good for a lively boating season. 
E. 0. C. 
Royal C. C. 
The Eoyal C. C.has taken a step in its life which has been 
its best wish during its thirty years of existence; it has now 
determined to build and maintain a club house of its own, 
with housing accommodation for canoes and yawls, fore- 
shore private to itself, hauliug-up slip and numerous other 
conveniences. 
It is, however, as a matter of fact the first time that the 
club has had real or suflScient opportunity to venture on such 
a move; the various tenancies previously held by the club in 
respect to land, such as camp grounds, have been of such 
precarious nature that at no time was the executive in a posi- 
tion to advise the club to invest money in building, or even 
in substantial improvement of the lands used as camp 
grounds, and therefore the club was rightly satisfied in the 
enjoyment of such benefits as were obtainable by renting 
club room and boat housing accommodation from boat 
builders. 
The new club house will be at the head of Teddington 
Eeach, on the Thames, and conveniently near to the stations 
of Kingston and Hampton Wick. Tlie Eeach itself is one 
of the best sailing reaches of the Thames near London — that 
is, so far as above-lock reaches, somewhat hampered by 
trees, can be called sailing reaches; but Teddington Eeach 
has certainly deep water and very little stream, except in 
heavy water times. We have sailed almost every fairly, sail- 
able square foot of its extent in a canoe yawl fitted with a 
bulb-fin, drawing 4ft. 6in of water-, and to within half a 
length oil the banks we have never touched bottom; so, 
therefore, ordinary drafted canoes and yawls can leave 
their center-plates unattended so far as navigation is con- 
cerned, 
Of course, in future days the oft-talked of locks may be 
built lower down the river, even to or near Chelsea, but the 
rivf r below Kew is already quite towuified enough to make 
saiUng a doubtful pleasure, and the club need not waste the 
valuable present time by putting off for an indefinite hazy 
future, 
One great advantage gained to the club in the new position 
it is taking up is that of private foreshore, with facilities for 
hauling up canoes and yawls. It used to be with the "old 
masters" of canoeins, and it probably is also with the new, 
half the pleasure of the sport to be able to fiddle around and 
tinker at one's craft, both as to rigging and general condition. 
The novice, looking on while the senior worked, received his 
canoeing education on the best lines, and with far less cost 
to his pocket than is the case where the novice has to learn 
his business in trying to somehow repair damages or to 
rectify faults caused by his own inexperience. The fore- 
shore doc.kyarding was no waste of time; it created friends 
and cruising companions, and it took the bitter edge oil rac- 
ing opponents and kept the spirit of friendly rivalry alive. 
As a rule we do not attach much importance to "club 
house rumors" in regard to new craft or alterations of exist- 
ing boats in relation to future racing, especially at so early a 
period before the coming season ; but for what it may be 
worth, reports commonly aeree that a new Yankee is to be 
brought from America by Mr. Howard to defend his hold on 
the challenge cup. On the other hand, we hear that Mr. Laws 
(of Prucas) is about to build a new canoe, we suppose in the 
racing class^ of a modified sharpie model, with an extraordi- 
narily long slide seat, and that the Dragon will be altered 
extensively both as to her "well" and center-plate, and she 
will be changed in rig from her present single lug to a ' 'main 
and coizzen" rig; no doubt, from her previous record of div- 
ing and occasionally turning tui-tle she will be greatly im- 
proved by the change of rig. The "cruiser class" Vanessa, 
Mr. rie Quincey's Linton Hope designed canoe, is to be cut 
down in freeboard as allowed now by the amended rule; she 
showed unnecessarily high sides last season, and will prob- 
ably be much improved by the alteration. 
Turk, the builder at Kingston-on Thames, is at work upon 
two canoes for this "cruiser class," which are going to be 
exhibited in the Yachting Exhibition at the Eoyal Aqua- 
rium, Westminster. One of these canoes is built and finished 
to sail as a sloop, with rudder under body, but hftable into 
a rudder trunk. She will have a bafter mainsail and roller 
foresail, and in all ways be in accord with the designs pub- 
lished in the Field. 
The second boat, also to the same lines as to hull, is to be 
canoe rigged, with main and mizzen bafter sails; her rudder, 
of novel pattern, will be hung on her sternpost; her deck is 
flatter than the sloop's deck, and will take a different form 
of cent( r plate. Neither of these canoes is fitted as yet to 
take a housing bulb center- plate, as they were intended to 
mount a plain center- plate for cruising or home sailing, and 
to take a lifting bulb keel of Nautilus pattern for racing. 
However it would not be a very difficult job to fit either 
boat for a housing weight center-plate. 
Other rumors of building and altering are numerous, but 
loo vague to be wortn noticing at this time; but certainly 
there appears to be very early activity this season, and pos- 
sibly the semi international character of the challenge cup 
races (the cup being held by an American) has aroused wider 
interest in canoe sailing for 1897. — llie Meld. 
A Stray Shinplaster 
Comes to us once in a while for a copy 
of "Game Laws in « Brief;" but sliin- 
plasters nowadays are scarcer than Moose 
in New York; and 25 cents in postage 
stamps will do just as well. 
An Essay on Archery. 
Editor Forest and Stream; 
My contributions to the literature of flrearms will afford auffloient 
evidence of my appreciation of the value of the rifle as a military 
weapon, and ray conviction that it ia the duty of every able-bodied 
man to become familiar with its use, and teach his sons (if he has 
any) not onljr to use it effectively, but to guard against danger from 
accident to himself or others. Few things have afforded me greater 
satisfaction than the evidence thathas come to me from many sources 
that my words have had a widespread influence, and I cannot empha- 
size too strongrly my continued faith in their truth. 
I mention this as a preface to what I am about to say, lest It might 
be thought that in advocating the use of the bow as a military 
weapon I was recreant to my faith in the rifle. I only propose to 
show that it poaaesses some qualities which render it so valuable as 
an aid to the rifle that we cannot afford to dispense with it. 
No one who is familiar with English history will need to beinformed 
how largely she owes her present power to the skill of her ancient 
archers. It proof of it were required it could be abundantly furnished 
from the laws and literature relating to it. The earliest legal records 
contain stringent laws in regard to archery practice. Days were set 
apart for prize-shooting at the public butts, which were set up in 
every parish; and a law, as late as the reign of Henry VIII., provides 
that no man who had reached the age of twenty-one should he allowed 
to practice at these butts at a less range than 40 rods (SSOyds)., a dis- 
tance that, till within a few years, has been considered a long shot 
for a rifle. It was the weapon on which men relied in war or the 
chase, ard the tales, ballads and folklore of the day are filled with 
praise of the bow and the archers. 
With the invention of firearms the bow was laid aside and its use 
has -since been confined to the hands of children or of clubs, who prac- 
-ticf only for exercise and amusement. 
Whether it is wise thus to abandon it, whether it might not often 
be of essential service as a military weapon, are questions which are 
worthy of careful consideration, and my present object is to set 
forth some of the arguments that may be urged in its favor. 
As a measure of economy no arguments are needed beyond a simple 
statement of facts. 
The best bow need not cost more than a tenth part as much as the ' 
ordinary soldier's musket, and when we consider the enormous sums 
expended In arming the hundreds of thousands of men required for 
national defense we may well ask whether the money thus saved 
might not be more efficiently used. 
Another most important consideration is the comparative weight of 
the two weapons. A bow of the best quality need not weigh over 
lib. '^be ordinary Springfield musket weighs lOIhs , a difference of 
Slbs. for each man, or 454 tons for an army of 100 000 1 In -view of the 
frequent occasions for forced marches when success depends upon 
celerity of movement, we can hardly estimate the importance of re- 
lieving even a portion of the troops of so great a burden, especially 
in a rough or mountainous country, where ambuscades may be ad- 
vantageously resorted to. 
The grand object In battle is, not to kUl, but to disable as many 
individuals of the opposing force as possible. In every report of a 
battle we find that the number of wounded largely exceeds that of 
the killed. Now a man may receive a very serious wound from a 
bullet and yet be able to use his weapon effectively for some time 
after it. We often read of men receiving mere flesh wounds refusing 
to leave the field and persisting in fighting till exhausted by loss of 
blood. But no man could do so with an arrow sticking in any part 
of his person, and if it were barbed he would be completely hors de 
combat till he could find a surgeon to cut it out. 
i> good archer can easily drive an arrow through an inch board at 
40 rods— a force quite tuffloient to penetrate a man's body— and, 
bearing in mind all the facts I have stated.^ I ask; Can we afford 
(while such barbarism as war continues to exist among nations that 
claim to be civilized) to abandon the use of a weapon posseseing 
such manifest advantages as the bow? H. W, S. Cleveland. 
. Chicago, November. 
Calumet Heights Riflemen. 
Chicago, 111., Dec. 5.— The scores given below were made to-day by 
members of the Calumet Heights Gun Club, the conditions being as 
usual: Class A, aOOyds., off-hand, standard target, open sights al- 
lowed 2 points in a 10-shot match, 1 point in a 5-8hot match. Scores: 
Shoot-off. 
J McMichaels,... 8444344544 —39 53434 —19 
A C Paterson 4434354235— 3r-f-2— 39 33533—17+1—18 
C W Spalding 3445543344 —39 43344 —18 
Dr C D Weatcott,,.,.., 34:34413.353 —36 
Miss Ervin 44K04?55^53 -34 
DrFAHodson..,, 2042324323 —25 
Patty. 
If you want your shoot to be announced here 
sand In notice like the following : 
FIXTURES. 
Dec. 22.— Albany, N. T. — Tournament under the auspices of the 
West End Qun CInb; sparrows. Horace B. Darby, Sec'y. 
Dec. 22-2-3, — Elizabeth, N. J. — Ninth bi-monthly tournament of the 
Elizabeth Qun Club. First day, targets; second day, live birds. 
Dec. 25.— Chicago, 111.— Carver-Grimm match for the cast-iron medal 
at Watson's Park. 
Dec. 29-30.— Utica, N. Y.— Tournament under the management of 
John W. Fulford. Live birds and targets. 
1897. 
Jan. 1.— Newark:, N. J.— Sixteenth annual tournament and reception 
of the South Side Gun Club. W. R. Hobart, Sec'y. 
Jan, 9-10.— pREsooTT, Arizona.— Fourth annual tournament of the 
Arizona State Sportsmen's Association, under the auspices of the 
Prescott Gun Club. Roy HiH, Sec'y. 
Jan. 14-15.— Indianapolis, Ind.— Tournament of the Limited Gun 
Club; sparrows. Royal Robinson, Sec'y. 
Jan. 20-^.— San Antonio, Tex.— Second midwinter tournament, 
under the management of Oscar Guessaz. $200 added. 
Feb. 27-March 11.— Hot Springs, Ark.— The Arkansaw Traveler's 
first grand annual live bird tournament; IJ10,000 in purses and added 
moneys. Souvenir programmes ready Jan. 1. Address all communi- 
cations to John J. Sumpter, Jr., Box 111, Hot Springs, Ark. 
March 13-17.— Bayohester, N. Y.— Second annual tournament of 
the Cobweb Gun Club; live birds and targets. Cobweb handicap at 
live birds, $500 guaranteed. 
March 23-25.— New York CrrY.— The Interstate Association's fifth 
annual Grand American Handicap at live birds. 
April 14-16.— Atchison, Kan -Airy Lou Hart's third manufactur- 
ers' amateur and fourteenth open-to-all tournament. 
April 15-17.— San Antonio, Tex.— Tournament of the San Antonio 
Gun Club. Open to amateurs only. Willard T. Simpson, Chairman 
Ex. OoiTi. 
April 20-23.— Lincoln, Neb.— Twenty-first annual tournament of the 
Nebraska State Sportsmen's Association. Added money later. 
May 11-14.— Oil City, Pa.— Seventh annual tournament of the Penn- 
sylvania State Sportsmen's Association, under the auspices of the Oil 
City Gun Club. Targets and live birds. Black powder barred. Spe- 
cial event: 25 live birds per man, 825, $1,000 guaranteed. Send en- 
tries to H. 0. Reeser, Sec'y, Oil City, Pa. 
May 17-22.— Kansas City, Mo.— Annual tournament of the Missouri 
State Game and Fish Protective Association. Fred T. Durrant, Sec'y. 
June (third week).— Cleveland, O.— Fourth annual tournament of 
the Chamberlin Cartridge and Target Company. 
June 16-17.— Fargo, N. D.— Third annual tournament of the North 
Dakota Sportsmen's Association. Targets. W. W. Smith, Sec'y. 
DRIVERS AND TWISTERS. 
The Wayne Qun Club, of Nicetown, Philadelphia, Pa., has issued 
the followmg notice: "To Lovers of Trap Shooting: The Wayne Gun 
Club invites propositions for new membership and has reduced the 
initiation fee to 81 until Feb. 22, 1897. The monthly dues are 25 cents. 
Targets are charged to members at 1 cent each. The grounds are 
conveniently siLuated near Sixteenth and Cayuga streets, Nicetown, 
and are easy of access. The Germautown and Willow Grove trolleys 
pass close to them. The club is fully equipped with a nice club house 
and all necessary paraphernalia. Toe object of the club is to pro- 
mote enjoyment at the trap and proficiency in marksmanship. It will 
hold a shoot on Christmas Day, to which all are invited. Shooting 
commences at 9 A. M. Propositions for membership can be addressed 
to D, Rockafeller, 1810 North Fifteenth street, Philadelphia, Pa. ; or to 
A. G. Seistman, Nicetown, Philadelphia, Pa." 
Writing from The Menger, San Antonio, Tex,, under date of Deo. 3, 
A. W. du Bray, Parker Bros ' able representative in the Southern 
States, has this to sav in regard to the coming Midwinter shoot in 
that city: "I would like you to mention in 'Drivers and Twisters' that 
the 'hig three' here, Albert Steeves, J. M. George and Oscar Guessaz, 
are all three hard at work making preparation for the coming Mid- 
winter, which commences -Jan. 20,_ When these three men get their 
heads and shoulders together something has to give, so as they are 
In spike harness just now you may depend the entering wedge will be 
pushed along until all la cleared before them, and I verily believe 
the coming shoot will eclipse that of '96, I have heard so much Ren- 
ernl comment over my entire circuit regarding the last Midwinter 
that it is quite evident to me that everyone who can will attend. 
There has never been a place where visiting sportsmen have had such 
a reception as awaited them here. The amount of added money was 
exceedingly liberal, but over and above all this the visitors were 
shown game of all varieties in «uch great abundance that I know, while 
relating to me his experience here, many a man has longed for Janu- 
ary to come round again so he might revel in the sport, the recollec- 
tions of which have haimted him ever nince last January. Depend 
upon it, this will be a great big, wide-open shoot— so let everybody 
head down this way for the second Midwinter. The weather here Is 
superb. It was a little cool for a day or two while the blizzard raged 
up North, but now the air is warm and pleasant, and the old Alamo 
and mission churches are basking in the sun." 
J. W. Fulford, of Utica, N. Y., writes us under date of Dec, 14 as 
follows: "I will hold a two-days' shoot here, Dec. 29-30, at live birds 
and targets. The principal event on the second day (Dec. 30) will be 
a 20-bird handicap event. 815 entrance, handicaps from 26 to 32yds. I 
have written on this subject to many shooters in this section and have 
received very favorable replies. Among the number present will be a 
large delegation from Syracuse; Mr. L. V. Byer and party from 
Rochester; in other words, twenty -six shooters have stated that they 
will be present. Oar management will trap the best birds ever fur- 
nished In this section." Mr. Fulford has chosen a good time for his 
tournament, and as there will be nothing to clash with it he ought to 
have a good attendance, particularly good if one-half of his promised 
shooters attend 
Last Saturday we had the pleasure of meeting J. W. Hildreth, one of 
the W. R, A. Company's traveling reipresentatives in the South, at 
the cup shoot on the grounds of the Bergen County Gun Club at 
Hackensack, N. J. In discussing the prospects of the shoot at Sen 
Antonio next January, Mr. Hildreth said that from what he could 
learn, and judging from the way shooters in the South bad spoken 
about it, he was of the opinion that this coming shoot was going to 
eclipse that of 1898. His ideas on this point thoroughly cdoincide 
with those expressed by Mr. Du Bray in a letter which appears in this 
column. The Indianapolis delegation, including, of course, those 
ehooters who stop off to take in the sparrow tournament, Jan. 14^16, 
will be a large one. 
Dr. Williamson, of Milwaukee, Wis., has had lots ot fun recently 
shooting tie races. In three out qf four races with Dick Merrill, of 
that city, he has succeeded in tlelng the score, winning the only contest 
in which a decision was arrived at. Oa Dec. 3 he shot another tie race, 
this time with George Deiter, the shooter who wrested the Du Pont 
trophy from Fred Gilbert last spring. This tie race was the more 
remarkable from the fact that it was a 200-bird race, each man scor- 
ing 176. Deiter did some wonderful work in his last 100 birds; after 
scoring only 81 f'ut of his first 100 to Williamson's 88, he managed by 
some brilliant worK to tie the score, making a run of 74 straight (ac- 
tually 77, Including the last three birds of his first "100) and flnishhig 
with 95 out of the second 100. 
Mr. R. M. Welch, secretary of the Nebraska State Sportsmen's As- 
sociation, writes that the twenty-first annual meeting and tourna- 
ment of that Association will be held at Lincoln, Neb., April 20-23, 
1897. At present he is unable to state just what inducemenis the As- 
sociation will be able ti hold out to the sportsmen of th° country, but 
expects that it will add a sufficient amount of cash to draw to Lincoln 
a large gath 'ring of shooters. Th • Nebraska Association's shoot fol- 
lows right after Lou Erhardt's big shoot at Atchison, Kans,, thus en- 
ai ling shooters to attend both of these tournaments with very little 
^idditional expense. 
The Elizabeth, N. J., Gun Club has issued its programme for the 
ninth bi-monthly tournament, to be held on its grounds Dec. 22-83. 
The programme calls for 175 targets, all of which are thrown at un- 
known angles with the exc^ption of event No. 1, which is a 10-target 
event, known angles, and No. 6, 16 targets, expert rules, both barrels. 
On the second day (Dec, 2.3) live birds will be trapped, the main «vent 
being a 25-bird handicap event, SIO entrance, birds extra. In all 
events there will be three moneys if less than twelve entries; over 
twelve, four moneys. 
Jan. 1, 1897, will see the U. S. C. Company's rosebud, Tom Keller, 
bursting forth into full bloom on the parent stock of King's Smokeless 
and the Peters Cartridge Company, as a representative ot the two 
companies. It may seem somewhat strained to liken Tom Keller to a 
rosebud, but poets are always allowed a certain amount of license in 
their similes, etc. ; and the above sentence is, we claim, a gem among 
trap-shooting poetical phrases. As a result of his connection with 
the above firms, Tom will be found on hand as usual at all the large 
tournaments during the coming season. 
In our report of the great four-handed shoot at Trenton, N. J., on 
Dec. 3 we omitted to mention that Zwirlein provided all the birds for 
that match (400 of them) free ot charge. We hasten to make good 
our omission, although Charlie Zwtrlein himself has not said a word 
to us in regard to it, because we feel that such generous conduct de- 
serves special mention. We wish for his sake, and also for the sake 
of the birds, that there had been more wind that day; 392 gathered 
(in and out of bounds) out of 400 shot at shows what the birds were 
up against. 
Paul R. Litzke writes to us from Hot Springs, Ark., where he is the 
guest of John J. Suropter, Jr., that "the last gale that swept this way 
from the West brought with it the announcement that Lou Erhardt, 
'the only Airy-lou-hart,' would be doing business at Atchison, Kans., 
about the usual time, April 14-16. According to precedent he will 
again give the boys a new game. No plunder this time, but good hard 
cash— and a big roll at that." 
Mr. A. W. Adams, a brother of Piatt Adams, of our own city, has 
been elected to the presidency of the Cook County Trap-Shooters' 
League, an organization that is composed of all the important gun 
clubs in Chicago, The other cfflcers of the league are: Vice-Presi- 
dent, J. H. Amberg; Secretary, E. E. Fox; Treasurer, C. P. Richards; 
Directors, A. C. Paterson, M. J. Eich and Dr. C. W. Carson. 
Remsen, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has carried off another cup, but this 
time his possession of it may be only temporary. He won the cup 
shot for on Saturday last at Hackensack, N. J., and holds it until the 
next contest in February, 1897. The cup nas to be shot for six more 
times, the person winning it the greatest number ol times out of the 
seven shoots becoming the owner of it. 
The Bergen County Gun Club, of Hackensack, N, J., announces that 
it will hold an all-day shoot on New Year's Day, beginning at 10 A. M. 
The main event (for which entries close at the above hour) is a 30-tar- 
get handicap race, entrance $2. The first prize is a Winchester re- 
peating shotgun; second prize, $5, and third prize, $3. 
The Cobweb Gun Club, of New York City, is going right ahead with 
the preparations for its second annual tournament to be held next 
March during the week of the Sportsmen's Exposition. The Cobweb 
Handicap at live birds, $500 guaranteed in the purse, will be sure to 
attract lots of shooters. 
The sixteenth annual New Year's Day tournament of the South 
Side Gun Club, ot Newark, N. J , is under the management of Presi- 
dent R. Heber Breintnall, SdCretary-Treasurer W, R. Hobart, and 
Manager I. H. Terrill. Shooting commences at 9:30, and all sweeps 
are optional. 
If there's anything wrong with this column this week, blame Noel 
E. Money, Colin R Wise, of Passaic, N. J., and sundry Jersey ruffed 
grouse for it. During three days in the mountains of Passaic and 
Bergen counties we saw more Drivers and Twisters than we could 
put together in three months. Some of them got away. Likewise 
one rabbit. 
A reference to our advertising columns shows a change In the 
advertisement of the Peters Cartridge Company. We have received 
a specimen of the calendar referred to in its announcement, and can 
say that all the company claims for it Is as stated. 
Jack Winston has been putting in some good licks in the way of 
practice since his arrival in Chicago last week. To-day (Dec. 15), just 
as we are going to press, he is competing with George Roll for the Du 
Pont trophy. 
Dr. Carver and Charlie Grimm are likely to meet at Watson's Park, 
Chicago, on Dec. 25. The contest is for the "cast-iron medal" won by 
George Kleiuman originally, btit forfeited later to Dr. Carver by that 
gentleman. 
Another recruit to the ranks of the Interstate Association is the 
Laflin &, Rand Powder Company. There are still a few outside the fold, 
but they won't remain there long. 
Elmer Shaner is in the city, his breast pocket bulging with the 
voluminous report he is going to make at the Interstate Association's 
annual meeting this week. 
The Arizona State Sportsmen's Association has postponed its tour, 
nament announced for Jan. 4-5 to Jan. 9-10. 
Deo. 16. 
Edward Banes. 
