Aug. 27, 1898.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
179 
WESTERN TRAPS. 
MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. HANDICAP DIAMOND 
BADGE. 
Chicago, 111., Aug. 20.— As predicted earlier, Montgomery Ward 
& Co.'s handicap diamond badge sprang into an instant popular- 
ity among the shooters of Chicago. At the first contest of the 
series, held Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 17, at Watson's Park, an 
entry of thirty-five qualified, far beyond the expectations of the 
most sanguine. As it happened, this first contest was unwittingly 
set for the day of the Audubon Club shoot, which fact, combined 
with the large entry, put things in a rather hurried and confused 
condition, though the shooting progressed steadily all through 
the afternoon and well into the dusk. Those of the Audubon Club 
who wished to enter for the diamond badge contest had their scores 
counted in the latter event, which expedited matters somewhat. 
Hereafter the contests of the Montgomery Ward & Co. diamond 
badge handicap will be held alternate Fridays, and the shoot will 
be set to begin at noon, so that there will be no inconvenience 
to any of the many shooters wishing to contest. 
To-day the numbers were so large that it was only by the nar- 
rowest margin that a winner was determined before darkness made 
it impossible to continue the shooting. The ties on second and 
third places were not shot off at all, but will be carried forward to 
the next general contest, in which all shooters who could have 
made 19 or 18 in the first contest will have their scores counted 
to determine and settle the possible ties of the first general event. 
This seemed more equitable than to set a second day this week 
for the continuation of the contest. 
In order to push forward the shooting as rapidly as possible, 
on Wednesday afternoon, shooters were requested to drop. out as 
soon as they had exhausted their handicap birds ana missed 
enough other birds to put them back of place. The handicap was 
made by John Watson, and was generally conceded to be well 
set. In the case of Bingham and Roll, who were placed at 32yds. 
and given no added birds, it is likely that Mr. Watson himself 
would consider the handicap a trifle severe, as it is practically 
placing these men to be 100 per cent, shooters, which no man can 
really be. Paterson was but 1yd. ahead of these two men, and 
was unfortunate enough to drop out at the end of his first 10 birds. 
Bingham and Roll killed 18 each from scratch at 32yds. Sturtevant 
with his handicap also landed in the 18 hole. Gillespie and Bissell 
went out with 19. Dicks went out with 17. Three men— Dr. 
Shaw, Goodrich and Comly — were enabled by their handicap to 
land in the 20 hole, Dr. Shaw missing but one bird out of his 21, 
with allowance. Miss Edith Porter, a lady shooter, who is secre- 
tary of the Stony Island Gun Club, with the limit of the handi- 
cap, at one time looked fair to land in place, but retired at the 
second bird of her handicap string. Dwyer hung on for a long 
time, but did not get up to the 20th round. Lem Willard was 
dangerous until his 16th bird. Levi, with a liberal allowance, fell 
out of the running at his 3d handicap bird. Lockie held on to his 
20th bird, but was then out of place. 
Great interest attended the shooting of the men whose handicaps 
carried them well along, and for a long time it seemed anybody's 
place in the 20 hole. Foss was asked to retire at his 20th bird, 
and Col. Felton lasted no longer. Mr. Leffingwell, who has been 
shooting a great gait recently, went to the bench at his 4th bird. 
Palmer did not appear for the tie on 20, into which he shot himself 
by his Audubon Club score, and Dicks also left the grounds. 
The birds were throughout the afternoon a smart lot, especially 
when the sun broke out warm and clear. Toward dusk, however, 
they naturally went slower and slower, so that the finish for the 
badge was longer in decision than it otherwise would have been. 
In spite of this the tie shoot was most exciting, and was 
watched intently by all present. 
Of the three men who stepped to the score to decide the tie 
on 20 for the badge, it was hard to pick a winner. They were 
handicapped anew for the tie shooting. Dr. Shaw was placed 
at 30yds. and given no extra birds. He had shot a slashing gait, 
and many considered he would win out. Goodrich had also been 
shooting in great form and had his adherents. He was placed 
at 28yds. and given 1 bird added to the 10 tie birds. Comly was 
placed the same as Goodrich. In the latter shooter the knowing 
ones had already found the winner of the badge. Never has 
there been seen on these grounds any cooler or neater shooting 
than that done by Mr. Comly on Wednesday. He seemed ab- 
solutely indifferent and unperturbed. He shot Hod Foss' old 
duck gun, a 9%lb. 12-gauge hammer gun, made by Abbey, and 
a famous gun here in its time. In this he used a heavy load of 
Du Pont, with No. 7 shot. At times he seemed very slow with 
his second, as though he knew he could kill them anywhere, and 
did not care to pull until he was exactly where .he wanted to be. 
He dropped two or three birds fill ly 55yds., and one I should 
think at 60yds. There was no denying Comly on that day. Dr. 
'Shaw stepped back after missing his 6th bird in the tie. Good- 
rich also missed his 6th bird, and so exhausted his handicap 
to score 10 in the tie. Comly killed 10 straight, and they decided 
to continue at 5 birds more, though it was now getting so dark 
that both men complained that they could hardly see the birds 
at all. Yet the result proved that the conditions were not imprac- 
tical, for though Goodrich missed his 1st tie bird in his second 
string, Comly killed his 5 straight, one of them fully _ 55yds. away. 
He was greeted with much applause as the first winner of this 
beautiful badge. , ; 
One can see only success for this new medal competition for 
our shooters. It is not an individual challenge trophy, but re- 
quires eight shooters to make a contest. ( It is possible that the 
meda! may be in the hands of six or eight shooters before the 
end of the series, and it is quite likely that sixty or seventy dif- 
ferent shooters will compete for it in all. The medal is offered 
under sportsmanlike conditions, and with none of those strings 
which excite contempt for trophies in this age of the world in 
Sportsmanship. . . 
The following are the conditions of the competition for this 
trophy: , . . , , .... 
1 There will be twelve contests, the first of which will be 
held on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1898, at 2 P. M . 
2 All contests thereafter will be held on the first and third 
Fridays of each month, at 2 P. M. 
3. All contests will take place at the grounds of John Watson, 
Burnside, Cook county, 111., and the said John Watson shall act 
in the capacity of referee and handieapper. 
4. All contests will be at live pigeons at handicapped distances 
of from 26 to 32yds., the scratch men to shoot at 20 birds and 
the others to shoot at from 20 to 26, and at the distances the 
handieapper determines. . ... , , , 
"5 The successful contestant is to receive the diamond badge 
and retain the same in his possession until it is won from him 
at a regular shoot, , , P ,. 
6. The one winning the badge the greatest number of times 
in twelve contests shall retain the same permanently. 
7 All ties for the badge will be shot off the same day and im- 
mediately after the badge contest, and each contestant shall shoot 
at 10 birds, subject to an equitable allowance of birds and dis- 
tance as given the participants in the main event. 
8. The contestant having the second highest score in each con- 
test will receive $4 in cash. • . 
9. The contestant having the third highest score in each con- 
Felton, 27 
Foss, 30 
Am berg. 30 
S Palmer, 30 
Palmer won the medal. 
BELLE MEADE OCTOBER SHOOT. 
There is one shooting point in the South which is coming into 
rapid and deserved prominence as a gentlemen's shooting ren- 
dezvous, the Belle Meade shooting park, on Geo. Jackson's farm, 
near Nashville, Tenn. Better grounds than these are not to be 
found anywhere, and all who have been present at the meets held 
there are'high in praise of all the arrangements. As 'noted earlier, 
there will be a tournament held at Belle Meade farm this fall, 
Oct. 18-21. I am in receipt this week of advices from ' Mr. W. 
R. Elliston, secretary of Belle Meade Gun Club, which give the 
conditions governing it. I notice the usual clause that "dropping 
for place will not be tolerated," and I am disposed to believe that 
for once this warning has a real meaning, were it possible to 
suppose that any place dropper could or would sneak in among 
the sort of men wanted at Belle Meade. As being of interest to 
many readers of Fohest and Stream in the South, I append the 
conditions of Belle Meade tournament: 
The first two days will be devoted entirely to targets. There 
will be eight 20-target races each day, with $20 added in each 
event, entrance $2.50. Five moneys as follows: 30, 25, 20, 15 and 
10 per cent. There will be $15 average money each day, $10 to 
first and $5 to second high guns. Targets will be thrown at 2 
cents. Two sets of traps, Sergeant system and magautrap, will be 
used. The third and fourth days will be given to live-bird shooting. 
On the first day the Gerst Brewing Company live-bird handicap 
will be contested. The conditions of this race are: 15 pigeons, $15 
entrance, birds included, $50 added, three moneys, as follows: 
50, 30 and 20 per cent., handicaps 25 to 31yds. Birds trapped at 
25 cents each. Before this race a 7-bird miss-and-out will be shot, 
$5 entrance, amateurs 28, experts at 30yds. Following the handi- 
cap a 10-bird miss-and-out, $7 entrance, conditions same as above. 
All other events will be arranged to suit the contestants. The 
last day will witness the shooting of the first annual Belle Meade 
handicap; conditions, 25 live birds, $25 entrance, birds included, 
$100 added. Four moneys, divided 40, 30, 20 and 10 per cent. Hand- 
icaps same as in Gerst live-bird handicap. American Association 
rules will govern all events, and 50yds. boundary in live-bird events. 
Both handicaps are class shooting. 
The Duncan Hotel, of Nashville, will be headquarters for shoot- 
ers. A special rate of $2.50 per day has been secured. Application 
for special one and one-third fare rate from all points on the cer- 
tificate plan has been made, and will no doubt be arranged for 
before programmes are issued. Programmes will be out about 
Sept. 10, and will be mailed on application. Belle Meade Farm is 
situated four miles from Nashville, on the Harding turnpike, and 
the N. C. & St. L. R. R. runs through the farm, Belle Meade 
Station being within easy walk of the shooting box. There are 
two sets of live-bird traps, underground trapping and disappear- 
ing traps. Shooting will begin at 9 o'clock. A special train for 
the shooters will leave the Union Station, Nashville, at 8:30 o'clock 
every morning, returning after the programme is completed. 
The pigeons trapped on these grounds are equal to. any found 
in the East, and a special lot will be selected for this tournament. 
The Belle Meade grounds are perfectly appointed, and many promi- 
nent shooters say they are the fastest in America. Shooting can 
go on uninterrupted, rain or shine, but in October this country 
is at its best, -and the climate most delightful. It is our purpose 
and determination to make this tournament pleasant for all, and 
fair treatment is assured everyone. The promoters' only object 
is to bring together a large gathering of gentlemanly sportsmen, 
and no gentleman will be barred, but we do barr 10-gauge guns 
and black powder, and place dropping will not be tolerated. 
Handicapping will be done by a committee of three selected from 
the shooters present. 
Each day a fine lunch and barbecue will be served on the 
grounds, free of cost to the shooters. All added money is guar- 
anteed by the Belle Meade Gun Club. Gen. W. H. Jackson, presi- 
dent, and W. R. Elliston, secretary and treasurer. 
DULUTII TOURNAMENT. 
The two days' tournament, the sixth annual, of the Central Gun 
Club, of Duluth, Minn., was concluded Aug. 12, but the scores 
may 'be worth printing for the record. Tom Graham shot so well 
that there is talk of watching him in coming amateur tourna- 
ments. Scores: 
Taler ..... 
Delaware . 
Paegel 
Catamaran 
Fish 
Dixie 
Biffton . . . 
Trent 
Fulton .... 
Moore .... 
Greener . . . 
Greener, Jr 
test will receive 100 of our best hand-loaded shells, loaded in Behrens 
green cases with any kind of powder he may elect, the same valued Knox ... 
at $3. Any contestant purposely dropping for place shall be Cram ... 
barred from that and future competitions. Ramaley 
10. Those tieing for second prize shall shoot off the ties at 5 Nelson . 
birds, otherwise subject to the conditions named in paragraph 7. Marsh ... 
11. Those tieing for third prize shall shoot off the ties at 3 O Brady 
birds, otherwise subject to the conditions named in paragraph 7. Hoch ... 
12. No contest will take place unless there are at least eight Hart .... 
participants. Should there be less than eight participants then Hogan .. 
and in that case the contest must be postponed until the next Vannett . 
regular time for shooting. Duchess 
13. These contests for prizes are open to residents of Cook Thomas 
county, 111., only, but every sportsman is welcome to come as 
a guest and participate in any or all of the events. Churchi 
14. No entrance lee will be charged in any contest other than Ransier 
the amount necessary to pay for the birds shot at. Dewey 
The following are the scores of Wednesday's contest: Farmer 
Ed Bingham, 0, 32 21212211110222222022 —18 Kenned; 
A C Paterson, 0, 31 '112112002 w Schroye: 
C C Hess. 2, 28 22 22020221*221020 w 
Geo Roll, 0, 32 22222222222222202022 —18 
E Sturdevant, 3. 28 2021212001122221221**22 —18 
Ed Rice, 6, 26 20020010 110020110w 
W B Leffingwell, 0, 30 2000 w 
*C B Dicks, 2, 30 201121121202101011000 —17 
J T Marks, 2, 28 1110101201 w 
Dr S Shaw, 1, 30 212122210222222222222 —20 
F R Bissell, 3, 29 222222021101**12112121 —19 
A W Reeves, 2. 30 2100211011w 
Andrew Lockie, 1, 28 11120101101111102110w 
W T Johnson, 3, 28 10022*112120w 
V L Cunnyngham, 2, 29 00021020w 
R Dwver, 2, 29~ 222*21212102122221*w 
B Bafto, 1, 30 *222210222w 
T B Drake, Tr. 2, 29 02J100200w 
R Simonetti, 2, 29 0212012001W 
D Carter, 2, 30 02l0022221w 
T Gillespie, 2, 29 21 221 21 11 01 1 1011 101122 —19 
C E Felton, 3, 27 22021121122001022021w 
H B Foss, 3, 30 21111112101100101 20w 
T H Amberg, 3, 30 21010122111101012022w 
L H Goodrich. 2, 28 212222222022222222222 —20 
F H HolHster. 1, 30 222020220w 
S Palmer 2. 30 22022 22111121121220 —20 
L Willard. 1, 30 U11112021211210w 
J S Houston, 2, 2S 022222222022*0w 
P D Norcom, 2, 29 22021 222*0w 
H Levi 4, 27 22200102*22111211112110w 
Miss Edith Porter, 6, 26 1100022221101021 20110w 
C Comly, 3, 28 1121111111210110111211 —20 
Ties for medal : 
Dr S Shaw, 0, 30 222220 
L H Goodrich, 1, 2S 2212202222 1-10 * 
C Comly, 1, 28 1111221111 -10 21111-5 
Comly won medal. 
* Mr. Dicks did not shoot at his handicap birds, which were 
scored lost. 
AUDUBON MEDAL SHOOT. 
At the regular medal shoot of the Audubon Gun Club, held at 
Watson's Park, Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 17, the following scores 
were made: Xj _ 
Hollister, 30 001211112101210 w 
Gillespie 29 21221211101110111011—17—1—18 
C B Dicks 30 2011211221 021010110—15—2—17 
Bissell 29 •'• • 222222021101**121121—16—1—17 
• 22021121122001022021—15—1—16 
211111121011001 01220—15-2—17 
21010122111101012022—15—1—16 
22022 22111121121220-18— 2— 20 
121 
249 
127 
247 
115 
245 
. .125 
120 
245 
1 I V! 
243 
Ill 
227 
116 
238 
113 
200 
101 
219 
84 
199 
99 
187 
,108 
162 
"si 
51 
122 
35 
157 
123 
111 
237 
69 
50 
41 
28 
WAUKEGAN GUN CLUB. 
Waukegan Gun Club, of Waukegan, 111., is in a very flourish- 
ing condition. It now has 100 members, and after Sept. 1 will 
raise its initiation fee to $5. Following table has been compiled 
by the secretary, showing the standing of members in the four 
last shoots, as well as from the time since the members entered 
the organization: 
Per cent, in 
handicap 
shoots. 
Bullock . S2 
Van Deusen 67 
Weiss 61 
H Bangs 57 
J Graves .57 
Efinger 55 
Jemison 16 
J Hoffman 79 
Thayer 78 
Barton 70 
Stadfeldt 64 
Rossbach 60 
McCarney 51 
S H Kennedy 98 
C Hoffman 82 
Frazier 70 
Dowe 70 
Hull 48 
C Lyon 48 
E Cliff 88 
Sutherland 77 
Hallowell 69 
Merchant 55 
Clarke 63 
De Wolf 53 
Raeside 31 
Pitts 23 
E Heydecker 20 
Maiman 
Feezer , 
Hesler 
C Grub 
Woodward 
Hucker 
Broadbear 
A Graves 
Clifford 
Smith 
W Lyon 
Durst 
Chase 
Bassett 
189S 
per 
cent. 
74 
65 
56 
59 
69 
20 
75 
76 
80 
60 
62 
50 
76 
82 
79 
50 
51 
67 
90 
57 
80 
55 
60 
58 
20 
65 
75 
80 
85 
90 
Total av. 
since enter- 
ing club. 
67 
47 
56 
62 
66 
50 
20 
72 
81 
72 
69 
56 
50 
76 
79 
76 
62 
54 
66 
61 
45 
50 
20 
63 
65 
65 
65 
55 
53 
48 
47 
50 
no 
No. 
handi- 
cap 
shoots. 
"4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
Scammon 
Thielman . 
1st day. 
2d day. 
Total. 
142 
139 
281 
132 
139 
271 
.134 
135 
269 
134 
133 
267 
136 
131 
267 
133 
129 
262 
. 133 
129 
262 
131 
261 
. .135 
126 
261 
130 
131 
261 
125 
135 
260 
12!l 
130 
259 
12N 
129 
257 
130 
126 
256 
121 
134 
255 
121 
134 
255 
134 
116 
250 
SHEBOYGAN SHOOT. 
The tournament of the Sheboygan Gun Club called out about 
thirty-five shooters from Sheboygan, Milwaukee and adjoining 
towns, Aug. 15. Milwaukee sent sixteen good men, who were 
prominent in the finals. 
MILWAUKEE GUN CLUB. 
At the regular shoot of the Milwaukee Gun Club, Aug. 14, the 
following scores were made, at 25 bluerocks: 
Duval 18, Wulf 23, Cantillon 20, Wulf 17, Campbell 19, Duval 18, 
Wulf 21, Okershauser 22, Wulf 19. Okershauser 17, Wulf 19. Can- 
tillon 15, Duval 13, Cantillon 21, Duval 10, Wulf 18, Cantillon 19, 
Cantillon 17, Okershauser 20, Duval 14, Okershauser 22, Wulf 19. 
Cantillon 22, Duval 16, Cantillon 18, Duval 14, Cantillon 16, Duval 
13, Wulf 20, Okershauser 18, Wulf 16, Cantillon 17, Duval 8, Wulf 
22. 
In a live-bird contest, Wulf and Cantillon against King and 
Keifer, the following scores were made: 
Wulf 23, Cantillon 22—45. King 21, Keifer 22—43. 
McLEAN COUNTY GUN CLUB. 
McLean County Gun Club, of Bloomington, 111., had bad 
weather for their shoot of Aug. 17. Scores, handicap, 25 targets: 
M. C. Barnes 21, L. Kohler 19, McCormick 23, McDermand 17, 
Thomas 14, Holland 19, Ross 25, Fleming 20. 
THE HOODOO TROPHY AGAIN. 
On Friday afternoon, Aug. 26, at 3 P. M., the contest will be 
shot between Mr. V. L. Cunnyngham, challenger, and Mr. T. P; 
Hicks, holder of the Chicago challenge trophy. We may always expect 
something weird in connection with this emblem, and something 
weird comes out in the handicap which is reported to be set for 
this event. Mr. Hicks, who won the trophy from Mr. Paterson in. 
the last contest, had 2 birds conceded to him over Paterson. Mr. 
Hicks shoots a 10-gauge gun, and on next Friday will be placed 
at 30yds., to shoot at 25 birds. Mr. Cunnyngham is practically 
placed at scratch with him, being stationed at 29yds., to shoot 
also at 25 birds, no extra birds being given him whatever. Mr. 
Hicks had 2 birds conceded him against the holder of the medal, 
but Mr. Cunnyngham has no birds at all conceded him against 
the holder of the medal. Yet the scores of Mr. Cunnyngham in 
his former competition for this medal were in his first match 20 
out of 26, and in his second, the tie match, 12 birds out of 26! 
It is hard to follow, off hand, the process which would place these 
two men at practically the same mark, for though Mr. Hicks shoots 
lyd. further back he uses a 10-gauge gun. 
If this were not sufficiently weird, it may be added that Mr. 
Mussey, chairman of the handicapping committee, has been out 
of town a couple weeks, and if he has been consulted it must have 
been by mail, though at this writing that cannot be determined. 
Mr. Mussey's name is signed typewritten to the typewritten let- 
ter of the trustees announcing the handicap. It should be added, 
of course, that Mr. Hicks himself is one of the trustees. He has 
from the start been anxious to shoot for this trophy. It is difficult 
to see how under the rules ha can compete in this contest, as 
the rules state the handicap must be set by a "majority of the 
trustees." Of course this majority may have been obtained if 
Mr. Mussey has been consulted. Certainly Mr. Flicks could 
not under the rules of sport serve on the handicap committee when 
he was one of the men to be handicapped. 
The other member of the committee, Mr. W. L. Shepard, oddly 
enough was the very first man who wanted to challenge for this 
trophy, but whose challenge was thrown out because he had not 
complied regularly with the rules. I do not know whether Mr. 
Shepard still retains his wish to contest for this trophy. Mr. 
Mussey has not yet expressed a desire to shoot for it. In case 
Mr. Mussey should remain absent from his duties as one of the 
trustees, so that only Mr. Shepard and Mr. Hicks were left on the 
committee, I would suggest that Mr. Shepard challenge Mr. Hicks 
for the trophy, for of course Mr. Hicks will win in next Friday's 
contest with Mr. Cunnyngham, and that Mr. Shepard and Mr. 
Hicks then arrange the trifling matter of handicap to suit them- 
selves, and have a good time shooting it out together! It might 
be possible for Mr. Mussey then to challenge the winner, but 
I hardly think he will do so. These are the last facts in the history 
of this" hoodoo trophy, which started out with a large foreor- 
dained string to it. 
COMING EVENTS, 
Schmelzer Shooting Carnival, fifth annual, at Kansas City, Sept. 
7-8-9, will be one of the big fall events. The programme is a 
handsome and complete one, and the three days will be chuck 
full of interest. The announcement says there will be "merchan- 
dise prizes for amateurs, sweepstake shooting for professionals 
and manufacturers' agents, live-bird contests, glass ball contests, 
rifle contests, and a good time for all." 
Crystal Lake Gun Club has out its tidy programme for its 
tournament at Urbana, 111., Sept. 13-14. Targets 2 cents. Ma- 
gautrap. POSTPONED. 
The Michigan Trap-Shooters' League, as I am advised by Sec- 
