Dec. 17, i§q&] 
4§@ 
Capt. A. W. du Bray, of the Parker Gun Co., has been at- 
Shreveport, La. Under recent date, among other things, lie 
writes, us: "I have had some duck shooting here with my 
friend Mr. Sam Enders. We bagged in all about 140. For some 
reason ducks are not here. My good friend Mr. A. F s Jenkins, 
over whose decoys I shot, could not accompany us, as he is so 
busy in the management of an enormous cotton press that he 
could not get away — much to my regret." 
Rolia Heikes lias been shooting quail. He has scored about 200 
of them this season, with several dead out of bounds. Believing t 
that he has taken all the toll that is coming to him, he has now 
quit the quail, and will once more take to pigeons, sparrows and 
targets. Regarding certain rumors of provisional challenges for 
some of Hie trophies he now holds, Mr. Heikes says in a personal 
letter to a friend, that everybody interested knows where he lives, 
and that anything lodged in due form will receive proper recogni- 
tion at his hands. 
Under date of Dec. S Mr. H. T. Hearsey, secretary of the 
Limited Gun Club, Indianapolis, writes us as follows: All 
indications point favorably to the largest tournament of the 
year. We are receiving a large number of entries, and the club is 
Sparing no pains or expense to make this tournament the largest 
of the season. Mr. Fred Erb, Jr., and his celebrated dogs will 
do the retrieving for us at our live-bird shoot, Dec. 19 to 23." 
The Boiling Springs Gun Club, of Rutherford, N. J., and the 
Passaic City Gun Club, of Passaic, N. J., shoot the first team 
race of their series on Saturday next, Dec. 17. The shoot will be 
held on the grounds of the Boiling Springs Gun Club, Captain 
Paul Jcanneret of that club, having won the toss for choice of 
first ground. In addition to the team race, there will be open 
sweepstake shooting as long as the daylight lasts. 
Manager John S. Wright, of the .Brooklyn, N. Y., Gun Club, 
has decided to change the date for his all-day hve-bird shoot, 
already announced for Jan. 5. This change will be made to avoid 
clashing with the East Side Gun Club's all-day shoot and the 
Morfey-Japhet match shot in connection therewith. Mr. Wright 
has no date fixed as yet, but it will in all probability be one 
week later than originally announced. 
Capt. Money has been paying a penalty for his victory over 
Mr. Guthrie at the Carteret traps on Nov. 29. All last week he was 
confined to the house with a bad cold and threatcnings of pneu- 
monia, thereby missing a chance to win - the championship of 
New Jersey at Hackensack, on Dec. 7, and also a chance to wm 
first, money in Zwirlein's 25-bird handicap on Dec. 9. 
As an item of news it may be mentioned that Rolla Heikes will 
on Jan. j sever his connection with the Winchester Repeating 
Arms Company, whose gun he has shot to the front so long and. 
'so well. The authority for the above information is Mr. Irby Ben- 
nett, so there can be no doubt as to its accuracy. What Mr. 
Heikes' next move will be is not known. 
Mr. John Parker, of Detroit, Mich., will manage the Hamilton 
tournament, to be held in that place on Jan 17 to 19, inclusive.. 
American Association rules will govern. Mr. Parker will also 
manage Thomas Donley's second international tournament, Dec. 
27 to 30. 
Mr. Geo. C. Harrison, secretary of the Baltimore Shooting As- 
sociation, writes us as follows: "The Baltimore Shooting Asso- 
ciation have decided to change the dates of their spring tourna- 
ment from April 4-7 to April 25-28, 1899. We hope by doing this 
to have good weather and not clash with any other shoot. Four 
hundred dollars will be added; perhaps more." 
A telegram from Mr. Hough advises us that in the contest for the 
Cincinnati live-bird trophy at Watson's Park, Chicago, on Mon- 
day of this week Elliott won by a score of 95 to Gilbert's 92. There 
was a snowstorm prevailing in respect to weather and the birds 
were slow. 
Jim Elliott didn't do a thing to Dr. Smith, of St. Louis, last 
week. The Doctor's hand must have lost its cunning, or he would 
not have so severely disappointed his friends surely. There is a 
big difference between 98 against Dr. Knowlton one week and 84 
against Jim Elliott the next week. 
W. L. Colville (Dick Swiveller), of the Gold Dust (U. S.) 
Powder Co., of San Francisco, Cal., was in New York last 
week for a few days. Mr. Colville, whose home is in Batavia, 
N. Y., made several calls along Sporting Goods Row, and left 
just in time to catch the blizzard that struck Batavia on Dec. 8. 
C. W. Tuttle, of the shooting committee, writes: "Please insert 
in ' Fixtures' : Two days' tournament of Auburn Gun Club, at 
Auburn, N. Y., Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 28 and 29, 1S98; 
live birds and targets; live birds trapped at 15 cents each. Both 
magautrap and expert traps." 
Later. — We regret to learn shortly before going to press that 
Col Courtney is confined to his home in Syracuse, N. Y., with a 
severe attack of pleuro-pnuemonia. This attack has, of course, put 
a stop to his Western trip, as outlined by him during his stay -m 
this city. 
Col. A. G. Courtnev has left us. Nuff sed! He will next be 
heard from at Watson's shoot in Chicago, and later at the 
Limited Gun Club's shoot in Indianapolis. At least, such were 
his plans when last reported. 
At a meeting of the Audubon Gun Club last Saturday evening, 
June 7 was fixed upon as the date for the next New York State 
shoot. 
The Cleveland Target Co. announce that they will hold their sixth 
annual tournament on June 14, 15, 16. 
The South Side Gun Club, Newark, N. J., will hold its annual 
shoot on Jan. 2. , 
The Grand American Handicap. 
During the years when the Grand American Handicap was 
.struggling from a humble beginning to its broad success as a 
national event all its responsibilities were left to the care of its 
promoters. Before it was proved to be the greatest shooting 
success of America no shooter made the discovery that it was a 
matter which was worthy of his anxious solicitude; no shooter 
discovered that he knew how to run it better than its subscribers 
know how to run it; no one had then discovered that the real 
center of purpose was to so adjust the competition that the men 
who killed 23 were to be sure winners. Now that it is and has 
been a success, why not recognize that its present policy is correct? 
All the arguments adduced in recent weeks against the high- 
gun system, which has so far been something of a factor in the 
success of the Grand American Handicap, have not been from the 
standpoint of any improvement in matters directly pertaining to the 
Grand American Handicap; they are all from the standpoint of the 
man who killed 23; the man who wishes to have matters so ad- 
justed that 23 will be in the money. 
The majority of shooters seem to lose sight of the fact that the 
Grand American Handicap is a business institution, under the 
direct control of its subscribers. As such, it is directly under their 
control in manner like to that of any other business where the 
question of authority is under consideration. To propose that any 
number of outsiders should by a majority vote dictate to the In- 
terstate Association how it should run its own business affairs is 
in the highest degress absurd. It is the more absurd since the 
advantages sought for are personal; in plain words, the Associa- 
tion is asked to depart from the policy which has proved a success 
in its own affairs and adopt one which is in the interest of a few 
shooters. 
It has been suggested that if changes of a certain kind were 
made in respect to the division of the moneys the entries would 
be much larger, and that groups of shooters would come from cer- 
tain towns and cities. Such a view is an erroneous one. The 
number of shooters which have contested in the handicap is not 
what has given it its prestige. It is the fact that it is a shoot 
which appeals to the best shooting talent in America. This is 
what excites the liveliest public interest in it and gives it such 
unlimited prestige; and this is a matter which far surpasses the 
personal interest of the man who killed 23. Nothing would swamp 
the Grand American Handicap so quickly and so effectually as a 
-quad of shooters from every city. 
Let us suppose that 600 shooters entered in the handicap; it then 
would be too cumbersome to manage. The number entered in the 
last handicap is quite enough for its success. The matter of the 
number of entries is only one factor of many to be considered 
in conducting it. It has as many entries in prospect as there are 
any need of. 
Any cheapening of it would be a loss in prestige; would be a bid 
for shooters having less skill than is necessary for a contest of such 
importance; would strip it of its distinguishing features and make 
it a common 25-bird event, such as may be found betimes in any 
corner of the land, save the one fact that it would be given under 
the most distinguished auspices. 
The plea has been made that when a man travels several hundred 
miles, kills 23, and returns home without any of the money, he is 
suffering a hardship. If he cannot afford the expense, he certainly 
is suffering a hardship, but it is one of his own seeking. His mis- 
judgment, however, is not the affair of others. Such matters 
are personal, and the person interested should think seriously 
before deciding to enter. But whether he wins or loses, he should 
abide by his own acts. He enters with his eyes open. It is 
a game in which there arc losers as well as winners. 
If one cannot afford to lose, one would better remain at home, or 
at least refrain from entering, It is hardly fnir to enter on one's 
own judgment, and then in case of loss blame some one else for 
it. It is a competition of nerve and skill. Whether one came a 
thousand miles to compete, or competed five times before winning, 
or can kill only 23, is irrelevant, to the matter. 
The best equipment for competition in the Grand American 
Handicap is to be able to shoot well; to be able to afford the 
expense, and to look pleasant, win or lose. The wail of the loser 
is more likely to come from the smart of a hurt and self-interest 
than from the enthusiasm of the philanthropist. Whatever system 
is adopted, there will therein be losers who are, next to the win- 
ners; but, in the eye of competition, all losers look much alike. 
Events : 
Targets i 
E Banks .... 
1 1 Tt Japhet 
H Money 
123450789 Shot 
10 15 10 15 20 50 15 20 15 at. Broke. Av. 
10 14 10 13 20 40 14 19 13 170 159 .935 
7 11 6 12 16 47 13 16 13 170 141 .829 
9 12 9 13 16 39 13 18 11 170 140 .823 
IN NEW JERSEY. 
New Jersey Championship at Hackensack. 
Dec. 7.— The open contest for the inanimate target championship 
of New Jersey was decided to-day on the grounds of the Bergen 
County Gun Club, of Hackensack, N. J. The contest was made 
the excuse for an all-day shoot, a full programme of events being 
pulled off between the hours of 11 A. M. and 4 P. MS 
The club was fortunate in the day, the weather being all that 
could be asked for at this time of the year. The attendance, too, 
was decMi clly flattering, considering the way trap-shooting has 
been going around New York. Not that there is not plenty ot 
shooting; on the contrary, there is a great deal of shooting, but 
the number of clubs divide up the programme in such a way that 
small attendances mark all local gatherings as a rule. . 
Of the club's officers, J. R. Banla was present from start to finish 
and helped materially to carry the shoot to a successful close. 
Messrs. Griffith, C. O. Gardner and H. D. Warner also got away 
from business as early as possible, and did their share m run- 
ning things for the comfort of the guests. The management of 
the shoot was placed in the hands of Edward Banks, who 
moved things along so rapidly that a total of 2,800 targets were 
trapped in the programme events. W. R. Hobart was in the 
cashier's office, his work being cut out for him by the twenty- 
four shooters who took part in the shoot. 
The main attraction was, of course, the 50-target race for the 
championship, which had fifteen entries, five "outsiders ' also 
shooting along in the optional sweeps on each 25 targets. The cham- 
pionship emblem is a silver cup, which was donated by the 
American E. C. & Schultzc Gunpowder Company to the New 
Tersev State Sportsmen' s Association over a year ago. It was 
first contested for during the Jersey State shoot at Passaic, N. J., 
in the fall of 1897. On that occasion the conditions were only 
25 targets, unknown angles. Justus von Lengerke and Colin 
R. Wise tied for the title and trophy with 24 out of 25, Von 
Lengerke winning on the shoot-off. He was at once challenged 
by Ferd Van Dyke, who took the cup by default, Von Lengerke 
surrendering his" title in preference to defending it. Since then 
Van Dyke has held it until the present date; but realizing that 
his health was such as to preclude almost all chance of his 
defending the cup during the bad weather of the winter, Van 
in a sportsmanlike spirit returned the cup into competition, ex- 
pressing the wish that "the boys may have a jolly scrap for it." 
The donors of the cup having reserved to themselves the privil- 
ege of changing the conditions, and the New Jersey State 
Sportsmen's Association having once more gone to sleep, it 
was therefore decided to place the cup in open competition, the 
conditions being changed to 50 targets, unknown angles. 
The result of to-day's contest was somewhat in the nature of 
a surprise. Not that the score of the winner, L. H. Japhet, the 
sturdy captain of the East Side Gun Club, was so large, but that 
the scores of the favorites in the race were so low. Dominie Bev- 
eridge only scored 32 out of 50, but still he beat Tom Morfey 
by four tagets, as the latter only scored 28! Harold Money, who 
was picked as a winner by most of those present, could not 
locate the targets, scoring 39. Neaf Apgar, who has not been 
doing much shooting lately, was really Japhet's only antagonist 
to do himself justice, as his total of 45 was well earned. Japhet 
made a good start, running his first 25 without an error, finish- 
ing up with 22 out of his second 25. He was at once challenged 
for the cup by T. W. Morfey, who posted the requisite $10 for- 
feit and a written challenge in the hands of the secretary of the 
American E. C. & Schultzc Gunpowder Company the minute 
after the result was announced. Mr. Japhet at once fixed Jan. 5 
as the date for the match, the scene of the contest being the 
grounds of the East Side Gun Club, of Newark. The conditions 
of the race will be 50 targets, unknown angles. 
Below are the scores for the championship: 
L Japhet 11111111111111111111111111011111101111111111110111-47 
N Apgar 111111111100111111101111 111 1 11111111011 11110111111—45 
O Hesse 011101110111111111111010011 11111011101111101111111—41 
E Tavlor 11111011111111010111011011111101111111011011011011—40 
H Money .01111011111101001110111011111101111110110111111110— 39 
J Fleming 01101110011111111100111111010101111000011101111101—35 
C R Wise 01111111110110101000011110110111000111101101110111—34 
C Beveridge 10111101101110001111010001111011011111100110110010—32 
E Everitt 01010111100100101110110110011010111011111111100011—32 
W Irving OOOlOOOlOlllOlOlOllimiOllOlOllOllOlOl 11111111100—32 
T Van Noordt. . . . 0010011111011011010101111011 1011011011001 010111101--33 
G Piercv 11000111010001110011111011011110111010010101111000—30 
Dr Toy" 0100011011101101101111101100110101.0101001101110011—30 
T Morfey 11101001101000001101100110110110011001101010101111—28 
C Billings 10111010100101000110101101010000010110111100110111—27 
The following shot along in the cup race, but were not eligible, 
to compete for the cup, not being residents of the State of New 
Jersey : 
E Banks ..11111111111111111011111111111101011111110111111111—46 
A Courtney 11011111111111110111111001111111111111111110111011—44 
L Harrison .... .10101001111011110111111111011111111111111011111101—41 
B Norton 0 llOlOllllOlOllOllllOllllOOllOOlOllOHOllimillll— 36 
W Harding 0001000000010100111011000 w — 8 
The Sweepstake Programme. 
The sweepstake programme, including the championship event, 
called for 170 targets. Eleven men shot through the programme, 
all but Banks being "in for the money," the latter shooting all 
day for "targets only." 
The table of scores given below shows that a total of twenty- 
four shooters took part in the sweeps, some of those who shot 
at only a few targets being in "for targets only." Among those 
present were: • Col. A. G. Courtney, of the Remington Arms 
Company; B. H. Norton, of the Hazard Powder Company; Harold 
B. Monev, of the American E. C. & Schultze Gunpowder Com- 
pany; Ed Taylor and E. A. W. Everitt, of the Laflin & Rand 
Powder Company; Louis Harrison, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Oscar 
Hesse, of Red Bank, N. J., the U. S. representative of the 
Walsrode Powder Company; Neaf Apgar, New York, manager of 
the Gun Bore Treatment Company, etc. 
Curiously enough, the scores were very low generally, a strong 
wind blowing nearly all day, particularly strong in the morning 
and early afternoon hours. It is seldom that with such a list of 
good shots averages rule so low. Some laid- it. to the background; 
others to the' wind. The new champion of New Jersey did not 
find the targets successfully, save in the championship event; in 
that event he bunched his hits very ably. Tabulated scores fol- 
low: 
A G Courtney 8 11 6 11 16 44 14 17 12 170 139 . 817 
L Harrison 4 8 8 9 16 41 12 18 12 170 128 .752 
E A W Everitt 7 11 8 12 16 32 12 17 12 170 127 .747 
J Fleming 8 10 8 12 15 35 10 14 13 170 125 .735 
C C Beveridge 7 13 7 11 15 32 33 13 13 170 122 .717 
G II Piercy 9 14 5 11 14 30 10 17 12 170 121 .711 
T W Morfey 8 14 6 9 11 28 9 13 10 170 108 .635 
B H Norton 5 9 5 9 10 35 8 10 10 170 101 .594 
C W Billings 8 12 6 8 12 27 .. 12 .. 140 85 .607 
Dr Joy 5 9 7 8 15 30 120 74 .616 
R Snyder 4 7 7 7 11 .. 11 15 .. 105 62 . 590 
Ed Tavlor 40 10 17.. 85 67 . 788 
C R Wise 34 S 17 .. 85 59 .694 
J Van Noordt 32 9 13 .. S5 54 .638 
W M Harding S 7 6 4 70 25 . 357 
O Hesse 41 13 ... . 65 54 .830 
B Tracy 6 12 8 50 26 .520 
W Irving 32 50 32 .640 
B James 5 10 8 35 23 .656 
H D Warner ., 12 .. 20 12 .600 
J Banta 11 ....... . 20 11 .550 
Nos. 5 and 8 on the programme were "prize events," the 
Bergen County Club donating a silver loving cup as a prize to the 
high man in each of these events. Any one was eligible to shoot 
for the cup so long as he put up the price of the targets. Handi- 
caps were awarded by Messrs. Banks and Hobart, each of the 
contestants receiving from one to five misses as breaks added to 
Oteir. scores. The allowance did not count in the division of the 
moneys. 
In No. 5 Everitt and Joy tied on highest possibles, and shot 
oft at 5 targets per man, according to the conditions as slated in 
the programme. Joy broke his 5 straight, Everitt losing 2 of his 
5 targets. 
In No. 8 there were seven ties on highest possibles, those in 
the tie being Everitt, Piercy, Money, Harrison, Taylor, Snyder 
and Wise. Shooting off again at 5 targets per man, Everitt 
was the only one to break his 5 straight, thus winning a trophy 
he had well earned. 
Before closing an account of this pleasant little shoot, mention 
must be made of the hospitable manner in which the club kept 
open house, a hot turkey luuch and refreshments being served 
free to all, contestants and lookers on. Hot coffee was on tap 
all day. In the crisp cold air of a December day, such little 
attentions are much appreciated. 
After the programme was shot out, some "fly-by-nights" would 
not be gainsaid, so several small extras were shot, Beveridge and 
Money reaping the greatest benefit from these races. 
East Side Gun Club of Newark. 
■ D l c - 8 ;~ Fif f e en members of the East Side Gun Club took part 
in the club shoot postponed to this date from the fourth Thurs- 
day in November, on which date the weather was too bad for the 
shooters to put in an appearance. Burn Johnson, a guest of the 
club, shot along and scored 8 out of 10 in the main event, and 
4 out of 5 in the sweepstake. 
In the club shoot all stand at 28yds., a handicap of "points" 
being the only handicap imposed. Each shooter is handicapped at 
so many points, and must kill that number of birds before adding 
a point to his total for the yearly prizes. L. H. Schortemeier 
was the only one to score 10 straight, while Hassinger won second 
money alone on 9 out of 10. The members have a $1 optional 
sweep on the club event, the purse being divided Rose system, 
four moneys, 6, 3 and 2 to 1. The weather was cold and clear, 
while the good birds trapped were helped by a stiff straightaway 
wind. Scores were: 
Sweepstake, 5 birds, $2, all 28yds.: Schortcmeier, Koegel and 
(Jtten 5, Duston .Feigenspan, Hassinger, Castle and Johnson 4, 
Leuthauser and Reiboldt 3. 
Club shoot, 10 birds, all 28yds., handicap of points: 
L Schortemeier, 7.2221222222-10 H Otten, 7 1*1102102*— 6 
W Hassinger, 7.... 1212110122— 9 £ Waldman, 5. .. .2002110122— 7 
H Koegel ! 2121211010— 8 T Richards, 6 121221*012- 7 
*u C T St i e ' 7 VSlW^-r 8 Dr Mulvaney, 6. .. .0101121201- 7 
*B Johnson 2*12111102— S B Clinchard, 5 H1U2020122- 7 
Dr G Hudson, 7... .1022022112— 8 H Reiboldt, 5 2020122202— 7 
b Perment 6 1120110112- 8 C Feigenspan, 7. .. .20121 11200- 7 
* Guest' 1210202211- 8 C F Seitz, 5.. 22122*0000- 5 
Sooth Side Gtm Club. 
io^ eW i a - r ^ N - J "' De< 7> 3 ~~ 0ur an »iual shoot will be held Jan. 2, 
J.899. following are the scores of our shoot: 
n f vents: 123456789 10 
u/ r!°c • " 7 4 6 4 6 7 7 5 6 7 
W H Smith t4 , 5 3 7 7 6 4 2 4 3 3 
Thrill „ 7 8 7 8 5 7 6 7 3.. 
Feigenspan 7 8 7 5 8 8 ? 3 ? g 
K'P'ey 4 3 3 3 4 4 4, 
F erguson 2 3 5 4 .. .. . " 
Fleming 7 6 7 !! ,. .-. 
I. H. Tekrill. 
The late Judge Samuel P. Walker. 
vJf 1 ™?, u le sh ° oter , s from Memphis, Tenn., visited Elkwood Park 
last March, and took part m the Grand American Handicap, there 
came .with them Judge Samuel P. Walker, one of the legal lights 
of Memphis, who for some years filled the honored position of 
Judge ol the Superior Court of the State of Tennessee 
Hie Judge entered in the Nitro Powder Handicap, and was one 
of those to divide the purse on 15 straight. In the Grand 
rt,T C i r ^ n V ? S 1° fort " nate > having to retire at the end of 
the 18th round with four misses to his credit. This failure to 
stay m the race until the end did not appear to trouble him a little 
pit, the success of others seeming to have as much in them to 
S*fS§; H 1 ? as , lf - % y We *S '? wn - He was an ideal contestant, 
stove for hfm P S alw3yS kept the Seat " earest th « 
«Si ^ not un i n a few days ago that we heard of his death. 
Well known and popular as he was, it seems strange that no 
notice, of his decease had reached us sooner. From his warm 
tr end and admirer, Mr. Irby Bennett, we learn that Judge 
Walker died a few weeks ago in Marlboro, Mass., where he had 
gone for a vacation to join his family, who had been summering 
there. His death was unexpected and sudden, and came to his 
of C agl m natUrC 3 SCVere Sh0Ck " Hc Was nft y- se vcn years 
Always fond of sport, he was a member of the Memphis Gun 
Club and of various other shooting clubs, among- them the 
Wapanoca Club, famed for its duck shooting. As a memorial of 
his efforts m their behalf, the pigeon shooters or Tennessee now 
have a law legalizing live pigeon shooting in the State, which 
law was drafted by Judge Walker himself. 
Elliott defeats Smith. 
St. Louis, Dec. 7.— The match between Mr. J. A. R. Elliott 
of Kansas City, and Dr. J. W. Smith, of St. Louis, was shot here 
to-day. Elliott was the victor by a score of 91 to 84. The con- 
ditions were 100 live birds, $100 a side. 
At the end of the first 25 the race seemed to be in favor of the 
Doctor, the score then being 24 to 22 in his favor. At the end 
of the second 25, they were tied, each having killed 46 out of 50 
In the last 50, Elliott gained steadily a greater lead, and won by 
the score above mentioned. The scores: 
Elliott 2022120222222222*21212222—22 
2212211*12111222222221222—24 
21*22221*1112122211222222—23 
1*22222222221222112201101—22—91 
Smith 1222222012222222122222122—24 
2222122*11202222212212210—22 
21011*211221212121022*21*— 20 
31210*0122021112112**0222—18—84 
Rochester Rod and Gun Club. 
Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: A 
regular meeting of the Rochester Rod and Gun Club was held 
last night, and all the reports presented show the organization 
to be in a flourishing condition. Trap-shooting contests are held 
every week at the club house, where more powder is burned than 
at any other ground in the State. It was determined to join the 
Fish, Game and Forest Preservation League. Measures were 
taken to increase the attractions and comforts of the club house 
on shooting days, and the result will no doubt be seen in an 
augmentation of smashed targets with consequent improvement in 
the' skill of the shooters. Hereafter targets are to be thrown at 
practice shoots for 1 cent each. R, 
