t)£C. 23, 1899. 1 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
819 
John Watson's Live-Bird Toarnament. 
Chicago, Dec. 12. — As was predicted at the time of the an- 
nouncement, John Watson's live-bird shoot is proving not only 
a very pleasant affair bnt a very considerable shoot. We have 
come to look upon these winter annuals of Mr. Watson's as a 
very decisive bit of shooting history. It is then that the best of 
our live-bird shots come together from all over the West to try 
conclusions, and it is very often the case that, like a pack of 
good running hounds, they fall out among themselves and are 
obliged to resort to individual contests in order to clear up their 
own minds in regard -to their relative shooting ability. A winter 
shoot at Watson's has greater news interest than a chance; tourna- 
ment of equal or greater size at other places or times. 
The attendance to-day was perhaps not as large as we shall yet 
see it, but it was big enough to make a very pleasant and success- 
ful live-bird meeting. The biggest live-bird shoots are by no 
means the best or tlie most pleasant to attend. To-day there 
were plenty of men to keep both sets of traps moving, and the 
programme was nicely concluded in ample time in the evening, 
something like 1,100 birds being shot off. The top entry of the 
day was twenty-five. 
The weather to-day was a good sample of Chicago's misfit 
climate. Wc had our first snow this week, and to-day the wind 
was raw and chilly, blowing to the left quarter from the score. 
Rain or snow threatened and the light was not too good. The 
birds turned out very fast, and straights were not common by 
any means, as witness the fact that there were only three 
straights in a 7-bird sweep, only five in a 10-bird sweep, and 
four in a 15-bird sweep, the latter out of an entry of twenty-five. 
The good ones came from all over the country and set each 
other a very merry pace. Heikes, Gilbert and Budd were the first 
three men entered in the second event, and they each went out 
with 10. Kext to them in the entry was another old-timer— Grimm. 
I>r. Carver was on hand also, and was among the straights in one 
of the events, though less fortunate in others. Col. Courtney 
was doing a substantial business, and Jack U. M. C. Hallowell 
was on hand with the somewhat erratic work of 10 straight in one 
event and 9 out of 15 m another. Tramp Irwin shot in very 
good shape indeed, going straight in the 10 and 15 bird events 
and missing only one bird in another 10-bird event — certainly a 
very good record for the grounds. Gilbert shot very consistently. 
Eddie Bingham was another of the trade contingent, and as usual 
was in the first running. Hirshey toward the close of the day 
fotmd the birds, and killed 10 straight, though in the second shoot 
he managed to land only 5 out of his 10. Emil Werk, of the 
Sportsmen's Review, of Cincinnati, made a very good representa- 
tive of sporting journalism, and got inside of the money part of 
the time. Elmer Neal came up from Bloomington, Ind., to mix 
with the boys in the sport of which he is so fond. G. T. Hall, of 
Loami, 111., the 6ft. giant who used to shoot matches with Capt- 
Bogardus, was on hand and showed that he has not forgotten how 
to handle a gun. W, H. Harbaugh came up from Oeneseo, and 
Tom Laflin, of Milan, 111., promises to be on deck to-morrow. 
Among the local men are Kuss and Dr. Shaw, of the Garfield 
Club; George Roll, of Blue Island; Wilcox, of Audubon Gun 
Club; H. B.. a prominent man, whose name is sometimes seen 
in other forms in shooting' columns; Joe Barto, of the Alpine 
Gun Club; Lem Willard, of South Chicago, etc. Another dis- 
tinguished guest is Harry W. Lee, the Alaskan hunter and ex- 
plorer, the story of whose wanderings in Alaska was printed last 
winter in the Forest and Stream. Mr. Lee now claims Chicago 
as his home, and he is just back this fall from a second Alaska 
trip, of which I hope we shall hear later. He shot a rattling gait 
to-day, killing 25 straight. 
Throughout the day the shooting went on pleasantly and 
steadily, with the smoothness of the Watson system, and all 
(he arrangements at the grounds were satisfactory, as they always 
are. George Watscn acted as cashier, and handed out the money 
promptly to the boys, all except what his daddy thought was about 
right to hold out for pay for the J. Watson pigeons. Ike Watson 
and his friend Porter took care of the Fulford traps at No. 2 score. 
The dogs were in good shaps for retrieving, and everything went 
very methodically. For the shooters nobody got very rich, but a 
good many got into the money, as will be seen from the scores 
which follow: 
First Day, Dec. 12. 
No. 1: 
R O Heikes....... 2220212-6 
H E Lee 1212100—5 
<',eo Roll . . . . , 2202212—6 
J M Healev 2122102—6 
R Kuss 2221202-6 
C Grimm 2222202—6 
E Bingham 2002211—5 
Hir,shey 1001122—5 
E Werk 2212022—6 
L Willard 2112122—7 
W Harbaugh 0221012—5 
Dr Carver 2222222—7 
B Stuart 0222200—4 
F Gilbert 2222222—7 
C Budd 2222002—5 
J B Barto 2202202—5 
Zimmerman 0220222—5 
Gilbert, Willard and Dr. Carver divided $61.^), 
No. 2: 
Heikes 2222212222—10 
Gilbert , 2222222222—10 
Budd . . ... ... .... .2222222222—10 
Grimm .0202220202— 6 
Kuss 1222021222— 9 
Bingham 2021221002— 7 
Hirshey .0002222002—5 
Werk 0221022221— 8 
Hallowell 0220222220— 7 
Neal 2222222202— 9 
Heikes. Gilbert, Budd, Lee and Willard divided |60 
Irwin, Zimmerman and Carver divided $40. 
No. 3: 
Heikes 122200222222211—13 
Bingham 222022220222222—13 
Hirshey 212110020202222—11 
Werk 202002012212212—11 
Neal 202022202222222—12 
Gilbert 222222222222222—15 
Budd 222222222222222—15 
Gri m m 220222222120022—12 
HalVowell .... .202220200222020— 9 
R Kuss ..202222212111102-13 
Courtney .....111102222210112—13 
Wilcox .......221101022221222—13 
Zimmerman ..222122012211120—13 
Gilbert, Budd, Irwin and H. Lee divided $78.75. H., B., Willard, 
G. Roll, Dr. Shaw divided 161.25, Heikes, Bingham, Kuss, Court- 
nev, Wilcox and Zimmerman divided ?35. 
No. 4: 
Roll 0122200122— 7 
Barto ......2220122202— S 
Lee 1111111122—10 
Tramp Irwin 2221220212— 9 
Zimmerman 1222202222— 9 
Healey 00220 w 
Dr Carver 2221222202— 9 
Willard .'....2212122212—10 
Harbaugh 2211220022— 8 
Court«ey 2202022102— 7 
Kuss, Neal, 
H B 021222212202212—14 
Willard 221122011111122—14 
T Irwin .212222222222222—15 
Harbaugh .... 212010121220212—12 
Barto 222220022222022—12 
Dr Carver 220012222120122—12 
G Roll 022222122222222—14 
1 M Healey... 022112222222100— 12 
H Lee 122222212121212—15 
Dr Shaw 122112211110222—14 
G Hall .112210002222120—11 
V Studley 202021200112202—10 
Neal 2222222222—10 
Carver 2212222122—10 
Budd 1122122222—10 
White 0222210012— 7 
H B 11212*1112— 9 
Heikes 2211222120— 9 
Hallowell 2222222222—10 
Hirshey 2222222222—10 
Werk , 2210022122— S 
Gi lb ert 2222222222—10 
Bingham 2222222222—10 
Kuss 0212112221- 
Zimmerman .12201011 22— 8 
Grimm 3102010222—7 
Dr Shaw .2102220002— 6 
Willard 1112021022— 8 
M''ilcox ..2002121012—7 
Harbaugh 1100201121— 7 
G Roll 2222211112—10 
Irwin ....2212221212—10 
Graham 222222222JJ— 10 
Hall 1111112121—10 
Courtney 2222112012— 9 
Healey 2111212222-10 
Neal, Carver, Budd, Hallowell, Hirshey, Gilbert, Bingham, 
Roll, Irwin, Graham, Hall and Healey divided $54. H. B., Heikes, 
Kuss and Courtney divided ?42. Werk, Zimmerman and Willard 
divided $24. 
Second Day, Dec. 13, 
The weather had turned cold and a light covering of snow had 
whitened the landscape, making a trying background for the light- 
colored birds. The wind still made out to the left quarter, and the 
birds were even harder than thej' were yesterday. Shooting was 
concluded about half-past four in the afternoon, after a very steady 
day of pleasant occupation. More of the local men turned out 
to-daj', though the Chicago contingent was none too numerous. 
Dr. Kibbey, of Marshalltown, la., joined the ranks to-day, and 
W. A. Porter, of Rock Island, continued his good and steady work. ' 
Tom Marshall, of Keithsburg, arrived and filled a long-felt want. 
Tn the first event the boys seemed to have solved the curves of the 
birds pretty well, for out of twenty-five entries fourteen of them 
went straight in the 7-bird sweep. This paid each man $7.40. 
In the second event there were again twenty-five entries, and the 
shooting seemed to have taken a brace, for Courtney, Gilbert, 
Heikes Bingham, Dr. Kibbey, Graham, Roll, Porter and Zimmer- 
man alf went straight, dividing $76. In the hole next to them were 
eleven others, who divided $50. 
The third sweep at 15 birds turned out to_ be a pretty big afTalr, 
Ihere being thirty-six entries, and the shooting taking most of the 
afternoon. In the 15-hoIe were Hallowell, Willard, Budd. Dr. 
!5haw mi White, escji of whom ^ook dowp 52?.65. fbp li-men 
were Neal, Hirshey, Heikes, Dr. Kibbey, Roll, Torn Marshall, H. 
B. Odell, Hall. Irwin, Barto, Paterson, N. L. Hoyt, Argraves, 
Leffingwell, Von Lengerke and Porter. Witli this aggregation each 
man drew but $5.15. The 13-hole paid $7.20, 
'It seems likely that we are to have some .cold weather now, and 
to morrow will, in all probability, prove cold, a continuance of the 
very good live-bird weather we had to-day. The entry ought to 
hold up pretty well to what it was to-day, and on Friday we shall 
have the big event of the Week, the annual battle of the giants 
• which John W.itson inaugurated some time ago, and whicli is 
looked forward to as a sort of clearing house settlement for the 
close of each year in VVestern live-bird shooting. This winter live- 
bird competition among the good ones reminds one of the habit 
which the bears have of standing up and marking their height on 
some tree in the woods. One bear stands up and puts his mark 
tip so high he is pretty sure it will not be beaten. Tie thinks he is 
a good deal of a bear until some other comes along and scratches 
his record a little bit higher up the tree. Thus it goes, the big 
bears perhaps growing or shrinking a little bit from year to year, 
but all of them hoping that they can outreach the others. John 
Watson has set up in this annual event of his a sort of marking 
pole against which the big bears of the shooters can come and 
measure up. There have been some pretty tall scratches made on 
the old grounds Vjefore now, and we arc apt to see some fun in 
the measurements next Friday, for most of the boys are feeling 
mighty sassy right now. Below are the scores of to-day: 
No. 1: 
Neal .'..2222222—7 
Gilbert 2222222-7 
Hirshey 2222220—6 
H Odell 2211222—7 
Lee .0202012—4 
Argraves 1112222—7 
Hall ,.1201212—6 
Roll 2121122—7 
Werk 4...... 2112212—7 
Courtney 2120211—6 
Zimmerman 2222212—7 
Hallowell 2221222—7 
Bingham 2222222—7 
Sevens divided; each got $7.40. 
No. 2: 
Neal 22*2222222—9 
Hirshey 2202122100—7 
Werk 2211101111— 9 
Courtnev 2212112111—10 
Zimmerman 2222222212—10 
Hallowell 2021211012— 8 
Willard 1011111111— 9 
England 2212111112—10 
Dr Carver 022202221.1— 8 
Gilbert 2222222221—10 
Heikes 2212222211—10 
Budd 0222122222— 9 
Bingham ....2222222222—10 
Courtney, Gilbert, Heikes, Bin 
Roll, Porter and Zimmerman divi 
Neal, Werk. Willard, England, 
Irwin and Laflin divided .fSO. 
Willard .....2012200—4 
England , 2012221—6 
Carver 2120222—6 
Harbaugh 2121120—6 
Graham 2222222—7 
Heikes 2221212—7 
Budd 2110110— B 
Barto 2211222—7 
Laflin 112mi— 7 
Irwin 2112122—7 
Dr Kibbtjy ........... .0211210-^ 
D Miller 1132002—5, 
Dr Kibbev 2121211121—10 
H Odell .' 2202222222- 9 
Argraves 1022212120— S 
Graham 2222222222—10 
G Roll 1212211222—10 
G T Hall 0221211111— 9 
J B Barto 2221201222— 9 
H Lee ....2102122212— 9 
Tramp Irwin 2211220222— 9 
G -Laflin .....2110212111-9 
Harbaugh 0111010021—6 
W A Porter 1222211212-10 
gham. Dr. Kibbey, Graham, G. 
ded $75. 
Budd, Odell, Hall, Barto, Lee, 
No. 3: 
Neal 212022222222222—14 Hall 212122221111012—14 
Gilbert 222202222222022—13 Graham 222222220222202—13 
Hirshey 212022212222212—14 Irwin 211022111221221—14 
Werk 211010120001111— 9 Barto 120122221111212—14 
Courtney 022110022111211—12 Dr Shaw 112122211221111—15 
Zimmerman ..222122220202222—13 A C Paterson. 21111222111*221— 14 
Hallowell 222222122221222—15 M E White. .. .202220011122222— 12 
Willard 1.11111121212122—15 N L Hoyt 12111011112lll2-14 
Dr Carver ....222022222212202—13 P B Hoyt 102020112121021—11 
Heikes 101222121222121—14 Argraves 220222221111122—14 
Sturtevant ,...222222002222022—12 W LeFfingwell.201222222122222— 14 
Bingham 2222**222222222—13 T H White. .. .222222222222222— 15 
Dr Kibbev ...022212121112211—14 H Lee 211120022220011—11 
G Roll 212120212122211—14 T Laflin ...... .210211210221221— 13 
T Marshall . . . .220222221222222—14 Von Lengerke..222222202222222— 14 
H B 202221222212222—14 E S Graham. .222222222220022— 13 
Budd 212221222112212—15 W A Porter. . .112102111121221— 14 
Odell .........222222220222222—14 T F Wolf 022220220222222—12 
The 15s divided $113.40. or $22.fi.5 each. The 14s divided $88.20, 
or $5.15 each. The 13s divided $50, or $7.20 each. 
Third Day, Dec. 14. 
Snow continued to fall intermittently during the day, so heavily 
during the afternoon that the light was at times none too good, 
and the birds were confused by the storrn. The birds to-day were 
not to be called extremely hard, though they were uneven, some 
very fast ones. It was by no means good flying weather, though 
the temperature was not unpleasant to the shooters. The wind 
was light, to the right qtiaiter from the score. 
Just before the beginning of hi.s tournament Mr. John Watson 
received an injury from a fall, and he hag been quite ill ever since. 
He came out to the grounds in a carriage on Tuesday, but has not 
appeared since then. It is to be hoped that he will be out by 
to-morrow, so that he may referee at the big handicap. Ed 
Steis refereed to-day at No. 1 score, J. L. Porter at No. 2 set. 
It was rumored yesterday that Hon. James R. B. Van Cleave, 
of Springfield, would be on hand to-day with a team of shooters 
from the Illinois Gun Club, and it was proposed to shoot a team 
race next Saturday. To-day Mr. Van Cleave wired that the arrange- 
ments could not be completed and that he could not attend. 
The top entry to-day was thirty-seven, and shooting was not 
completed until about 4:30. It was certainly a pretty warm shoot- 
ing crowd, and a look at the scores will show that straights were 
far more numerous than any day during the week. Nobody made 
any money. It is a hard proposition when a man has to kill 15 
straight at this park to get his entrance back. In the first sweep 
there were fourteen straights; in the second thirteen straights, and 
m the last shoot 10. On each day the programme is the same- 
event No. 1, 7 live birds, $5, high guns; event No. 2, 10 birds, $7, 
60 and 40 per cent; event No. 3, 15 birds, $10, 45, 35 and 20 per 
cent. 
On the three days' totals Gilbert is high average, and has missed 
but 3 birds out of 109 shot at, practice and all. On the first day 
he killed 45_ straight; on the se»ond 30 out of 32, and to-day ,31 
out of ,32. Charlie Budd lost 2 birds to-day and Grimm lost 1. It 
is a singular fact that both Gilbert and Budd have been shooting 
borrowed guns all the week, their guns having been hung up in 
the Customs office at the Canada line, on their return from Tom 
Donley's shoot. Gilbert borrowed Jo Barto's Parker, and seems 
to take to it very kindly, while Budd has had very fair luck with 
John Watson's gun of the same make. 
To-morrow is the day set for the big handicap, and it will need 
every working hour if the shoot is to be con^cluded to-morrow. A 
great many will enter for the handicap who have not shot during 
the week. It was learned this evening that forty-one shooters have 
already declared for this event, and it is almost certa'in that over 
fifty will go to the score to-morrow. My recollection is that there 
wera fifty-nine entries last year. This insures a very heavy event 
and I presume this is to be considered about as interesting as any 
live-bird contest we are apt to have this winter in the VVest. 
Among the visitors to-day were Mrs. W. H. Shattuck, of Min- 
neapolis who was accompanied by her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. 
G. A. Leonary, of Fair Haveii, Vt.j Messrs. Voris and Tripp 
represented Indianapolis; Arthur Gambell' came up from Cincin- 
nati; Capt. Eick carne in from Sterling; Mr. Sperrj'^ swelled the 
Rock Island delegation; Woodford, of Springfield, came in, and 
Hirshey, of St. Paul, remains. Messrs. O'Brien and McCartney 
came over from Dubuque; Messrs. M. E. White and Roland, two 
husky railroad men, represent Milwaukee; Mr. E. K. Crothers of 
Bloomington, shot under the name of Zimmerman; Mr. O.' E 
Searles came up from Minooka, and J. C. England from Mt 
Pulaski. You could count the local men almost on one hand. 
To-morrow will be a field day, and it is to be hoped that the 
storm will have stopped so that sharp flying weather wDl prevail. 
The following are the scores of to-day: 
No. 1: 
Neal 2212212—7 Budd fPllooa—? 
1 R Graham 3322122—/ Bingham " " "222'>222— 7 
'Irwin 1221020-5 Tripp ;2l20221-6 
Ed Voris 2221222—7 Heikes mmi-r 
Capt Eick 2112220-6 Werk 2122011-fi 
Woodford 2222222-7 ' ■ —i-^uix 
Willard 2211222—7 
Hallowell 2222212-7 
Searles 1112202—6 
Carver .2222222—7 
Gilbert - - 2222222—7 
Grimm 2221223—7 
Marshall 2222220-6 
Hirshey .2222222—7 
Sperry 3011221— 
OBrien ...2022220—5 
McCartney 211102^-6 
Harbaugh 1112210—6 
^"^\ ■■■■■■■ 2221110-6 
England ...i..... 2212123—7 
•Parker 1221220—6 
Gilbert, Grimm, Budd, Bingham, Heikes, Hirshey and England 
divided $93.60. „ ^ 
No. 2: ' 
Neal 2222222222—10 
T R Graham....... 2222222222— le 
Ed Voris 2211122122—10 
Gambell 12220222*2— 8 
Capt Eick... 2222212222—10 
Woodford 2221221122—10 
Willard ........... ,1212222212—10 
Hallowell 2122222122—10 
Dr Carver 2222212222—10 
Gilbert 2222222222—10 
Grimm .22222*2222— 9 
Marshall 2222022222—9 
Budd 1111101021— 8 
Bingham 2222222222—10 
Tripp .....2121111101— 9 
Heikes 1102122212— 9 
Neal. Graham, Voris, Eick, 
Werk 1111210122— 9 
Hirshev ........... .2222121112—10 
Irwin '. 2012212212— 9 
Parker 2122222222—10 
Barto 1022222122— 9 
Sperry .2001220111— 7 
Searles 1122010112— 8 
England 1 . .2212222002— .8 
Owen .0120202212— 7 
O'Brien .2211222022— 9 
McCartney 2202222222— 9 
Roll 2201112*20— 7 
H B 2212222110— 9 
M E White... 2221111112—10 
A G Paterson...... 1212221011— 9 
Woodford, Willard, Hallowell, 
Carver, Gilbert. Binghain, Hirshey, Parker and M. E. White 
divided $93. Grimm, Marshall, Tripp, Heikes, Werk, Irwin, Barto, 
O'Brien, McCartney, H. B. and Paterson divided $62. 
No. 3: 
Neal 222222021012112—13 Roll 221220120112122—13 
Voris 122222122222222—15 Budd 212221121111222—15 
Gambell .......200022202022222—10 Graham 222222221222212—15 
" Searles 210111221121111—14 
Kuss 220221222212222—14 
G T Hall 211201221122212—14 
...220212111222222-14 O'Brien 222222202202021—12 
..222222222212222—15 McCartney ....222122221222222—1.5 
j^^^.^ ..222120221120111—1:; 
Mi-s Sh attuck . 222102211111202—13 
Capt Eick 212021221212102—13 
Woodford . . . .221220222222222— 14 
Willard ...... .212*22122212201—13 
Hallowell 
Carver . , 
Gilbert 2222*2222222222—14 
Grimm 222222222221222—15 
Marshall 222222022222222—14 T Laflin ......111121122161222—14 
England 121112111222212— 1.^ 
White 220212222122102—1,-! 
...212222222220112—14 
...212002212122212—13 
...011200101002120— 8 
...122122212122122—15 
...222111212211121—15 
Barto 
H B 111120221211122—14 
Bingham 222222222222222—15 
Tripp .122221211111221—15 
Heikes 120221111122111—14 Paterson 
Werk 122212121001110—12 Higgin.q 
Hirshey 112112222222102—14 Roland 
Parker 222222011222112—14 Porter . . 
Sperry 220121021111112—13 ' 
Voris, Carver, Grimm, Bingham, Tripp. Budd.- Graham, Mc- 
Cartney, England, Roland and Porter divided first, .$118.55 or 
.$10.,59 each. Ties on 14 divided .fOO.tiS, or $6,97 each. Ties on 13 
divided $51.80, or .$5.75 ea.-h. 
Fourth Day— "Watson^s Live-Bhd Handicap. 
Friday, the fourth and last day of the tournament, was an ideal 
winter day— clear, cold and bracing— and perfect for live-bird pur- 
poses. A light wind blew out to the right from the score. The 
birds averaged extraordinarily fast, as any one mav see who will 
glance at the scores. Last vear, out of fifty-nine "entries in this 
same handicap, there was but one straight. Dr. Kibbey, of 
Marshalltown, la. This year, out of sixtv-two entries, there was 
not a single straight! These same men go all over the country 
and make long runs, and to most of them it would seem that 25 
straight would be well within reason. Yet thev all come to Wat- 
son's and fall down when it comes to negotiating the Chicago 
brand, J. Watson live pigeon. Thus in the two years last past 
171 trials have been made at making a straight in this event, and 
out of the 171 only one has succeeded. These records speak for 
themselves, and show why it is that Watson's Park is a grave- 
yard for the reputations of our greatest shooting generals. 
The shoot to-d.iy was a big event, and very noteworthy in every 
particular, not only in the personnel of the shooters, but in the 
manner in which the event was conducted. John Watson himself, 
much to the regret of everybody, was unable to be present, but his 
two boys, George and Ike. the former at the cashier's desk and the 
latter at the scores, conducted the whole shoot with perfect 
satisfaction. George Watson is one of the most rapid men at 
this sort of work that we have in the country, and does about 
what two or three men are ordinarily expected to do in running 
cash. Everybody got his money when he wanted it, and there were 
no mistakes. The press was handled well. George Watson did 
the handicapping, and not a kick was beard. The totals speak 
loudly as to the justice of the marks given. The entire day was 
pleasant m every regard, and I imagine that few pleasanter have 
ever been passed by those who had come to visit Watson:'s historic 
park. 
Shooting began at a quarter before 10 o'clock m the morning 
JSfe^l, Grah'flTtt, Voris, Woodford, Wi]}sH, Jf^Jlowpn, C^rygr, 
could h-irdly be seen; indeed it is likely that the shoot could not 
have been concluded but for the white covering of snow% which 
gave a certain reflected light to the landscape. The last s«)uad tn 
.slioot were Von Lengerke, H. B.. Hicks, Boa, M. E. White and 
Palmer, and of these three missed their last birds, H. B.'s bird 
falling dead just across the wire. 
As has been above indicated, there was no absolute winner of 
the handicap this year, and six men tied on 24. At 3 o'clock in 
the afternoon there were only three men who could make a pos- 
sible straig.ht. Charlie Grimm killed 23 birds straight, and on his 
24th caught a hopper, which he missed with a snap shot of the 
right barrel. The bird lit on the ground, and Grimm missed it 
outright, shooting a little to one side. He was really the nearest 
of any to making a straight, though not the last to go out. Two 
squads below him was young Hirshey, of St. Paul, a slender, 
blond young fellow, well known in the West as a target shot 
but of not so much experience in the live-bird game. He is a 
pleasant and very popular shooter. Hirshev was the last possibility 
for 25 out of the entire entry when his squad went to the score, and 
he had 6 birds yet to shoot. He killed his first bird on the string, 
but the bird following that, a white one, and not especially fast, 
which rose fairly high and swung to the left, he rather undercut 
with his first barrel, and missed with his second so that he too 
joined the ranks of the 24s. Had he killed the bird it would have 
been worth $288 to him. Perhaps this very fact was what caused 
him to lose it. Hirschey had been shooting along and doing his 
best, and had not thought that there was more than $100 in first 
place^more than he had ever shot for before. Just as he was 
stepping to the score a certain young man representing a local 
sporting paper,, stepped up to Hirshy with the glad information that 
it would be worth $288 for him to kill straight. The young man 
had just learned this at the box office and thought Mr. Hirschey 
might be glad to share the information with him at that time. 
Any shooter, even the oldest and steadiest, will understand the 
etiquettte of this, and will know the effect it is likely to produce 
in many cases, even with the most hardened veterans. The 
",gang" have their opinion of any attempt to break up a man 
when he is making a run, and there is an unwritten law among the 
rounders that this is not good form, and that it sometimes will 
ciuse a shooter to miss. Poor Hirschev felt rather badly for he 
was centering his birds and stood to kill straight, as the 'hardest 
of the flying was over at that time of the day. At anv rate, this 
IS the way the last chance of a straight went glimmering. Thus 
the 21s were let in, and nobody got any monev to speak of 23 
paying a little over $11, and anything below that about enough 
for cigars and car fare. The six men in the 24-hole drew $48 
apiece. 
There was no championship medal this year, the $100 added 
money taking the place of this. One very handsome souvenir 
was put up in quiet and unostentations manner. A certain old- 
time Western shooter being in hard luck was obliged to part with 
a fine silver water service, which he had won in earlier years as a 
trophy himself. This was shot for in the 1.5-bird event of yester- 
day, those competing for it putting up $2 extra, or $64 in all, 
which was sent to the former owner with the compliments of the 
■boys- , As there were a number of ties the final settlement was 
carried forward until to-day, and tune growing short it was decided 
to draw lots for the ownership. Charlie Grimm asked Tom 
JNlarsnall to draw for him, and Tom drew forth the winning number 
so that Charlie takes home the silver ,set with him. ' 
On the week's totals Fred Gilbert is high man, having mi.ssed 
but 0 birds out of 124 shqt at, missing 2 to-day. Rolla Heikes has 
missed 8 birds out of the programme, and stands second. Neither 
Budd nor Gilbert has got his gun out of the Customs oflSce, and 
Gilbert will need his when ha meets Billy Crosby at Batavia next 
Monday. 
Of the men who divided first place to-dav, Hirschey is from St 
Paul; Tripp from Indianapolis, Heikes from Dayton Hall fi-om 
Loami, III.; Grimm from Clear Lake, la., and Ha/lowell from 
Connecticut. Chicago had a fair representation in tlie 23-hole 
While it might have been more exciting to see a hotte? finish 
the conclusion of the handicap wa.i satisfactory to those most 
concerned, A glance at the list of names will show some of the 
most jarominent shooters in the Western country. Of these somp 
came m to-day for the first time during the tournament, amon^" 
r4\im Mr.-<5. A. MosJier, pf the Syracuse Arms Qq,, who was Nry j 
