Aug. 30, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
179 
The Wandctefs. 
The Wanderers is a body o{ shooters ol New York and vicinity 
informally and theoretically organized for certain contingent ad- 
vantages, as set forth in its prospectus, a copy of which is pub- 
lished herein. As Wanderers, they have been in existence but a 
few short weeks. In that brief time they have attained a con- 
spicuous place in the shooting interests and also in the shooting 
gossip of New York and vicinity. Starting on a theory of insur- 
ing successful shoots each week by virtue of concerted action, the 
theory in practice was quickly eclipsed by a policy of profit. 
Some of their doings have excited much public interest, and 
some have excited adverse criticism. Concerning them, the follow- 
ing is published chiefly for the information of the public. Thus 
clubs and others who are concerned may pass judgment intelli- 
gently on a new shooting policy which has within it all the in- 
herent elements for universal adoption, if, as applied by the 
Wanderers, it wins public indorsement. It is a policy which any 
other body of men may adopt. 
Stated in general terms, the purpose of insuring a successful 
shoot by going in numbers was, by the Wanderers, quickly 
subordinated to a purpose of stuffing the treasury. There were 
many directly and indirectly interested who disapproved of this 
organization being conducted for revenue under the peculiar cir- 
cumstances of the case. A large percentage of the membership 
is professional. They are gentlemen who are employed pro- 
fessionally and who draw salaries and have expense accounts as 
professionals. Thus they gain a livelihood from the sales of their 
goods, and are hardly supposed to gain a further direct profit 
from the consumption of said goods. We are sure that this 
feature of the case escaped the Wanderers' attention. 
We mentioned that there was some disapproval of the Wan- 
derers' financial policy. As a case in point, some newspaper men 
interviewed Capt. J. A. H. Dressel on Friday of last week, and he 
authorized the following statement concerning the Wanderers: 
"I am interested in the Wanderers to the extent that, so long as 
they continue their organization on the lines as first published in 
their prospectus, I will support them. I will allow U. M. _ C. 
representatives to attend their tournaments on the understanding 
that the Wanderers have adopted a change of base, getting away 
from the objectionable features heretofore exploited in different 
sportsmen's publications." 
The foregoing refers to the extraction of a portion of club re- 
ceipts as a rake-ofif by the Wanderers for purposes of revenue. 
The prospectus adverted to by Capt. Dressel was sent to a 
number of shooters. It bore date of June 19, and was signed by 
Mr. Edward Banks, 318 Broadway, New York. It was as follows: 
"Several years ago we formed a roving organization of local trap- 
shooters, which was called the Wanderers' Club. The idea was to 
have the members of the club attend every Saturday in a body at 
a certain club's grounds, in order that there might always be a 
good shoot which we could attend every Saturday if we wished. 
The scheme was very successful, and was apparently dropped for 
no other reason than that nobody could be found who would 'do 
the work.' We arranged our shoots in the following manner: 
"The first shoot would be decided upon by a vote of the mem- 
bers, or a name of a club would be suggested and the members 
asked as to whether it met with their approval. While attending 
the Saturday shoot at the club's grounds the members of the 
Wanderers' Club decided which club they should visit the follow- 
ing Saturday, etc. There were no dues, only a nominal fee being 
collected for the purpose of purchasing postals for sending out 
notices on. This year, however, we propose to fine every member 
who does not attend a shoot 25 cents, the 25 cents to go to a 
fund, which will be shot for the first Saturday in every month 
on the handicap basis, members of the club only be entitled to 
take part, the number of moneys being decided in accordance with 
the number of entries, 
"The scheme promises well, and I have the assurance of the co- 
operation of several trapshooters in this section who will become 
members. May I ask you, therefore, to notify me by return mail 
if possible as to whether you will join? The first shoot of the club 
will be held on Saturday, July 12, and I offer as a suggestion that 
we decide whether the shoot on that date shall be held on the 
grounds of the Boiling Springs Gun Club, Rutherford, N. J., 
or the Jackson Gun Club, Paterson, N. J." 
As above set forth in the prospectus, it will be noted that the 
sole purpose of the organization was "to have the members of the 
club attend every Saturday in a body at a certain club's grounds," 
etc. It, however, naively indicated that there were those already 
in power, as, shown by the clause, "This year, however, we pro- 
pose to fine every member who does not attend a shoot 25 
cents," etc. As a matter of trifling incidental interest concerning 
the curious ante-feature of an organization which then existed only 
in idea, one might be pardoned for having a desire to know who 
was the autocratic "we" which had the assurance to arrange a 
financial policy, the date of the shoot, and what clubs were to be 
considered, all before the club was organized. 
The movement in a general way was suggested and advocated by 
Capt. A. W. Money. Within certain necessary limitations, which 
will be touched upon in detail hereinafter, it was commendably 
sound and practical. If conducted on the lines of his original idea, 
it would have greatly and beneficially stimulated trapshooting 
activity in New York and vicinity. 
The first membership of the Wanderers was largely professional, 
and indeed as to membership, the mainstay of the club is now 
professional. On the lines of the original idea, it is proper that 
it should be so. By going to a club's shoot in a body, shooting 
under the conditions imposed by the club and giving a general 
impetus to trapshooting thereby, they were following their pro- 
fessional occupation while coincidentally having a pleasant day. 
But, being so professional, there was every reason why as an 
organized body it should avoid the policy and practice of a rake 
off. 
The Wanderers' purposes, as set forth in their prospectus, con- 
templated neither a treasury nor a treasurer. They had no 
grounds to maintain, no help to hire, no merchandise to purchase, 
no taxes to pay; in short, they had neither assets nor liabilities. 
The purpose of the club, namely, "that there might always be a 
good shoot which we might attend every Saturday if we wished," 
worked as follows at its first attempt. On Saturday, July 13, at 
Rutherford, N. J., the Wanderers attended a shoot which the Boil- 
ing Springs Gun Club believed to be its own. On account of a 
simple misunderstanding concerning the shoot, no members of 
tlie Boiling Springs Gun Club were present. The Wanderers ran 
the shoot, and on that account at its close they appropriated one- 
half the receipts. Targets were two cents, the rate fixed by the 
home club. 
In the absence of any specific agreement for a rake-off, the 
Wanderers had quite as good a right to take all the receipts as a 
part, for they had no right to either. As an organization, they 
had no need of the money, nor had they any use for it when in 
hand. But, aside from all that, by what right did they take it? 
Why did they take it? If they had no right to the money appro- 
priated, why do they still hold it? The theory as set forth in the 
prospectus on the one hand, and on the other hand the immediate 
grasping for money on opportunity, are in violent contrast. An 
election of officers also wa3 held on this day, though no notice 
Was given in the prospectus that such act would be taken. 
However, the Boiling Springs episode would have been com- 
paratively insignificant had it been the beginning and the end of 
^ jnjstatea xeal and set for a treasiuy, but instead, it seemed to 
open up new vistas of finance on lines of original novelty for the 
future. • 
The third finaiicial essay of the Waridet-efs occtiffed on July 26. 
The idea to have the members of the club attend ill a body worked 
very well, but certain other thrifty ideas were added to it. The 
organization which was specially honored by their atendance was 
the .South Side Gun Club, of Newark, N. J. It regularly charges 
one cent for targets. The Wanderers, or some of them, on that 
day took charge more or less of the financial interests of the 
South Side Gun Club's shoot and from the purses deducted two 
cents for targets, one cent of which was appropriated and put 
in the Wanderers' treasury. According to our information, these 
two shoots netted the Wanderers ?40. The management of the 
South Side Giui Club, so we were informed by good authority, 
were not highly pleased with the Wanderers' methods. That sum, 
$40. was an important one to take from the shooters so quickly 
and so shortly. We may infer that some one in consequence 
shot less than he otherwise would have done, either there or else- 
where. 
For no useful purpose whatever $40 was thereby taken out of 
circulation. 
In honor of the Wanderers, their treasurer, Dr. W. L. Gardiner, 
on Aug. 2 gave an entertainment, a succotash party, at his 
manorial home in the beautiful town of East Orange, N. J. Every 
one present enjoyed it most happily. As a host, he deserved 
and received much earnest praise. 
However, in connection with that memorable function, he also 
acted in another capacity, that of treasurer of the Wanderers, 
and it is in that capacity alone that we now refer to him. He 
announced that targets would be two cents each, and that, after 
paying the expenses of the shoot, the balance would be placed in 
the Wanderers' treasury, That was all right. 
On that day he publicly stated that there were already $40 in 
the treasury. 
However, there were nine events on the programme, of which 
a part of No. 8 and all of No. 9 were not shot, on account of in- 
sufficient time. Every one had paid in $3.60, the full programme 
entrance fee for the nine 20-target events. There thus was about 
$14 or $15 over pay for targets which should have been refunded 
then and there,' but no attempt was made to refund then, nor has 
any attempt been made since so far as we know. The refund 
could easily have been paid in ten minutes. It was known for 
about an hour before competition ended that the programme 
would not be finished. That money, so overpaid, either belongs to 
the Wanderers or it does not. If it does, how did it happen so? If 
it does not, why is it held so tightly m their treasury? 
The next financial interest of the Wanderers to attract attention 
was in connection witb the shoot of the North River Gun Club, 
held Aug. 16, at Edgewater, N. J. It was said by some of the 
members of the latter club that the treasurer of the Wanderers 
demanded a rake-off as a condition of the Wanderers' attendance 
at the shoot, and that the demand was refused. It thus seemingly 
was much less successful to ask for a rake-off than it was to take 
it without asking. At all events, when the matter came to ques- 
tion, there was much accusation and denial; much repudiation of 
responsibility; much attempt at justification; much modification 
of novel ideas of finance; much explanation which did not ex- 
plain, nor in the least disturb known facts. 
Public adverse criticism brought forth for the time - being the 
declaration from those who were supposed to do the Wanderers' 
thinking for them that the Wanderer did not want any rake-off. 
For a while it was then difficult to find a Wanderers who ap- 
proved of the policy of rake-off, or who had done so. It is 
strange indeed that, with such sentiments against the policy of a 
rake-off, so much of the latter got into the Wanderers' treasury 
in so short a time, and stays so firmly therein. 
Evidently the Wanderers did not feel quite at ease about the 
matter, else they would not have issued the following for the 
benefit of the "whom." It was published in Field and Fancy 
of Aug. 16: ' 
"A meeting was held at Paterson, N. J., on Aug. 9 for the pur- 
pose of taking action on certain matters and to elect a governing 
committee and new members. The following is the committee, 
all but the last three being officers: Colin R. Wise, Edward 
Banks, Dr. W. L. Gardiner, James T. Skelly, Capt. A. W. Money, 
F. V. Carlough and H. S, Welles. The new members are: J. 
Warren Smith, of Orange; B. L. Gruman, of Westwood, and D. 
D. Engle, of Newark. The following is published for the benefit 
and information of whom it may concern: 'There seems to be 
some misunderstanding as to the real objects of the organiza- 
tion of the Wanderers. That club wishes it to be thoroughly un- 
derstood that, no matter what Dame Rumor may bruit around, 
the Wanderers are out for a sociable time and for the best inter- 
ests of the sport of trapshooting in the vicinity of New York, 
and not for any financial benefit whatever.' " 
In the foregoing, the official declaration that, in spite of Dame 
Rumor, the Wanderers were "out for a sociable time," which by 
the way is mentioned first, was hardly a feature of public 
interest. Whether they were out for the best interests of trap- 
shooting around New York or not was hardlj' to be accurately 
determined at that exceedingly early period of their official ex- 
istence. Moreover, their policy was under discussion. The "in- 
formation" and "benefit" contained in the foregoing excerpt are 
exceedingly intangible. However, matter therein attributed to 
Dame Rumor should be properly credited to Dame Fact. The 
best interests of the sport may be an abstraction entirely inde- 
pendent of the Wanderers' moneyed treasury, or their treasury 
may be an abstraction entirely independent of the best interests 
of sport; but in either case, the query arises as to how, being 
out "not for any financial benefit whatever," they have so much 
money in their treasury, or indeed have a treasury at all? But 
may not others have at heart the best interests of sport also? 
We understand that there still are members of the Wanderers 
who justify the policy of a rake-off on the ground that, insuring 
a good shoot by their attendance, they therefore are entitled to a 
reward. If this plea is sound for the Wanderers, it is equally 
sound for all others. 
As this policy is of general public interest, we, for the benefit 
of trapshooting in general, desire to particularize some of its main 
pernicious tendencies. 
First, if, as adopted by the Wanderers, the principles of the 
rake-off is sound, it can be adopted freely by other similar bodies 
of men here and in all other places where there is trapshooting 
to any important degree. There thus is no reason why New York 
should not also have others so that all clubs, owners of 
grounds, would every Saturday have the honor of entertaining 
and dividing their just profits with so many whatnot august flitting 
clubs during the season, that, as a consequence of such outside 
solicitude for the best interests of the sport, bankruptcy and 
weariness would supervene. 
Second, the Wanderers into their membership have drawn shoot- 
ers who are members also of other clubs, so that in adding such 
members to a Wanderers' shoot to make a good shoot, they are 
thereby coincidentally subtracting from such other club shoots. 
Thus, in promoting the best interests of trapshooting on one spot, 
they may be decreasing such best interests on several other spots. 
If the membership of the W^nder?rf had b«e» confined to the 
unattached shooters, of wJiom there are enough in New York to 
carry out the original Wandering idea, then shooting about New 
York would have been greatly benefited by them. But to take 
members from one club to attend the ordinary Saturday shoot 
of some other club, and then to parade the act as "for the best 
interests of the sport of trapshooting in the vicinity of New- 
York" is to assume as a fact that which is debatable and 
unreasonable as an assumph'on. 
The same principles of fair dealing between man and 
man as individuals should govern when men are organized as a 
body. Because official responsibility may be vague and in- 
determinate in club matters, the principles of fair dealing need 
not thereby be clouded or lost. The business integrity of an or- 
ganization should always be a matter of personal solicitude to its 
members. 
A policy which needs so many excuses, so many fine- 
drawn distinctions, so many bolstering fallacies to sustain it, and 
which evokes so much opposition, would better be well con- 
sidered first before adopting it than to adopt it first and then do 
all the considering and excusing afterward. And it is not amiss 
for the members of a club to have some voice in the management 
of its affairs. 
If the principle of a rake-off was one which could be exercised 
by only one club, it would be a matter of trifling and passing 
importance; but as, if tolerated, it is a principle which has a 
universal application, it behooves all flubs to take a hostile stand 
against it. 
Ossiiungf Gun CItib. 
OssiNiNG, N. Y. — ^The two days' shoot and clam bake tbs 
Ossining Gun Club last week, Aug. 20 and 21, were well atteJided- 
and successful in every way. George Hunt made the bake, assisted 
by his veteran corps of helpers. Will See, Will Lawrence, Jr.. 
Jake Beberich and Thanny Tuttle. Capt. George Washburn was 
on hand to see that everything was put in right. There \vere to- 
have been three bakes — one at 1 o'clock, one at 4 and the last one 
at 6. One of the kettles sprung a leak, so the 4 o'clock issue was- 
abandoned. The stuff was cooked right, and George Hunt has 
yet to make his first failure with the kettle bake. 
The usual chronic kickers were on hand — some didn't get enougfj 
lobster, some didn't get enough clams, the clams weren't cooked 
enough, etc. Every one can't be suited, but tlie majority was, to 
the tune of ninety strong. \ 
The place for the chronic kicker is "home, sweet, home," where: 
usually the kick doesn't register over 0 by the Sergeant system. It 
at a clam bake you happen to get a clam which has not opened, 
don't "knock" the whole bake. Just throw down the clam and 
pick up another. If you think the targets are thrown a little hard, 
don't think the management is in collusion with the magautrap 
operator to "do" you because you are a back-liner. 
The prelirninary events on the programme started promptly at 
11 A. M, Sim Glover, the crack amateur of New York city, was 
high, breaking all 60 targets straight. Then came the clam bake 
handicap, in which twenty-three shooters shot at 100 targets eacli. 
A. Betti, of Mt. Kisco, at 16yds., was high with 91 per cent.; 
Keystone, 19yds., and C. G. Blandford, at 18yds., were second, with 
90 per cent. Blandford was high for the day with 147 breaks out 
of 160. 
The paid experts and trade representatives in attendance were 
Ed Banks, Leroy, Neaf Apgar, Tom Morfey, J. G. Ewing, S. M. 
Van Allen and Bob Schneider. 
Those who were fortunate enough to be present as spectators had 
a chance to see some high class work. The second day's shoot, 
Thursday, while not so well attended, was nevertheless interesting 
owing to the merchandise event. 
3 4 
15 15 
14 14 
15 14 
1.5 15 
14 13 
14 14 
15 15 
14 13 
13 14 
15 15 
12 12 
9 9 
.. 11 
12 15 
14 14 
10 13 
15 15 
11 13 
12 10 
.. 12 
.. 9 
6 7 
25 25 
22 22 
24 23 
23 22 
23 24 
22 23 
21 22 
21 21 
21 22 
22 21 
23 21 
18 22 
18 20 
22 22 
22 22 
22 20 
21 22 
19 21 
23 19 
23 18 
19 16 
22 20 
20 20 
8 9 
25 25 
21 21 
25 17 
18 15 
22 19 
21 21 
23 24 
24 24 
19 24 
20 20 
17 17 
16 18 
18 21 
25 22 
20 22 
16 17 
21 19 
19 19 
20 19 
17 16 
15 6 
22 20 
22 24 
Atlg. 20, Fitst Day. 
Events: 1 2 
Targets: 15 15 
N Apgar, 21 14 14 
S M Van Allen, 23-...V.. 14 12 
S Glover, 21 15 15 
Leroy, 21 15 15 
E Banks, 21. 15 15 
C G Blandford, IS 13 14 
Keystone, 19 13 15 
Condit, 16 14 14 
Rock, 16.. 10 14 
T W Morfey, 19 .4..,,.., 12 12 
Clark, 16 ......„.„^.... ........ 13 14 
1 C Barlow, 16 11 .. 
A Betti. 16 V 14 12 
G. Sutton. 16 11 12 
J G Ewing, 16 .. 9 
J T Skelly, 20 
G R Schneider, IS...,.,.; 
W Hassinger, 18........ 
H W Bissing, 16 
Mayser, 16 
W H Coleman, 16 , 
R Kromer, Jr 
Connor shot at 15 birds, broke 12, 
Aag. 21, Second Day. 
Events: 123456 7 89 10 
Targets: 15 20 15 20 15 20 15 20 15 25 
Apgar, 20 14 IS 15 17 13 20 15 19 14 20 
Van Allen, 20 14 17 14 19 12 19 14 17 14 24 
Glover, 20 11 16 11 18 14 20 14 19 15 21 
Leroy, 20... 13 19 14 18 14 20 13 19 14 21 
Morfey, 20 12 14 13 17 12 17 13 19 14 23 
G Sutton. 16 12 14 14 16 9 19 13 16 12 21 
Bedell, 19 13 15 .. .. 19 
Betti, 18 11 17 12 17 13 18 13 17 14 17 
Rock, 18 14 19 13 18 13 16 13 15 13 17 
Keystone 13 18 15 19 15 19 14 16 12 20 
Potter. 16 11 16 .. 11 .. ., 16 
Brandreth, 16 12 19 11 12 ,. .. 18 
Blandford, 19 14 16 12 21 
Ewing 8 12 11 13 .. 11 
Bissing, 16 15 11 15 lO 17 10 1,', 
Williams, 16 10 8 15 8 .. .. 18 
R Kromer, Jr, 16 16 9 12 
R Gorham. 16 , .. U .. 20 
Coleman, 16 .. 8 19 
J C Barlow, 16 ,. .. . . .. ig 
Event No. 10, merchandise, handicaps apply in event 10 only: 
The winners in this event in their order were: Van Allen; Morfey, 
Sutton, Glover, Blandford, Leroy, Keystone, Gorham, Apgar, 
Bedell, Coleman, Williams, Brandreth, Rock, Betti, Potter", Barlow 
Kromer, Jr. C. G. B. 
Mississippi and Lotiisiana Tfapshootefs' League. 
Natchez, Miss., Aug. 19. — Herewith please find notice of a busi- 
ness meeting which I believe will interest your readers. ' 
C. W. Walton, Sec'y. 
The Mississippi and Louisiana Trapshooters' League held a 
business meeting at Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 14, 1902. ' 
This league has been organized two years and has held eight 
very successful tournaments, the attendance at two of them aver- 
aging over one hundred shooters. 
Representatives of several gun clubs from outside 'the two 
States were in attendance and desirous of joining the league. 
It was decided to enlarge the field and increase the number of tour-^ 
naments. 
The name of the league was changed to "The Mississippi Val- 
ley Trapshooters and Game Protective Association." 
The membership now numbers nineteen gun clubs. 
The first tournament next season will be given at New Orleans 
about Mardi Gras time, to be followed by tournaments at other 
league cities. 
The league offiers are: H. T. Baker, President, and C. W 
Walton. Secretary; office at Natchez, Miss. 
All communications intended for FoKESt and Stream should 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co.. Nevy 
York, and not to apy |Qdivi4«fl connected with the paper. 
