Feb. 4, 1905] FOREST AND STREAM. 107 
WESTERN TRAP. 
Cincinnati Gun Club. 
The attendance cn Jan. 2S was very good, sixteen members 
taking part in the cash prize shoot. Hesser was high gun with 
47. Don Minto second with 46. The day was cold, with quite a 
little wind, and not an ideal one for the sport, nor for high 
scores. Several team matches were shot and the time until dark 
so fvilly taken up that few practice events were run off. Mr. 
Sweeney, of the Sportsman, St. Louis, was a visitor at the 
^grounds. The last shoot in the cash prize series takes place on 
iFeb. 4, and on Feb. 10, the first in the new prize series will be 
shot. The day's scores: 
Cash prize shoot, 50 targets: 
Targets: 15 15 20 targets: 15 15 20 
Hesser, 16 15 15 17—47 Pfieffer, 17 12 9 14—35 
.Don Minto, 16 15 14 17—46 Williams, 18 13 8 14—34 
Roll, 19 12 13 18—43 Maynard, 19 9 12 12—33 
Medico, 19 11 14 16—41 Boeh, 16 10 10 12—32 
Peters, 17 13 10 17—40 Falk, 17 11 8 11—30 
Herman, 18 12 12 15—39 Pohlar, IS 10 8 11—29 
Gambell, 16 12 10 16—38 Roanoke, 19 9 7 6—22 
Harig, 19 11 10 14—35 Gering, 16 6 6 8—20 
Team matches: 
No. 1, 25 targets: Medico 20, Williams 21, Hester 19; total 60. 
Gambell 21, Herman 19, Peters 19; total 59. 
No. 2, 25 targets: Medico 20, Hesser 23, Williams 21; total 64. 
Gambell 23, Peters 20, Herman 15; total 58. 
No. 3, 50 targets: Gambell 44, Don Minto 44; total 88. Hesser 
42, Peters 42; total 84. 
Cincinnati Gon Clob Annual Dinner. 
The club's annual dinner was held on the evening of Jan. 26, at 
the Stag Cafe, and Mine Host Joe Coyle prepared a feast which 
was thoroughly enjoyed, from oysters to black coffee, by all present. 
The committee having charge of the affair — Messrs. H. M. 
Norris, Chairman; Col. R. H. West and Dr. A. B. Heyl— pro- 
\ided a musical and intellectual feast not a whit behind the solid 
viands served at the table, in point of excellence. 
The tables, arranged in the shape of a rectangle, minus one 
end, were handsomely decorated. Many mounted specimens of 
game and other birds and several shotguns and rifles were a part 
of the decorative scheme, and served to remind those present that 
the gathering was one of sportsmen. 
President R. PI. West presided, and with him were the other 
members of the committee. There was a large attendance of mem- 
bers and guests, and those present remarked, with regret, the 
absence, caused by ill health, of two prominent and active mem- 
bers. Judge Thos. A. Logan, and John B. Mosby. 
Col. West proposed a toast to the two absent members, referring 
to them and their services to the club in a few pleasant words. 
The toast was drunk standing. 
Mr. Norris, the chairman, then introduced Col. Robt. H. West 
as toastmaster of the evening, in a speech full of humorous al- 
lusions, which were appreciated by all. As was to be expected, 
Col. West's speech of acceptance was witty from beginning to 
end. Among other things, he said: "This is an occasion which 
appeals to all of us. There are very few real sportsmen in the 
Cincinnati Gun Club. I can count them on my fingers, beginning 
with myself and then my friend Norris. The club has very few- 
good shots. Judge Logan, Norris and myself, with one or two 
others, have kept the club alive. Recognizing the ability of Mr. 
-Norris, the club elected him chairman of this committee, but 
I give you my word of honor, gentlemen, that I have done all 
the work, sent invitations and seen every one personally." Some 
one at the table asked if he had collected the money. "No; my 
friend Norris attended to that, and informs me that he has done 
better than he expected. Last year he got enough to pay for his 
shooting all summer." 
The committee provided an excellent entertainment, the pro- 
gramme consisting of instrumental and vocal music, an exhibition 
of black art by Mr. G. W. Stock, stories and speeches by mem- 
bers. The quartette consisted of Messrs. Wm. P. Snechter, W. H. 
Geiger, W. H. Behlendorf and Henry L. Korb. Their selections 
were all good, and they were generous in the matter of encores. 
Mr. J. W. Roberts presided at the piano as accompanist. 
Mr. J. E. Worth (Maynard) was selected to speak on the sub- 
ject "Does Practice at the Traps Help in Field Shooting?" and 
Col. West introduced him as the one best fitted by experience 
to deal with the question. Mr. Maynard said in part that he had 
spent the best part of fifty-five years in field sports, and had 
devoted much time to trapshooting since the clay pigeon was in- 
vented by George Ligowsky, and he felt that this practice had 
made him a better field shot. He considered ignorance and selfish- 
ness the twill relics of barbarism, and believes they are eliminated 
from the makeup of members who adhere strictly to the rules of 
their gun club. 
Those who shoot infrequently in the field are apt to brag if 
they secure the most game, and shoot only for the size of the 
bag. This spirit is not seen at the gun club meets. Members 
who live up to the spirit and letter of the club rules are made 
better men and better citizens, and act more kindly to their 
fellow members. In regard to the artificial part, of trapshooting 
the target starts fast and slows up, while the birds start quickly 
and fly with accelerating speed, but as the best shots all shoot 
quickly, this does not count. New members are apt to be care- 
less in handling their guns, and cause other members of the 
squad they shoot in to feel nervous and drop in their average. 
This is tuiintentional, and a short while at the traps teaches them 
how- to handle their guns properly, renders them cool and mind- 
ful of their companions' rights and safety, whether in the field 
or at the traps. The best part of the club is the sociability. 
When you visit the grounds you meet Col. West and other good 
shots, and enjoy the meeting. 
Mr. Milt. Lindsley spoke on the question "Probability of the 
16-gauge Becoming the Standard at the Trap.". Mr. Lindsley 
stated that, personally, he did not believe it ever would, and 
in a talk of some length gave his reasons for his be- 
lief, the principal one being the small killing circle of 
the 16-gaiige. He said that the killing circle of the 16- 
gauge at 40 yards is 26 inches, of the 12-gauge, 30 inches. The 
maximum charge for the 16 is 1 ounce of shot; the medium load 
for the 12-gauge is 1% ounces, and the latter will drive that 
charge with less bursting strain than the 16-gauge will drive the 
1 ounce. 
In introducing Dr. A. B. Heyl, the next speaker. Col. West 
said that he was the best-known man of the- Cincy Gun Club, 
by reason of his experiences and his researches along all lines 
of thought. The story he tells to-night he has told and retold 
so often that every one is tired of hearing it. Dr. Heyl, when 
he got a chance to speak, said that he would give up the story 
. referred to by Jhc chairman, and in its place tell an anecdote of 
a colored preacher in Alabama. 
Mr. Arthur Gambell spoke as follows on the subject "Various 
Methods of Throwing Targets" : 
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: As I have been requested to 
say my little piece this evening, and as I never wait for a second 
invitation, I will proceed to give those present a few minutes of 
torture. Owing to my physical condition, it was considered a 
much too dangerous undertaking to allow me to kiss the blarney 
stone. Consequently I am an Irishman without the 'gift of gab.' 
However, as St. Patrick always takes care of his sons in some 
manner, to punish me for' my lack of wit and ready tongue, he 
has given me what rightfully belongs to our German friends, 'an 
unquenchable thirst,' with apologies to the present board. So, as 
a man who is always thirsty is rarely a good orator, I hope you 
^\ill pardon any inaccuracies of speech or address. The various 
manners of throwing targets are quite numerous, and as minor 
details are not necessary on this occasion, we will 'cut them 
otit,' and just give a general description of modern methods. As 
to traps, we have several similar to the expert, used entirely by 
our club; then we have the magazine trap and a large assortment 
v'hich are similar to the Legget trap— a combination of the expert 
and magazine. These traps all differ in their flights and angles, 
so that one who is in the habit of shooting over one kind is at 
a temporary disadvantage when he is compelled to shoot over 
another. The methods of throwing targets from these traps are as 
numerous as clubs, each having their own ideas. Some have sev- 
eral and use any or all of them in one afternoon. Some clubs 
use men, some boys, some children, some use motors, while 
some have their members take turns at trapping, as well as all 
other work connected with shooting. Sometimes the targets are 
tiirown high, sometimes low, sometimes ■ fast and sometimes 
slow; sometimes hard and sometimes easy; and where you find 
these conditions existing, it is a safe bet that sometimes they 
won't go at all. 'Breaking away,' I might say, my first year's 
experience as superintendent of our club w-ould, I am sure, have 
driven any one else to the tall timber, if not over the white 
bridge. I was pleaded with and ordered by Tom, Dick and 
Harry to throw targets this way, that way and the other way; 
to pull promptly, slowly or not pull at all ; in fact, anything to 
get the boys 'up in the air'; then when we go away from home 
and meet these conditions we can remain on 'Mother Earth.' We 
had squads which were as well mixed as one of Joe Coyle's cock- 
tails: some in the same squad would shoot double, some single, 
others would shoot about three targets and drop out, and some 
v.ould bring out one hundred shells and shoot them all up before 
leaving the firing line. So to bring order out of chaos and save 
my family the trouble of caring for s crazy man, I took a tape 
line and monkey wrench, set the traps a certain height and dis- 
tance. The>- are the same way to-day, weather only changing the 
conditions. A great many clubs throw their targets too hard: 
others much too easy. Either one is a great mistake, as in one 
instance the menibers fail to make a creditable score, and in the 
other they break 'em all— at home, When they go away from home 
they are almost ashamed to come back, as from a 95 per center 
they have tumbled to about 60, and, to vtse a slang phrase, 'that 
won't get you anything.' So in both cases they simply quit. 
The targets at our club are throw-n to give the members good 
practice and general satisfaction, and if you can break targets at the 
Cincinnati Gun Club grounds, you can hold your own anywhere. 
A letter received last week from a prominent member of. the 
Cleveland Club, recognized as one of the foremost in the country, 
stated that in 1904 they threw 92,692 targets. The Cincinnati Club 
threw 167,000 in 1899; in 1900, 156,000; in 1901, 246,000; in 1902, 
299,000; in 1903, 297,000; in 1904, 322,000— and we will raise that 
some in 1905. 
"In conclusion, I wish to ^ay — and I want all present to in- 
forin others, a kind of endless chain .aft'air — that in the spring there 
will be installed a set of expert traps, which will give an unlimited 
variety of shooting to the members. Five traps will be set level 
with the ground, five yards apart, and on a straight line, w'ith a 
high blind or backstoxJ. The many styles of shooting from these 
traps are too numerous to remark on just now, but what will 
appeal most to our members is that it will give assured benefit 
for field work." 
Other speakers were Mr. F. C. Tuttle, who gave his views on 
the subject "Desirable Modifications of the Existing Game 
Laws"; Mr. Joe Coyle and Mr. Jas. O'Dowd. A song by the 
quartette concluded the entertainment. 
Mr. Wuest moved that a vote of thanks be extended to the com- 
mittee by the members and guests, and this was passed imanimously. 
The following sat at tables: R. IT. \\'est, H. 'M. Norris, J. C. 
Hobart, Robert Wuest, Joe Coyle, M. F.. Lindsley, F. C. Tuttle, 
W. E. Keplinger, Frank See, Henry L. Korb, H. F. Jergens, Jos. 
E. Block, John W. Coleman, Rudolph Tietig, A. K. Andrews, 
F. C. Regan, John N. Roberts, Wm. P. Tuechter, Walter H. 
Geier, Gus Boeh, H. Osterfelt, Chas. Leger, R.' T. Sohngen, C. 
A. Zimmerman, J. A. Schmidt, Jas. C. Norris, Arthur Gambell, 
Frank Osterfelt, J. L. Strauss, H. Gosney, Ad. R. Roll, D. 
H. Eaton, IT. Behlendorf, Jr., Charles Menninger, Jr., 
Conrad Klein, PI. Bumiller, Frank L. Haft'ner, J. E. Devine, W. 
R. Randall, Dr. A. B.- Heyl, R! C. Anderson, A. C. Dick, Chas. 
P. Brown, H. C. Hoefinghoft', J. E. Worth, H. Van Ness, Chas. 
E. Volk, Dr. J. W. Dennis, Dr. D. G. Stafford, Dan Pohlar, Wm. 
A. Miller, Louis Pfieffer, H. S. Rosenthal, P. N. Siefert, Carroll 
Brookfield 
Rohrer's Island Gon Glob, Dayton, O. 
The annual meeting and banquet of the Rohrer's Island Gun 
Club, Dayton, O., was held at the Phillips Plouse, on Jan. 26, and 
was attended by a majority of the members. After the business 
meeting the balance of the evening was devoted to having a 
good time. 
The officers elected were as follows: President, Gus A. Ilodapp; 
Vice-President, W. C. Oldt; Secretary, Will E. Kette; Assistant 
Secretary, M. K. Pluft'man; Treasurer,- C. F. Miller; Captain, 
Geo. C. Rohrer; Trustees: M. K. Huffman, Charles Smyth, 
Harrj' Oswald, Phil Hanauer, Horace Lockwood. 
After the business meeting an adjournment was taken to the 
d.-'ning room, vvhere the banquet was spread. 
William F. Breidenbach acted as toastmaster, and was a de- 
cided success in the position. He made very many witty re- 
marks and caused many a hearty laugh. There were no , set 
speeches, the responses being impromptu, those called on being 
taken by surprise in some cases. Among the speakers were John 
Schaerf, Charlie Miller, Phil Hanauer, Charlie Barr, Al Fiorini, 
Harry Oswald, M. Schwind, W. H. Stark and John Theobald. 
Messrs. Ralph Trimble and C. O. Le Compte were present as 
guests of honor, and made happy responses when called upon. 
A pleasant feature of the affair was the presentation to John 
Schaerf — Honest John, his friends call him — of a handsome medal 
a yard long. It was of leather. On it was burned the inscrip- 
tion, "For regular attendance," and this means a good deal, for 
John was present at every meeting during the year. In his re- 
sponse to the presentation speech of Toastmaster Breidenbach, 
John announced that he w-ould wear it every day in the- year, with 
his mind at rest, knowing that it coiild not be taken from him in 
one of the weekly shoots of the club, and that he should prize 
it as highly as though it were made of gold. ■ 
The committee consisted of Charlie Miller, Phil Hanauer and 
Secretary Will E. Kette, and they deserve great credit for the 
success of the club's first banquet. 
In Other Places. 
There w-as a very interesting all-day shooting tournament held at 
A\'aterloo, Ind., on Thursday last. 
The Alpena, Mich, trapshots do not fail to get busy, and burn 
some powder during January. Those preparing for the annual 
banquet are C. W. Edwards, A, W. Brown, D. D. Planover, R. 
H. Rayburn, F. N. Potter, H. L. Brood, R. H. Collins, John 
Beck, F.- B. Johnston, I. R. ^ileyers, Chas. Dust,- Geo. Bnrston, 
