132 
Ivlay 20 
THE I^IFLE. 
\ew Wimbledon Regulations. 
The regulations of the National Rifle Association of Great Britain 
for 1875 contain some clanses of special interest to our Creedmoor 
men. One rule provides ‘‘mats or ‘cork heus’ maj be used by 
competitors at the firing point, provided such mats or cork beds are 
laid flat, are of uniform thickness throughout and do not contain 
any arrangements to give a fixed rest for the elbow. * \S hat about 
the mats, doubled in some cases, under the elbow or bolstering up 
the head, such as we use here. Anotner rule would stop a good 
deal of the coaching of an aiming rifleman in use here. "No per- 
son except the register keeper shall be permitted to speak to a com- 
petitor after he haa taken his place at the firing point, or to afford 
him any information which may be calculated to assist or confirm 
his judgment as to firing.” Another rule would seem to work hard 
on some who will persist in using arms where the "simplicity of 
the breech action is so great as to admit of firing in either direction 
with equal readiness.” Any competitor discharging his rifle acci- 
dentally, either by his own want of care, or by reason of any defect 
in the rifle, will be liable to disqualification .” The defining of mili- 
tary rifles is very specific in all parts, and the muzzle-loading which 
so annoyed the Irishmen last year is completely shut out by the 
rule "W here any other government breech-loading rifles are used, 
the bullet is to be inserted in the cartridge case, not less than 2-3 
of the diameter of the bore, and no part of tbe charge is to be in- 
serted at the muzzle,” as in the dry cartridges of the Remington 
long range rifles the bullet can be pushed in barely 1-8 of an inch, 
they will be disqualified unless some change is made. Position is 
thrown to the winds in the rule which says “Competitors may, un- 
less it be otherwise specified, adopt at all distances any position.” 
The Boylan .lledal Wou. 
The officers' rifle club of the 12th Regt. offered a medal called the 
“Boylan.” to be shot for at 200 and 300 yards, 7 shots each dis- 
tance, 3 winnings to constitute full ownership. The first shoot took 
place in May last, Capt. II. B. Smith winning with a score of 35. 
Capt. C. S. Bums was -the next winner with a score of 42. Lieut. 
Col. GUdersleeve next came to th* front with 43 points and was fol 
lowed by Capt. Van Rensselaer with a total of 42 Lieut. Heizman 
was the fifth winner, with a total of 41. Last October LieuL Heiz- 
man again held second place with 38 points; Tuesday last, Lieut. 
Heizman won it for the third time, becoming final owner. 
Yds. Score. Total. 
Lieut. Heizman 200 2 4 0 0 3 3 3 — '5 1 oc 
300 4 5 0 0 4 3 5—21 | 
Capt. Healy 200 5 2 4 3 0 3 3 — 20 I .« 
500 0 4 3 0 2 2 4—15 I " 
Capt. Van Rensselaer 200 2 4 0 3 4 3 5— "21 i o- 
500 5 3 3 0 0 0 3—14 I " 
Capt. Fackner 20') 0 3 2 2 0 3 0 — 10 i ^ 
500 3 2 3 5 0 0 0-13 i" 
Capt. Bums 200 5 0 0 2 0 3 0—10 i 
500 0 0 4 0 2 2 4—12 f 
Adjutant Murphy 200 0 3 0 0 3 2 2 — 10 i ™ 
500 0 0 2 3 2 3 0-10 (■" 
A ent of the medal has been given in our columns . 
The Team ai Practice. 
On Wednesday, the 19th inst., the practice shooting was good, a 
fine day having favored the men. The scores made were as follows: 
A. V CAXPIELD, JB. — REBISGTOS SPOKTIXG RIFLE. 
soo yard.* 4 4433443334324 4— .52 1 
90 " . . 334344444 3 343 2 3 - 51 -154 
loou “ .' 434443432234434 - 51 ) 
3IAJOB U. FCLTOK —REMINGTON SPORTING BIFLK. 
800 yards 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 — 56 | 
900 " 442 3 4434434333 0—43 - 152 
1000 “ '. 3 3 3 3 4 0 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 4—18) 
GEN. T. S. I>AK1N— REMINGTON JipOBTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 4 43443 3 44333 3 4 2—51 ) 
»00 " 4 3 4 3 4 4 3.4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3-54 -149 
1000 “ 2 3 2 4 3 4 3 0 4 2 3 4 3 3 4-44 ) 
e. W. TALE — SHARPS SPORTtSG RIFLE. 
SOO yards 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 2—53 / 
900 " 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 2 4 0 3-^7^148 
1000 •• .. 3 0 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 4-48) 
OOL. U. A. OILDEBSLEEVE — SHARPS SPORTIRG RIFLE. 
300 yards 43404333434443 4-50 i 
900 “ 3 434333444 3 3 44 0— 19 >142 
1000 “ 0 4 3 0 3 3 4 0 4 4 3 4 4 4 3—43 ) 
B. C. COLERAX — BERISGTON SPOBTIKO BIPI.E. 
800 yards 3 4 3 3 0 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4-52 ) 
900 " 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3— 51 >141 
1000 “ 2 0 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 0 0 4-38 ) 
CAPT. L. C. BRUCE — SHARPS SPORTtSG RIFLE. 
800 yards 2 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4—30 1 
900 " 3 3334344434343 3—51 V139 
lUOO “ 2 0333330344004 3-3S ) 
L. R. BALLARD — SHARPS SPORTISG BIPLB. 
800 yards 4 4403244333333 3—46 1 
900 " 3 0 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 0 2 4 4 3—42 >r28 
lUOO “ 4 2 434433 140230 0—40 ) 
On Saturday the conditions were more difficnlt as regards wind 
and light, a rain storm bursting np during the ahooting. The scores 
made at this practice were: 
COL. JOHS BODISE — BERISGTO.S SPOBTIXG RIFLE. 
800 yards 3 4434334434433 4—53 ) 
900 " 3 4443333433443 3—51 >154 
1000 “ 3 2443344444403 4—50 ) 
RA40B H. FULTOX — RERIXGTOX SPORTING RIFLE. 
SOO yards 4444444444 3 444 :l-58 1 
«>J " 3 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4—54 >153 
1000 “ 3 333434 2 023 2 32 4—41 ) 
G. W. TALE — SHARPS SBORTEtG RIFLE. 
900 yards 3 3334 3 33334443 4—50 ) 
■900 “ 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 :I— 50 >151 
1000 “ 4 43344330 3 4444 4—51 ) 
“"col. H. a. OILDEBSLEXTE— sharps SPOBTIXG RIFLE. 
900 yards 44343 3 44433334 3—52 ) 
900 " 3 34 3 4343233 3 44 4—50 >149 
1000 " 0 4433442333433 4-^7 ) 
R. C. COLEMAN — REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
900 yards 3 4 00304 44 4 4343 4—44 I 
900 " ;t 3 0 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 4— Pi >132 
1000 “ 0 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 0 2 0-42 ) 
A. V. CANFIELD, JR. — RERI.NGTON SPOF.TING RIFLE. 
800 yards 3 0 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 2 3 4—48 I 
900 " 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 4 4 2 3—16 125 
1000 “ 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 4 3 4 4 0 3 2 3—31 | 
GEX. T. S. DAKIN — RERINGTON SPORTING RIFLE . 
901 yards 0 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 1 4 3 4 3 4 — 19 1 
900 “ 0 3 3 2 4 0 3 3 3 3 4 3 4 4 3—42 ,123 
lOOO “ 3 4 3 3 0 3 3 0 0 4 0 0 3 3 4—33) 
L. R. P.ALLAKD— SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
900 yards 4 0 3 3 3 2 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 2 3—45 1 
900 " 0 3 3 4 4 4 3 0 4 4 4 3 3 2 3—44 -117 
1000 “ 3 2 0 3 0 0 4 3 3 4 3 U U 3 0-28 ) 
L. C. BRUCE- .SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
900 yards O 2 0 0 2 :' 3 3 4 3 0 3 3 3 .3— :52 I 
9110 ■ “ II 3 I 4 3 3 3 :j 3 0 4 4 0 o 4—41 -115 
1000 ^ 3 4 3 2 3 2 3 :j 4 2 3 2 3 2 3—42 ) 
The practice of the Team on .Monday last showed the best aver- 
ages yet attained, all of tne riflemen being above tbeir nsiial records, 
while in one or two instances the shooting \va.s phenomenal . Col. 
Gildersleeve at 80J yards made a rnn of 14 consecutive bulls' eyes^ 
opening his score with a center. This is the best score at that 
range yet reached at Creedmoor, and it could not be surpassed any- 
where by anything short of perfection. His total score of 160 beat 
even his International record, while Mr. Vale in actual shooting did 
the same, though a bull's eye on tbe wrong target at l.OOU yards was 
a technical miss, and breught him dow n to 159 and record place. 
The scores made were: 
COLONEL H. A. GILDERSLEEVE— SHARPS SHOOTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 3 4444444444444 4—59 I 
900 " 3 2 4 4 3 0 4 4 0 3 4 3 4 4 3— 45 >160 
1.000 “ 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 4— 56 ) 
G. W. TALE— SUAH1>8 SHOOTING RIFLE. 
80il vards 4 4 4 4 2 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4— .55 1 
900'“ 3 34 3 3443344444 3—5:1 - 159 
1.000 “ 3 3 3043444 3 4444 4—51 ) 
A. V. CANFIELD, JR.— REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 4444444444 2 344 4—57 1 
900 2 2334344444 '2 44 3-50 >155 
1.000 “ 3 334 3 44443 2 430 4—48 ) 
GENERAL T. S. DAKIN— 8H.ARPS SPORTI.NG RIFLE. 
800 yards 4 4344344443443 3—55 I 
900 3443444434 2 442 3-52 5146 
1.000 “ 3 3 r 4 2 4 r 3 4 3 3 3 4 0 3— 39) 
L. C. BRUCE — SHARPS SPOUTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 243433343444433*. 51 1 
9UI " 4 33 2 2344434334 2—49 5143 
1.000 •• 3 3 323033343244 :i— 4:1 ) 
The Team Personuel. 
JOHN BODIXE. 
Col. John Bodiue one of tbe oldest shots on the rsn;;e. and the 
most experienced one on the team. He was counted a good shot 
thirty years ago in the style of shooting then in voime. He waa 
bom in Ulster connty, New York, about forty nine years ago, and is 
descended from the Hognenot reftigees w ho settled in the valley of 
the Walkill. He w as raised on a farm as a farmer, and followed 
that business np to 18^, w hen he became attached to the Erie Rail* 
road corporation, remaining in their employ two years. He then 
entered tbe Xewbnrgh bank as recei>ing and paying teller. He en- 
tered again the transportation bnsiness, and for some years past 
he has been w idely known and identified with the steamboating and 
barging trade of tbe Hudson river. At present he controls a line of 
bargee between New* York City and Highlands, Ulster county, and 
does a commission bn^iuess in merchandise and farmers produce. 
While yet on the farm he became attached to tbe local militia, and 
held the rank of colonel in tbe 93d Regiment, Eighth Brigade. N. G. 
S. N. Y. He haa a perfect armory of weapons, both for target and 
sporting purposes; for besides being a marksman, be is a field 
sportsman of no mean ability. He has the heav>' small bore tele- 
scope sight, set trigger monstrosities for tbe 40 rod shooting, which 
has not yet entirely disappeared. He has fired w*ith each of tbe 
new* arms as they have appeared, keeping pace with the change 
from muzzle to breefih-loader; and his suggestions on sights, am* 
mnnitioD, etc., have always commanded respectful attention. He is 
a scientific shot, and whie possessing a fine physical organization 
for shooting, he has not retied upon tact, but studied out with care 
tbe why and wherefore of his success, so that under varying condi- 
tions he should bea).^ to modify his aim to ensure success in each 
case. 
^^lien Creedmoor opened, he came down among the new begin- 
ners, and had things for a time all bis own w’ay. The beginners, as 
pretty much all were then, looked on and held their peace against 
the tall, wiry, silent stranger, w ho handled bis weapon in an easy 
sort of a way, as though shooting was a bom instinct with him. 
They watched his manner of doing, asked advice, which be was al- 
ways ready to give, but never to proffer, and found him a trae rifle- 
man, animated by a sportsmanlike spirit. During 1873, he fired in 
several matches. In tbe opening match. 2J0 yards, military rifle, he 
was 13th man with a score of 12 in a possible 20. In the matches 
for the Ist Amateur Rifle club badge, 500 yards, any rifle, 7 ronnds, 
he held 1st place in the first and second matches with scores of 25 
and 27 in possible 28’s. In the ih'.rd match be was 10th man 21 
points; in the fourth, 3d with 24 points. The match was closed op 
in one day in May, 1874, to make way for long range practice. CoL 
B. again held 3d place with 25, and on the repetition of the match 
the same day, he took 1st place and won it finally by a perfect score 
38 in a possible 28. In the fall meeting of 1873, Col. Bodine did 
nothing special, and took no prizes. In tbe Turf, Field and Farm 
matches, 200 yards, any rifle, be held 1st place with 17 points in pos- 
sible 20; 22d man with 13 points, 21st man with 13 points; 18th place 
with 14 points; 24th man with 13 points; 31 man with 16 points 
In tbe Amatenr Badge match at long range, 5 shots each at 800, 900 
and 1,0^0 yards, be held 2d place with 44 points in tbe possible 69; 
1 st place with 45; 3d place with 46: 4th place with 39; 4th place 
with 47, the match being finally won by ^fr. L. L. Hepburn. In the 
spring meeting of I874.be won the diamond badge with a score of 
69 in a possible 84. In the All-Comers match, in the fall meeting of 
1874, he held 7th place with 46 in a possible 56. In the Bennett 
match he made a run of 152, holding 5th place, at 800 yards, scoring 
59 points. When the choice for the American Team of last year 
was to be made. Col. B. found it impossible to take part in the pre- 
liminary teat, but such was the confidence in his ability that he was 
chosen to a place on the team w itbout soch practice. In the match 
be was 8d man on the Am'^rican side, making a score of 158. This 
season he has practiced but little, but shows that he is still able to 
hold his own. In appearance he is tall, straight as an Indian, with 
clean shaven face, except a pair of '*matton-cliops.'' 
CAI»T. L. C. BiiUUE. 
Leslie Coombs Bruce is one of those added to the team of 1874 by 
the competitions of 1875, and he w ill go abroad though probaoly not 
to shoot iu tbe Irish match. He was bom in Lexingtop. Ey., in tbe 
famons bine grass region, famed for its fiue horses, handsome 
women and noble men, and Captain Brace does not belie the repn- 
tation of his birth place. He was boro March 25, 1849, his father 
being Colonel S. D. Bruce, known tbe w orld over as an authority 
on turf matters, and as senior editor of the Turj\ Fitld ami Farm. 
The family is a representative one. a grandfather of our Captain 
being the Leslie Coombs, Senator and at one time Governor of Che 
State. John Morgan, a maternal uncle, was the leader of Morgan's 
scouts, know n in tbe whole southwest as skilled and fearless Con- 
federate riders. The Bruce family proper, thoogh living on the bor- 
der land of the Confederacy, and seeing war in its liveliest aspect at 
their verj' doors, remained firm in their allegiance to the Union 
Young Lieslie, after passing through the Kentucky university at 
Le.xingron, went into a wholesale grocery near his home, w'here he 
remained four years, leaving it and coming to New York in 1871; 
entering the oflice of Tfu Turf, Fteid and Fartn as business mana- 
ger; showing such talent in that|po«itiou as to become, in 1873. a 
proprietor in that journal, which he still is. His shooting experi- 
ence dates from his residence in Kentucky, where he was a mem- 
ber of tbe Lexington chasseur^, an independent company under the 
8tate Guard, famed for its drills and its shoots. It was commanded 
by his father. Col. S. D. Bruce, and it was armed with the old 
minie rifle, with which, at 200 yards, some good shooting was doue; 
tbe yonng Bruce at one coutest carrying of the honors and the silver 
canteen. On coming to the City of New York he became con- 
nected with the 79th Highlanders regiment, being elected captain, 
but for w hich post he has not yet qualified. He has taken consid- 
erable interest in Creedmoor and the work done there; ha* offered 
a medal on bis owm behalf to the 79ih Regt.; also gave the 7i/^. 
Field and Farm badge, the first indepeadent general badge offered 
on the rauge, has subscribed liberally to the different funds and in 
the Amateur Ride club has held post on its execntive committee. 
His Creedmoor record has been made in almost every match, but 
he has not been very successfnl as a prize taker. He has, however, 
shot extensively, lending his presence at almost every competition . 
In the Press match of la73. at 400 and 500 yards he made 27 in a pos- 
sible 40. taking a bronze medal as 3d prize. In 1874 at 500 yards be 
made 18 in a possible 28. taking a silver modal as Uh man. The 
only other occasion in which be approached the list of winners was 
in tbe 8th Turf, Field and Farm match in w hich he made in in a 
possible 30 at 200 yards standing 3d man. In the Bennett match 
he w’as again left provokingly on the very threshold of the prize 
list, being .35th man in a contest for which 34 prizes ha^ been of- 
fered. In fact. If we mistake not. he had even received a prize when 
upon a revision of the list an error was di«covered and a refunding 
was necessary. At the opening of the present season ne deter- 
mined to win for himself a place on the American team and secur- 
ing a fine Sharps rifle he went hard to w’ork, and in the four test 
shoots made scores of 122. 115. 12S and 118, gaining a 9th place or 
last man on the team. At the practices since, he has made totals of 
156. 137. 136, 115 and 143, or an average of 130. In appearance he is 
finely built, square-shouldered and tsU; rather too modest in habit 
for his own benefit at all times, but uuiversally liked for his for- 
bearance and disposition to assist in anyway. 
Rifle Matters iu California. 
California is taking a lively interest in the sport of rifle-shootiog, 
and beems to he going to work in a very straightforward way to put' 
tbe matter on a permanent basis. On the 23d alt., a meeting of 
organization was held and an association under the name of Tbe 
Rifle Association of California" was established, the election of 
ofllcert resulting in the choice of H. G. Slaw', President; Col. J. 
McCrumb, Vice-President; Major General Thompson, Treasurer; 
M.qor D. Wilder, Secretary. It was resolved to eater into affilia- 
tion with the National Rifle Association. The question of a range 
was considered and a committee of seven consisting of Dr. £. H. 
Pardee, Corporal Nash, Mr. LeBreton, Sheldon I. Kellogg Jr., (an 
old Creedmoorite) Adjutant Tannian, Col.fcShaw and Col. McCrumb, 
were appointed to select a site for a range. Tbe committee went to 
work visiting different places, on different sides of the bay of .Sau 
Francisco. They desire to make the flrsi selection with such care 
that no change will be thereafter neeessary. 
The Sumner Guard with whom the 13th Regt. N. Y. boys are to 
contest in June, are patting in plenty of practice and doing some 
good scoring. At a practice match at their range on the 2d inst., 
the weapon Sharps military rifle, the score stood: 
3(X) Yards. 500 Yards. 
Private D Watson 3 4 4 4 3—18 3 4 2 4 3— 16. .34 
Corp. S. Murray 3 3 3 3 3—15 3 4 4 2 4-16.. 31 
Capt. Burns 3 4 3 3 3—16 3 2 3 4 3—15. 31 
Coip. Nash 3 4 3 3 3-1^ 2 4 4 3 2— 15. .31 
Private Searle 3 3 4 3 4 — 17 4 2 2 3 3 — 14.. 31 
Private Burke 3 3 3 8 2—14 3 4 2 2 4— 15. .29 
Private J. Steed 3 0 4 3 2—12 3 4 4 2 3— 16. .28 
Private Murphy 0 3303-9 4344 2—17 26 
Sergt. McGowan 0 3 3 3 2—11 4 3 3 3 2— 15.. 26 
Sergt. Strong 3 3 0 2 3—11 3 3 2 4 3— 15.. 38 
Sergt. Wilson 3 0 4 0 3—10 2 3 3 4 3— 15.. 25 
Private Robertson 3 4 0 3 4 — 14 4 0 3 4 0—11.. 25 
Sergt. Post 2 2 3 3 3^-13 2 2 2 3 2— 11.. 24 
Sergt. Murray 0 2 2 0 3— 7 3 3 3 4 3— 16.. 23 
Private Preble 3 3 0 3 :3— 12 0 3 3 2 2— 10. .22 
PrivateDore 3 3 2 3 2-13 0 0 3 3 3— 9. .22 
Corp. Babtis 2 3 2 3 0—10 2 2 2 3 2— 11. .21 
Corporal Nash, whose name appears above, has made a challenge 
to his fellow-members in the National Guard. He will shoot a 
striog at 200 and 500 yards with any other National Guardsman, 
both challenger and accepter to be assisted by five men who have 
been reemited into the ranks by him personally. As Mr. Nash has 
been the recruiter io the case of many of the marksmen w hose 
scores are given above.it will be seen that his challenge will be a 
difficult one to gain. 
V 
