: 88 
June 19 
Veracity of Reports, etc — Diltmar’s Powder. 
SrEiNGnuLD. Ma^s., Jane 15. 
Editor Rod AN'D Gr>*: 
Why IP it not possible that new spapers in reponinc matters of 
fact cannot approximate at least to the truth? Especia ly onght 
papers published for the sporting fraternity to do this, as ftt^nres in 
many matters are of vast importance and irreat interest. If a horse 
trots in 2.25 and is reported 2.28. it is a fraud. If a gnn shoots to 
kill at 30 yards, and the person making the report makes it 50 to 
please the owner or to make a pleasant statement, it is a fraud on 
the readers of the report. I am ‘‘moved'’ to these remarki in 
view of the reports of some of your contemporaries' colnmns of the 
Watertown bench show. The show was a good one, exceptionally 
80 , when we con-^ider ihe remoteness of the place and its distance 
from the seaboard and New England; bat when so-called reliable 
jonmals slate it to be “the largest show of the kind ever held in 
this country, “ and one deliberately reports that over “two hundred 
dogs were exhibited.” this becomes a fraud on interested readers, 
because it ia not tme. 
Tiie whole number of entries at Watertown was fifty-seven. The 
whole number of entries at Springfield in April last was one hundred 
and sixty-seven, and of these one hundred and forty-six were field 
dogs and all dogs entered were exhihiied, \^hy not report each 
“cause aright to the unsatisfied?'’ 
I suggest a little more care before encomiums become too loud 
and too freqaent iu favor of the “Dittniar powder." Itisqnesr 
5tuff. and seems to operalt at different times and in different guns 
*eniirely unlike. I havt known of two excellent gun.* being ripped 
■“mosi untimely" from breech to muzzle by drachms of it, and 
iu one casa it is almost a miracle that the holder of the gnn was not 
killed. 1 have tried it a little and purposed to do so more until I 
'was made aware of the above facts, and now ‘I'll nontofit *' 
♦Give me th« old-fashioned bellowing explosion with its cloud of 
>'moke and — safety — rather than the soft, seductive snap and lace- 
like smoke of tnis bland anomaly with its unchained celerity of 
escapa that laughs at the restricted space of mnzzlee and breaks 
the interlacing bars of onr Damascus barrels with a jnmp that 
hardly leaves a recoil, bnt snggesis — everything. Lex. 
From the leaving of the ‘Send off" steamboat the who’.i- and sole 
object of thia band of riflemen should he to make a good record in 
the international match Their experimentt have been tried hero. 
There mast be no pre'-siof bnsineaa engagemen*^«, and all frivolity 
should and roust be laid aside and make wav for victory. That 
achieved, a little vexation may be tolerated. 
The table runs ns fellows: 
I ! I M 
Ballard. 
Bmcc. 
Coleman. 
Canfield. 
I MS 
I I 
I 
I 
O X X ^ t- 
^ 2 H I 
Gildersleeve. S 
Yale. 
rrrrrr^ — — 
Bodine. 
= j r g 5 S ; ^ 
I E s I \ \ i 
I I I - I I 
*2 — 
X 1 ^ 
THE niFLE. 
— « 
[rifle costixued from page 1.] 
B 3 ' cable of the 14lh of June, vre are informed of the 
safe arrival of the Team at Cork on that day. The 
weather had been remarkablj' fine, and all were well. 
They were met on landing by a delegation from Dublin 
who began the hospitali'ies on tlie spot with a dinner 
at which Major Leech gave them welcome, and Col. 
Gildersleeve replied. The iieopla turned out to see 
them, and the part}’ left for Dublin ne.vt day, 
where they were to be gucs'sof the Lord .Mayor during 
their stay, and on their arrival in that city they wil 
meet with a perfect ovation from the •nthusiastic and 
warm-hearted sons of the Green Isle. A band of music, 
a procession and a dinner awaited them, while a levee 
and han 1-shakings immeasurable were in < rder. If 
they can stand Irish hospitality they must be lieroes in- 
deed. 
THE lRiru*TEAM. 
Tiie corrected list of tbe Irish Team at the last com- 
p--tilion under date .Tune 10, is thus given by an Ameri- 
can Press Association dispatch: The selection of mem- 
bers to compose the Irish Ritle Team, to contend with 
the .Ciiurican riflemen for the International Champion- 
ship, was made yesterday, when the final competition 
for places look place. 
The following are the names of the team in the order 
of competition scores: James Wilson, store 782; Ful- 
ton, Trio; McKenna, T-Tfl; .1. B. Hamilton, T-fS; .1. K. 
Milner. T-ltJ; J. Pollock, T:>S; Young, 736; John Rigby, 
7’29; W.iterliousc, 7'27: Edward Johuson, 715; AValkin- 
ton. 711, and lion. Mr. Plunkett, a member of Parlia- 
ment. 705. 
The .Iiiierican Team. 
Now that the shootinj of the American team on their own ranee 
at Cruedmoor is owr, the progress to the preparations for the match 
has reached a stage when it is proper to take a bearing and sec ex- 
actly how the chances stand. Sufficient data have been placed upon 
record by the men who are to compose the American team daring 
theie practice of the past few weeks, to enable some forecast to be 
taken of the coming contest, at their final shoot on Wedneeday 
the‘2dinst. The team shot an irregnlar score, using tbe 800, 1000 
and 110 » yards ranges, on the new target, more as a private practice 
in preparation for individual prize competition at Ireland and Wim 
bledoa. than with reference to the great iotemarional event. We 
therefore do not insert them in our colnmns. The practice of the 
men now going abroad, from it^ opening on April 24, has extended 
over seventeen days; of these thirteen were devoted to shooting at 
the old target, the one to be used in the final match, and four of the 
pra'’tice days were. •ipent in firing at the new target. Of the latter 
the Leech Cup competition was the more important, and of these 
we shall speak presently. The !hirU*en scores made at the old tar- 
get have been averaged to the following explicit table of results. 
In these the days are arranged regularly. The totals are given to 
an averag struck for each man. Of course these are not as high as 
they would have been had the totals instead of being that of mere 
practice been ac'ual matches. In many cases the men were exper- 
imenting, some with new sights, or weapons, or position, or ammu- 
nition, or one of tbe thousand and one other things of great magni- 
tude to tbe rifleman's eyes. 
& 
Fmm this it will be seen that Fulton leads by a fraction and that 
Yale and Gildersleeve are tied on the total average As a general 
thing the days have been verj* unfavorable to fine shootinir, and 
while the above is the actual record, there is not a man on the team 
who does no* thiiik he is able to do coiD'iderably better than his 
average as then shown. There is no doubt, whatever, but ihit the 
team is much stronger now than at that time in many important 
particolars. There has been an additional year'.- practice, and wbhl 
with the preparation and finish of l«st year's fight, and tbe work (his 
year, long range practice has 1 em most srdulonsly calt:vated. In 
tbe matter of wind allowance, the team of 1875 is more at home 
than that of 1874. Had a stiff and in any way fickle wind come up 
duri' g the day of the last match, defeat would have most surely 
attended the American side. During this Spring, tbe wind has 
blown from all points of the compass, at one time or another, and 
the team have shot through them all. As regards antraanition. 
there has been improvement. The experiment at the gun works, 
and in the ca-e of tbe Sharps rifle, the matter h.^s reached a stable 
basis. The general adoption of the Farqnehson or Fnbon position, 
has bad an important bearing upon the sbootinir. hs afftn ting the 
holding abilities. Col. J. Bodine is tne only pro liinent member. 
;rho has systematically ignored the back tarn-over position. With 
all ihesp po nts in their favor, we think we are jostified in claiming 
som* superiority on our new over the old team. Wore the reseivcs 
on the team party nearer to their comrades in shooting celebrity, the 
team would be more satisfactorily despatched. But now in case of 
a rush of s'cknes--, or any other reason for patting the last man on 
the chance will increase of failure 20 per cent. There wire but two 
days in he lot abova noted, in which each member of tbe team shot. 
At the first of lhe?e the scores made were Fulton, 153; Bodine 157; 
Dakin, 151; Yale. 144; Gi:de! sleeve, 135; and Canfield 146; or a total 
of 633. At another of these geaeral snoots the total< stolid Fulton, 
153; Bodine. 154: Dakiu, 121: Yale, 151; Gildersleeve. 143; Canfield, 
12S; or a total of 393. taking the 6Ch; avetages the total of 863. 
In Ireland, meanw hile, the men who are to shoot agamst their 
American team have been practicing at the new targt't, and the 
team here were anxious to try their band at it. that some ba>is of 
comparison may be struck. This opportunity occurred in the Leech 
cop competition, and up to that time three competitions bad taken 
place on the other side, and selecting from the Irish scores each 
mau's best, and the following result is given. For the purpose of 
comparison we also add the score made by the first six men of the 
Scotch team in winning the EicLe Shield, last year. 
Scofe/u, 1874. /ri*A. Am^riconf. 
Clark 
193 
McKenna.. . 
208 
Bodine 
....2C6 
R0-!» 
191 
W l^ou 
20:3 
Gildersleeve. , 
...198 
Whilelaw... 
186 
Fnlton 
194 
Fulton 
...198 
Dunlop 
181 
Johnson. . .. 
194 
Coleman . . . 
...195 
Fergus<jn..., 
178 
Milner 
182 
Canfeld. 
177 
Clews 
ITT 
Pollock. .. 
179 
Bruce 
... 176 
1.1U8 
1,169 
1.149 
But a very slight difference it will be observed, and in one case 
they were picked scores, while the other was made in a regular 
match. 
Even when the old targets were used, if the first target of each 
person be added thus, Fulton, 158; Bodine, 157: Dakin, 157; Yale, 
159; Gildersleev ■, 160: and Canfield 155; a total of 94G, beating the 
great International match score of 934. 
Altogether, the prospects are bright, and with careful manage- 
ment. the match will be a close and should be a victorious one for 
our side . 
The IntcrnatioDal .Hatch C<omniittee. 
The Joint Committee on the match held its last meeting prior to 
tbe departure of the team on Friday last, Gen. Shaler preaiding. 
Gen 3IcMahoa reported that he had tumid over to Col. Gilder- 
sleeve, the cantaln of the team. $6682, to be used iu defraying ineir 
expen.<e<^, and that $1225 more would be also applied to the same 
purpose; in all about have been raised. A number of new 
contributions w ere announced, and the following letter was read 
from Gen. Sbaler, who was to have filled the position of umpire; 
Col. II. GWler*Ifett : 
Dear Sir.— I congratulate you upon tbe proud di^sfinction yon 
will enjoy in taking to Europe for the first time in the history of 
Ibis country a team of native American riflemen for the purpose of 
S‘ eking on foreign s^il a reperitionof the sar.cess achieved by them 
at home last year. The military staff of which you are the chief 
cannot but feel honored by the comp im»*nt paid yon by the members 
of the team in choosin. you for their ieader. The pr.iyers of all go 
wi»h yon for a speedy and safe pa^?age, victory in the contest, and a 
QQick retom in good health. 
Accept, dear Cob mel. my earnest wish for the success of yonr 
team, ani convey to them mv wi-h for their individual prosperity 
abroad and safe feinm to their homes. 
Verv- truly yours, Alex. Shaleu. 
Geo. Wilkes, the editor of the Sj/inf of iJu Titne^^ has contributed 
a fine gold medal over two inches in diameter. On one ^de is tbe 
coat of arms or insignia of the paper — a horse shoe quartered, the 
nail heads in the shoe being imitated in diamonds. On the rev*erse 
is an inscription. The whole is very massive, and will be competed 
for by the member^ of the two teams at a inatr-h after the main one, 
same conditions. As a compliment to the Belfast riflemen, tbe 
match will probably take place at one of thr North of Ireland 
ranges. Mr. Wilkes letter accompanying the gift says: 
New York, June 4, 1865. 
Dear Colonel,— Ynder the direction of Gmeral McMahon. I 
here«iibeninist to yourenstody and care a medal, which I beg to 
present to the two teams en^^agid in the forthcoming International 
Rifle mnich bet t^en Ireland and rh United States, to l>e decided 
either by the result of that match, and to iro to tin* winning team, 
or to be.shot lor bv the two teams after the main mat< h le over. U 
shonid prefer the latter course, but gladly lcav»* the w hole matter to 
the judgment of the two te;ims, whose property the midal has now* 
become. 
Wishing you and yonr fellow-riflemen a safe and pleas mt voyage 
an : such success ;is you cai comma<id, 1 am. with the eame^l hopes 
th«t your merits may p.ove pre'crainenr, very truly yoiir^. 
Col. Gildersleeve. ' Ge»>. Wilkes. 
The Team Personnel. 
GEX. T. S. DAKIN. 
Thomas Spencer Dakin, a member of la*Jt year’s team, ond hold- 
ing a position upon the present year's squad, was b 'm in Orange 
Co.. New York, in 1831. making him now 44 years old At the age 
of two years he was removed with his' parent* to New Paltz. Ul.-ter 
Co., where he resided until his 17th year His father wa^ engaged 
in farming. Yonng Dakin aMeiiding school. In Ie48 he came to 
New York city and fonnd employment under Calhoun, Vanderveer 
& Co., then l »caled in Pea-l street, wholes :le de.ib*r> in fancy 
goods. He woiked bis way np to a position in the firm, but in 
Uct. 1857. the panic then sweeping over the country, tiok in the 
house of which Mr. t akin was a member and it w nt nnder in the 
pressure. In isfil, Barnes A Dakin app«*ared as oil dealers, ex- 
IKirters mainly, the firm name changing to Dakin & Gillie-. In 1870 
Grn. Dakin retired from any active jiarticipation in business, and has 
now ^pent ^ev^T»l years of conu»antive leisure. n!< military life 
extends back to I'^l^. when he jt'iiied the 1.3th R gimen* situated at 
Brooklyn, where behss re.rided since hi- <ntry into b^^ine^s in New 
York. In he rcc uiteda new company for the regiment and 
wa« elected it?* Cap'aiii. In 1866, he was ch'-sen Major and eiecteil 
Lieut. Colonel in Jan. 1867. hcc^-ming its Colonel in 1869, and in the 
latter part of tbe Mirae year, was chosen to command the r>tb Regi- 
ment. when Gm. John R. Woodw.ar wa^^ elected to the i>ost of In- 
siiecior General, the post of Major General of the :>econd Division 
fell to Gen. D.tkin, Feb. 1^ In nppeaiance Gen. Dakin is some- 
what Teutonic in his »ize and even corrnleni; he is a tall, promi- 
neo' loxking man. about 6 feet in height. In shooting he has always 
retained the old fashianed position and his best scores have been 
made with a Sharps sporting rifle. 
In shooting, his experience may l>e said to open with Creedmoor. 
since b*‘foreits establishment he had never fired any to speak of. 
General Dakin's shooting ba.s .showm the usual luck of such comp > 
titions, his first entry in tbe opening match b.ick in tbe spring of 
18*3, when he made 9 in a possible 20 at 2 0 yards, and dnring tbe 
whole of that year the little shooting that he did does not appear 
to have hrougbr him a single prize. Dnnng 1874 be shot more 
extensively, and in the 3d competition for the Diamond Badge 
held ‘2d place, winning a life-membership in the N. R. A., with 
scores of 25. 20 and 20 or a total 65 at 500, 800 and 1.000 yards. In 
the Sportsman's Match, ‘200 yards, any rifle, be took 6th prize with 
22 in a possible 28 In the All-Comers' Match he took 10th place 
with 23 at 500 and 22 at 600 yards in a possible *2^. In the Bennett 
Match he was l‘2tb man. taking a cash prize of 20 with a total score 
of 147. It is a somewhat rematkable thing how close Gi n. Dakin 
holds to 146 as a total ^ore; during two years his average will not 
vary from thst more than two points. In th#' Inte national match 
,of last September, he made a score of 139 only, thr lowest on tbe 
American side, his steadiness being marred by the shooting of a 
bad bullet, and more intensified, it is said, by too free indulgence at 
the intermission lunch. This year be is shooting up to bis average, 
and has been working very hard. He will probably take the back 
position in shooting, he having been ba«y practising in that for sev- 
eral shoou past. lie will make a longer sojourn in Europe than 
other members of the team, intending to visit Paris and the conti- 
nent. 
FOR S ALBs 
A black pointer bitch one year old, from imported atock, paitly 
broken; retrierea anything and eits up with the article ia her 
month. Charges to word, and is well honse and yard broken; is 
very obedient, and learns easily; a perfect beauty, and will make a 
first-class i.g. Price S-^. 
ALSO, 
A pair of black and tan Fox Honod pups, fonr months, dog and 
bitch. The sire and dam are first-class fox dogs, and a handsomer 
pair of pops are not to be seen anywhere Price the pair, or 
$13 for tbe dog and $10 for tbe bitch. 
ALSO, 
A magnificent Parker Gnn, 12 gauge. 30 inch 8 lbs., rebonnding 
locks. Damascus barrels, leather case, fifty shells, and allthe tools? 
Has been hut little used, and is in perfect order; a splendid shooter. 
Co.st, complete. $22.3. Price $175. 
The above are offered for sale, as the owner’s hesiness is snch that 
he has not time to us* them. Address STELiot, Box 196, North 
Manchester, Conn. 
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