Established A. D« 1871 
$4»aYear, 10 cts a Copy 
Volume 6y 
Mew Series* 
Number 1 6 
Number 94 I 
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1875. 
THE R3FLE . 
THE IRISH AMERICAN COXIEST. 
[from ouk own coubesposdent.] 
(continued.) 
Dublin, June 20. 
In my last to you, matters were looking somewhat 
dubious for the success of the American team. There 
had been junketing and feasting, holiday tours and ex- 
cursions and all that, but now the eve of the great 
battle, the prospect is brighter than it has been 
at any period thus far. The team have put in 
a day’s work at the range, run up a score exceed- 
ing the phenomenal one by which the last iuternatioual 
match was won by 1(5 points. Thej' are exultant and 
confident, while on the other hand the Irish team are 
despondent and broken, not disorganized, but losing 
the confidence of the people. The papers are confu.sed 
in their accounts and wrestle with the scores, trying 
with all manner of calculation and cross-calculation to 
reckon victory from figures which presage defeat, and 
the most extreme opinion ventured is by one journal 
who very safely predicts that “the winning team will 
undoubtedly be the victors,” in which Bunsby wisdom 
there is security if no great prophecy. But we will take 
matters seriatim since your last despatch, and open with 
the date of 
Wednesd.iy. June 23. — This day was an enjoyable 
one to the utmost. The majority of the team and party 
are men of arms at least nominally, and the prospect of 
a review on the Curragh was a cheering one to them, 
since it would afford them an opportunity of witnessing 
the evolutions of a good body of British troops. The 
day’s sport was in fact a sham battle participated in by 
some 8000 troops. The start of the American sight-seers 
was made from the Shelburne Hotel at 9 o’clock in the 
morning, and the train taken from Kingsbridge station 
to Newbridge. Here they were reviewed by Capt. 
Triphook, Deputy A.ssistant Adjutant General and a 
member of the staff' of Gen. Seymour, commandant in 
chief. Jaunting cars were taken and under a cool sky 
tne trip across the district of Kildare w’as a relief to the 
city and its dust and mud. Ths rain of the past fort- 
night had made the green fields of Ireland greener still, 
and the rich cultivation appeared to the best. The 
camp is most admirably situated on a broad plain dotted 
profusely with furze bushes, and surrounded by gently 
rolling hill, from which a most commanding view may 
be taken of the whole encampment. The capacity of 
the camp is about 12,000 men, though in summer with 
canvas spread more are often encamped. The appoint- 
ments are complete in every respect. There are chapels 
with residences for the chaplains,a gymnasium, large and 
fully supplied, and w'ell employed. There are 13 
“lines” of soldiers’ hut3*or squares, each able to accom- 
modate about 800 men exclusive of special quarters for 
field officers, and a magazine securely situated about a 
quarter of a mile from the center of the camp. There 
are also rifle ranges and hospitals in tne vicinity. It 
was all activity and bustle when the Americans arrived. 
Of visitors there was a great crowd, anxious to witness 
the display of a field day. The turn out of vehicles 
was very great, and the ladies, too, were out to see the 
soldier boys in great numbers. Had the sun been shin- 
ing brightly the prospect far off across the hills would 
have been magnificent, but as it was the bright scarlet 
uniforms of the men were in great measure dimmed. 
The line of battle extended over three miles, and was 
participated in by cavalry, artillery and infantry, who 
peppered and rattled away, marching and counter- 
marching, charging and skirmishing in lively style. 
Gen. Seymour remained with the American party and 
reviewed the whole, at the close complimenting the sol- 
diers of both sides on the closeness of thfe contest and 
the well executed movements. 
The visitors then took up a position on the plain and 
reviewed the troops engaged, being honored with a 
marching salute. There was first a walk past, and then 
a return at a double-quick, the cavalry horses marching 
to the music with the precision of veterans. This por- 
tion of the day’s programme in common with that pre- 
viously executed, left nothing to be desired. At its con- 
clusion, the 91st Highlanders invited the gentlemen of 
the team to a participation in the hospitalities of their 
mess-room, and a ver}'fine collation was spread in their 
honor. Col. Sprot and his officers acting as hosts. 
Thursday, June, 24. — This has been laid down as 
a practice day, and the team went down to the butts 
in part; Jlessrs. Coleman, Dakin, Gildersleeve, Bal- 
lard and Bodine. The men kept their own records and 
hence they are of no value as reliable exhibits. “With- 
out proDcr score-keepers, the shooting becomes mere 
private practice, and in the shooting thus far done all 
the records have been kept by the men personally. In 
the afternoon certain of the members attended a flower 
show of roses at the Royal Horticultural Society Gar- 
dens at Sallhill. Everything here was bright and pleas- 
ant, ladies and roses, both of the best and brightest, 
making up a dazzling show of beauty. The American 
ladies were there, and a few of the American gentle- 
men, too few to suit the Irish belles. Music, which is 
never absent here from any entertainment, made the 
afternoon pass pleasantly, and when the show had been 
entirely seen and all its beauties examined, there was 
still a pleasure in the tout ensemble of toilettes and flow- 
ers, of manly grace and feminine beauty. In the even- 
ing, the craftsmen of the patty, including Messrs. Ful- 
ton, Bruce, Bodine, Coleman, etc., attended a Masonic 
dinner given by the United lodges of Ireland to the 
American Freemasons. It was a representative gather- 
ing, and some 120 sat down to a dinner second to none 
yet laid for the visitors. Everi' delicacy of the season 
had been procured, and the spceche.s at the close ex- 
pressed the warmest sympathy of the brethren of the old 
with their fellows from the new world. Col. Bodine 
and Major Fulton spoke, and at a late hour the parting 
was taken in proper Masonic form. 
Friday, June 25. — This has been a red-letter day in 
the stay of the American team in Ireland. Be it favor- 
able or otherwise to their interest on the day of the 
great match, their work of the 25th of June ought to go 
upon record as something remarkable. After an ocean 
voyage in which all were more or less affected and one 
of the marksmen confined to his bed; after a rollicking, 
restless run of hospitality, of dinners and receptions ex- 
tending over two weeks, and on a strange range, with a 
reputation for tricky winds and difficult scores anj'- 
thinc but reassuring, the team proper have made a score 
surpassing anything yet put upon record. In the morn- 
ing a meeting of the team was held at the hotel, and the 
final disposition made of the scores and places deter- 
mined for the men. The only question for discussion 
was upon the difference between Messrs. Canfield and 
Coleman for last places on the team. Canfield, on a 
rigid show of totals had outshot his competitor, but for 
uniformity of scores and general improvement, Cole- 
man stood ahead, and to him was accorded the last 
place on the team. The manner of shooting to be pur- 
sued in the match was also decided upon. Gildersleeve, 
Fulton and Bodine are to shoot upon one target, and 
Yale, Coleman and Da’tcin upon the other. Gildersleeve 
and Yale will lead off, and as each man shoots he will 
place his wind-gauge, reading and elevation upon a slip 
attached to a miniature target fixed to an easel. Upon 
this the spotter will show the last shot by three colored 
pins. The first will have a red top, the second a white, 
and the third a blue head, so that each man in shooting 
may be able to see at a glance how the last shot of his 
squad struck, and if there is any general drift how far 
it extends, and what allowance should be made. But 
little talking will be required, and the utmost help will 
thus be extended from one to another. Each scorer 
wilt be supplied with a powerful glass to keep accurate 
diagrams of the targets made. This was the plan laid 
down for the International Match day, and on this plan 
the rehearsal of Friday was taken. The six men shot 
who are to participate on Tuesday, and everything 
worked with the smoothness of machinery. The old 
square bull’s eye target was employed, the wind blow- 
ing with varying force through the day from the 5th 
and 7th quarters, the sky being clouded except at rare 
intervals. The dangers and difficulties of Dollymount 
range seem to have been over-estimated. It is on an 
exposed situation surely, but the winds which are 
strong have the merit of steadiness. At Creedmoor, it 
is no uncommon thing to alter fully 5 points between 
shots, and there are slight baffling winds, provoking 
and hard to estimate for. A great advantage on the 
North Bull range here is the light which thus far during 
the rainy, cloudy weather has been most delicious. 
The experience of the team in their early spring shoot- 
ing at Creedmoor has habituated them to wind and that 
they really possess judgment sufficient to cope with a 
pretty difficult wind has been shown now on several oc- 
casions. The Irishmen prayed for “a rattling wind” at 
the last match, hoping to take their antagonists on the 
hip; now, even this would avail them nothing, for it is 
doubtful to which team the most skill can be adjudged 
in this respect. On the Friday’s practice the 800 yards 
total was 334, or a gain of 8 points over the last inter- 
national match total of 320 at that range; at 900 yards, 
total stood 307 in Sept., 1874, and 325 in June, 1875, a 
further gain 18 points; at the 1000 yard range the shoot- 
ing fell off more than it should have done; in fact, be- 
low what a Careful team should have done, 293 being 
made against 301 of last year. Col. Bodine made but 
47 points and Yale 42. Coleman and Gildersleeve also 
falling off at the longest range. IVith all these draw- 
backs a grand total of 950 was run up in a possible 
1080, as fine a showing we doubt not as can be shown 
at any range in practice or match. The attendance of 
visitors was small and the riflemen were left free to 
load and clean without having to elbow a space about 
them. Dr. Hamilton and J. K. Milner of the Irish 
team were out and shot over the range, but made only 
middling scores. The full scores made by the Ameri- 
cans are as follows: 
MAJOR PULTON— BBMINOTON CREKDMORE KrTLB. 
ROO yardB 3 4434334444444 4—56 ) 
900 “ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4— .59 Vl'O 
1000 •' 3 3443444444344 3-55 ) 
OBN. T. 8. DAKI.V— REMINGTON CREEDMORK RIFLE. 
ROO yards 2 443444A444444 .3—56 1 
900 “ 2 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 3—52 5-161 
1000 “ 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3- 53 j 
COL. U. A. OILDEBSLEEVE— SHARPS CREEDMOOR RIFLE. 
ROO yards 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4— .56 1 
900 " 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4— 56 V139 
1000 “ 3 2434334443403 3—47 ) 
CAPT. R. C COLEMAN— REMINGTON CREEDMOOR RLPLB. 
ROO yards 34444334444444 4— .57 ) 
900 “ 4 4 4 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 4-.54V158 
UOO “ 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 2 0 3 3 3 - 47) 
COL. JOHN BODINE— REMINGTON CREEDMOOR RIFLE. 
,S00 yards 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3— .56 ) 
900 “ 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 3 4— .53 V156 
1000 “ 2 44 3 3 333334333 3—47 ) 
O. W. VALE — SHARPS CREEDMOOR. 
ROO yards 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 2 .3— .53 ) 
900 •• 8 4034448433444 3—51 VI 16 
1000 “ 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 0 2 4 2 0 2 4 3—42 ) 
Grand total 950 
The effect of the news of this fine e.xbibition of .shoot* 
ing by the American team, was most dispiriting on their 
Irish opponents throughout the city here. The popular 
opinion, especially in the lower classes which is very 
strong in favor of iho visitors, gave vent to their 
Joy'at the prospect of a 5dctory by cheers. A crowd 
