358 
Jiilv 31, 1875. 
at the end of the 900-yard round he had made five misses, 
or six in all. The sun, which had been struggling 
through the cloud rifts, had pushed its rays through, 
and came down in dazzling warmth, drawing the 
moisture from the soil in a hazy, steamy mirage, very 
powerful to a rifieman, while the crowd, growing larger 
every moment, sweltered and puffed under the sudden 
change, especially as many, relying on the signs of the 
morning, had dressed for rain and found themselves en- 
cumbered with heavy clothing. The scores show the in- 
troduction of some disturbing cause, and neither side ran 
up to their 800 yard level. The sun, however, seemed 
to bother the Americans least, and at the close of this 
second round the game was virtually decided in an 
American lead of 34 points. The change in the condi- 
tions of wind and light seemed to work less disastrously 
on the American than upon the Irish scores. The high- 
est Irish total at 900 was 54 points, while on the Ameri- 
can list four were above that figure, and Col. Bodine 
had retrieved the unaccountable miss made by him at 
800 yards, in the brilliant run of 59 in a possible 60. Of 
the whole 75 shots fired by the Americans at this range, 
there were but two misses and two outers. The clock- 
like system of the American team worked well here; 
better than at the 800 yard range, where there was less 
need of that accurate w atching, so essential under a mo- 
mentarily changing sky. The Irish on the other hand, 
went on each for himself helping casually but without 
order. Poor Milner was in a terrible plight when miss 
followed miss in exasperating succession. John Rigby, 
too, who had been acting as general expert for the Irish 
marksmen, came to his- aid, and critically examined the 
weapon to see, where and how the fault lay and whether 
it were in the gun itself, or in the shooter. To insure 
accurate loading, the charge was several times fired into 
the ground, and then after all this precaution, another 
miss happening, demoralization followed. While Mr. 
Rigby was busy at work with Milner, SIcKenna man- 
aged to slip in a couple of misses. The firing became 
more rapid, especially on the Irish side of the field. If 
defeat were inevitable, the quicker it were over the bet- 
ter they thought, and poured in their quota of shots not 
recklessly, but without that precise aim and precaution- 
ary care which would have been observed had the vic- 
tory depended on a single good shot, or defeat follow A 
a miss-fire. 
But it was now nearl}' 3 o’clock, and all were tired and 
hungry, the principal personages in the day’s sport were 
ready for a little luncheon, while the crowd at large were 
thirsty, and found, unlike the ancient mariner,'that while 
the\' were on an island with water everywhere about 
them there was plenty to drink, for a large tent, open 
on all sides, contained an immense lunch-counter where 
the porter and ale that ran down parched throats would 
have sufliced to float a miniature yacht squadron. The 
two teams with their ladies were conducted to a spacious 
marquee where an elegant collation had been spread; all 
were in good spirits. The Americans because the 3 ’ were 
enj 03 dng a streak of luck, and th.; Irish because they 
were dispensing hospitality. The one congratulated the 
other on their assured victory, while the strangers re- 
called the old proverb of the many slips between the cup 
and lip, and bode their time, while all were possessed of 
magnificent appetites. There was little extra indulgence, 
especiafi 3 ' was this the case on behalf of the gentlemen 
of the Irish six. The Americans, or at least several of 
them, did partake of a little wine. But time was pre- 
cious and all were anxious to get back at work. The 
spectators had increased in number very considerably 
during the Intermission, and were now scattered all over 
the range, a large group having gone down to inspect 
the targets, and when the time came foro’pening at 1,000 
3 ’ards, a long dela 3 ’ was occasioned in driving back the 
multitude who would persist in getting before the firing 
points and waiting for the firing to begin. It was with 
the greatest exertions that a small space was secured — 
very small, the spectators ranging up to within arm’s 
length of the men when aiming. The view of the range 
at this time was a study for an artist. The crowd fi- 
nally arranged itself in two long parallel lines leaving a 
narrow lane for the flight of .the bullets. A premature 
shot, a little aslant, would have played terrible havoc 
with the over-anxious sight-seers; each shot on either 
side was followed down the range by a thousand set 
faces, and as the signal came up a burst of applause 
went up. This disposition to manifest feeling was much 
stronger now that at any previous stage of the match. 
The 1,000 yard firing opened some time after the hour 
of 4, and the firing went on rapidly, but with many 
pauses b 3 ' signal from the butts. The Irish had appar- 
ently lost heart and fired more in individual style than 
at any former time during the day. The Americans kept 
up their combined style of firing, though the precaution 
of silence was somewhat relaxed and more talk was in- 
dulged in. At this stage Fulton “ went to pieces,” mak- 
ing the poorest total which had been scored on the 
American side during the whole day — a 46 in a pos- 
sible 60; even his last shot being a “ duck’s egg.” Mil- 
ner, on the Irish side, made bulls and misses m bewilder- 
ing alternation until it was evident that it was the fault 
pf the marksman and not of the weapon. Dr. Hamilton 
at this range made the first miss he had scored during 
the day, and 5Ir. Pollock did the same. Gen . Dakin also 
put in one, apparently for company’s sake. The weather 
had been gradually working its way back to the conditions 
which held at the early stages of the contest; the sun 
went in behind the clouds, but the wind blew from the 
3 o’clock quarter varying from that to one, but not be- 
ing strong at either; at a few moments before 6 the last 
shot was fired from the American side, and then the 
crowd poured into a knot about the firing points, ;nainl 3 ' 
that used by the American. The state of the returns 
was soon calculated out from the posted numbers, and 
then it was found out that the Americans had added 
5 to their 900 3 ’ards majority and now stood 39 ahead. 
Cheering began, and again and again the crowd gave vent 
to their feelings in loud hurrahs as the riflemen went to 
the central firing-house to pack up their guns, etc.; the 
people collected about it and Major Leech spoke to them 
from the door-step announcing the defeat he and his 
men had sustained, and calling for three cheers for the 
American team. These were given again and again, 
when Col. Gildersleeve thanked the multitude for their 
forbearance and kindly feeling during the day, and paid a 
compliment on the really reputable shooting done by 
the majority of the Irish marksmen; in concluding, he 
too, called for three cheers, the Americans giving their 
defeated foes a rousing three and a rattling “ tiger.” 
The return of the throng to town after the contest 
was a sight worth seeing. Five minutes after the last 
shot was fired b 3 ' Bodine — a “ bull’s-eye” — swelling the 
American majority to 39, the whole of the vast expanse 
behind the inclosure was covered with straggling lines 
of people making rapidly for the long narrow bridge 
which joins the mainland. Passage across this was slow 
work, owing to masses wedged within the stout wooden 
paling on each side, and many who did not fancy a long 
delay used the boats which some speculative mariners, 
taking advantage of the rising tide, offered for a con- 
sideration as a means of transit from the sandy Bull to 
the opposite shore of Dollymount. Half-a-dozen jaunt- 
ing cars, with “ six up” — men and women — ventured to 
cross the water way, and the hesitancy of the drivers to 
go on when the sea reached almost to the horses’ girths 
provoked the mirth and ridicule of the onlookers; but a 
bold dash, made at the cost of a heavy splashing, brought 
the vo 3 ’agers safely to land, while the merr 3 ’makers were 
doomed to a long and toilsome journey. For nearly- 
two hours the entire stretch of road from the Bull bridge 
to Amiens street was alive with passing carriages, cars, 
and traps of every kind all fully freighted. The houses 
along the route showed groups of curious onlookers at 
every window and hall-door, and the garden walls had 
their occupants of the animated scene. The .iVmerican 
team travelled homeward, some in an open carriage, 
others on cars immediatel 3 ' following, and at various 
points the victorious riflemen were warmly greeted. 
At the Canal-bridge, at the Drogheda Railway Terminus, 
at the corner of Earl street and Abbey street consider- 
able crowds collected to get a glimpse of the American 
team and applaud them, and this they did right heartily 
as the strangers, with their rifles, leather-cased and 
buckled, held in hand, were conveyed rapidly on their 
wa 3 ’ to the Shelbourne Hotel, the headquarters of the 
American team. 
A review of the scores made fully justify one or two 
assertions: First, that a team pulling together can beat 
a team much superior in individual skill, but disjoined 
and striving as individuals. As in boating, it is the 
crew with the best combined stile that wins, and not a 
crew made of separate experts, each striving in his own 
way. The superior holding qualities of the back posi- 
tion are also pretty well substantiated. In the excite- 
ment of a great match the best and steadiest nerved men 
are apt to be overcome by a little trepidation, and then 
the vice-like hold and quiet easy attitude of the Far- 
quharson st 3 de is invaluable. The merit of breech- 
loaders was also made manifest. Excepting Fulton, the 
American side used their weapons as breech-loaders, 
and the average shows for the Sharps rifle 162. For the 
Remington arms, excluding Fulton as shooting a mongrel 
weapon, half breech and half muzzle, the average is 
1613^, and for the Rigby, used b 3 ' the whole Irish six, 
154 5-6. Messrs. Yale and Gildersleeve, although lead- 
ing ofi" on their respective target, did not make a single 
miss during the entire day. Both used the Sharps rifle, 
and thus added another to the steadily increasing list of 
triumphs which that arm has enjoyed. 
THR RirSXIXG RECORD. 
The records taken through the match by successive 
rounds afford another and an interesting wa 3 ' of studying 
the match. At the end of the first round, that is when 
each competitor had fired one shot, the Americans had 
scored 20, and the Irish 14 in a possible 24, giving tlie 
one team 6 advantage. At the following round the 
Americans had increased their lead to 7, and then fell 
awa 3 ' gradually until at the eleventh round they became 
tired, remaining so until the fifteenth, when the Irish 
gained 1 advantage. All this time no balance, such as 
our table shows, had been struck; but now when the 
firing ceased time was given for a cdlculation, and the 
whole world knew how the matter stood; but at the 
very first 900 yards round this was alt swept away, and 
the Americans lead by 2 points, next round by 8, and 
thus on until at the next breathing and reckoning spell 
34 points in advance were scored on the American side. 
The 1,000 yards round showed nothing specially excit- 
ing. The lead was maintained, now and then the Irish 
throwing off a few points; but at the forty-third round 
the “Yanks” put on 10 points at one time, and at the 
forty-fourth, or round before the last, were 42 in ad- 
vance. Fulton’s final miss caused the final total of 
superiority to fall below the “forties.” For the better 
comparison of the two international matches the run- 
ning records have been combined in the following table: 
800 Yards Stage. 
Round. 
Possible. 
Irish Score. 
American 
Irish Lead. 
American 
Score. 
Lead. 
Tear 
Year 
Year 
Year 
1874, 1875. 
1874. 1875. 
1874, 1875. 
1874. 
1875. 
1 
21 
18 
14 
■20 
20 
2 
6 
2 
48 
;K 
:36 
41 
4:3 
3 
7 
3 
72 
SO 
60 
m 
64 
3 
4 
4 
96 
79 
84 
85 
88 
6 
4 
5 
120 
100 
106 
106 
111 
6 
.5 
6 
144 
117 
128 
126 
134 
9 
6 
7 
168 
139 
152 
148 
154 
9 
2 
8 
ll*2 
1«1 
175 
169 
178 
8 
3 
a 
216 
184 
198 
193 
200 
9 
2 
10 
•540 
an 
221 
215 
222 
9 
1 
11 
264 
2-37 
245 
m 
•245 
11 
12 
2t« 
•249 
•268 
261 
268 
1-2 
13 
312 
i7-2 
290 
•282 
•290 
10 
14 
295 
314 
305 
314 
10 
15 
360 
317 
338 
;?26 
337 
!! i 
9 
900 
Yards. 
Round. 
Highest 
Iri.«h Tot.U. 
American 
Irish Lead. 
American 
PossiDle. 
Totals. 
laoad. 
Year 
Year 
Ye*r 
Year 
1874, 
1875. 
1874, 1875. 
1874, 1875. 
1874. 1875. 
16 
384 
3:33 
:35:3 
:346 
355 
1:3 
0 
17 
4118 
:352 
366 
:366 
374 
14 
8 
18 
4:32 
372 
388 
388 
396 
16 
8 
19 
456 
393 
4()9 
407 
419 
14 
10 
20 
480 
413 
432 
427 
440 
14 
8 
21 
5i‘4 
4^ 
451 
450 
462 
14 
11 
22 
.528 
459 
4n 
470 
485 
11 
14 
23 
552 
4S2 
490 
491 
508 
9 
18 
24 
576 
504 
5(i3 
513 
528 
9 
25 
27 
25 
600 
527 
524 
.*35 
551 
8 
26 
624 
546 
544 
557 
575 
11 
31 
27 
6i8 
567 
566 
577 
598 
10 
32 
28 
672 
585 
587 
594 
619 
9 
32 
29 
696 
607 
608 
615 
612 
8 
3i 
720 
629 
630 
6:36 
664 
7 
34 
1,000 Yabds. 
Round. 
Highest 
Irish To als. 
American 
Irish Lead. 
American 
Possible. 
T^^ials. 
l^ead. 
Year 
Year 
Year 
Year 
1874, 187.5. 
1874. 187.5. 
1874. 1875. 
1874, 
1875. 
31 
744 
046 
651 
651 
683 
5 
:32 
32 
768 
666 
673 
671 
704 
5 
31 
33 
792 
689 
69-3 
692 
727 
3 
35 
U 
816 
710 
71-2 
713 
7^9 
3 
37 
35 
&48 
732 
733 
733 
770 
1 
.3.5 
31 
36 
864 
753 
758 
75(» 
789 
3 
37 
888 
773 
780 
777 
807 
. . 
4 
28 
38 
912 
794 
8"0 
794 
8:» 
:30 
39 
936 
810 
817 
814 
851 
4 
34 
40 
960 
831 
8:* 
8:37 
872 
6 
:36 
41 
9i^ 
S' 3 
854 
654 
892 
1 
:38 
42 
1G08 
871 
876 
873 
908 
2 
32 
43 
h3i 
891 
893 
893 
927 
2 
32 
44 
1056 
912 
908 
916 
950 
4 
41 
45 
1(80 
931 
9-29 
m 
968 
3 
39 
In the evening after the match •he teamsmen on both 
sides met a large party at the residence of the Lord 
Ma 3 'or, and toasts and speeches of warm welcome and 
congratulation rounded off a bus 3 ' da 3 '. 
The international match was the opening one of the 
Irish Rifle Association’s ninth annual prize meeting. 
The remainder of the meeting includes some fine long- 
range matches, notably the Abercom Cup competition, 
in which the international match will be repeated on 
two consecutive da 3 *s to determine the composition of 
the Irish team for their places on the Elcho Shield con- 
test at 'Wimbledon next month. 
To-morrow morning ^Major Leech will send the fol- 
lowing note of resignation to the press here. “With 
thanks to all, it will be seen that the liveh' Major re- 
tires from a field on which he has occupied a veiy 
prominent position, with the anticipation* that “even 
* 
