[COXTESVED FROM PAGE 321.] 
The large first-class targets were used, with new rule 
divisions painted upton them, and it did not take long to 
get through the small number of rounds imposed. 
The number of entries, with the scores, were as fol- 
lows, American names distinguished by a.sterisk9: 
*Capt R C Coleman 55.S l.S -J WiUon M3 13 
*Col Giiderslceve .VB 13 W s Waterhouse 414 12 
J Rigby 453 14 *Capi L C Brace 441 12 
n Fulton 453 14 *G W Yale 51:1 12 
®Col Bodinc 515 14 E Johnson 5:M 12 
J G Pollock 515 14 »GenTS Dakin 434 11 
G Fenton 445 13 Dr Hamilton 254 11 
»LM Ballard 44.3 13 ‘A V Canfield 334 10 
R R Greenhill 454 13 'Major Fulton .35retired 
From this it will be seen that the contest lay between 
Col. (Jildersleevc and Capt. Coleman, and the whole 
company gathered about the two friends to see the finish 
of the battle. Capt. Coleman used his own well-tried 
Remington, while Gildersleeve had been, during this 
match, employing a Rigby rifle, loaned him by >[r. Jas. 
S. Lee, the verj’ man and the very rifle which Col. Gil- 
dersleeve, a feiv' days after, was pitted against, and so 
signally vanquished, at Clandeboye. Mr. Lee stood by 
to load, and othenvise assist the Colonel. The wind 
was blowing fresh enough to divert a bullet, and was 
also rather tricky. On the first shot, however, both 
scored bull’s-eyes, and the excitement rose as the men 
baded for the next shot. Col. Gildersleeve led off, 
bringing up the black-and-white signal of a centre shot. 
It 3vas now Capt. Coleman's turn to match or beat it, and 
he did the latter most emphatically with another central 
bull’s-eye. This was the last shot fired by an American 
on the DoUymount range, as immediately all were up 
and off for Dublin, to hasten and make ready for the 
grand presentation of the prizes that evening at the Ex- 
hibition Palace. But no sooner had it been decided in 
Coleman’s favor than it was pointed out that a by-law 
of the Irish Association forbade the taking of more than 
i'oO by any one competitor at one meeting. This had 
been entirely overlooked by the Americans, who had 
real!} been competing against themselves. Coleman 
having taken the Spiencer (£o0) Cup on the first day of 
the meeting, was now required to choose which of the 
two cups he preferred. Had he taken the Spencer, the 
Dramatic Xetci 3vould have fallen to Col . Gildersleeve. 
He chose the latter, however, .1. Wilson, of the I Ister 
Rifle Association, thereby getting the Spencer, as hold- 
ing second place in it. The Cup we illustrate, it will 
thus be seen, has a history with it, apart from its mere 
prize character. By this date it is probably safely de- 
posited in the Coleman family treasure depositary at 
Goshen, X. Y., where Mr. Coleman resides. 
- - 
THE TEAM. 
THE LAST DATS LX ECROPE. 
Since the first departure from New York harbor, 
where two well-packed steamer-loads of metropolitan 
and Brooklyn friends bade the shooting expedition and 
its members good luck, their progress has been marked 
by a most uniform good luck, without a single incident 
or occurrence which they or any of them would wish to 
recall. There has not been a single rebuff — even the re- 
fusal of the Council at Wimbledon to piermit the Ameri- 
cans to test their skill in the Elcho Shield compietilion 
resulting in every way favorable to the Americans in the 
success of the Irish team. In all their progress through 
the kingdom nothing but the best of feeling and a most 
cordial reception was manifested toward the team part}'. 
In Ireland, their progress from Queenstown in the south 
to Belfast in the north was one continued series of re- 
ceptions and proffers of hospitality, while in the more 
private matters of hotel accommodations the Irish com- 
mittees had arranged and settled everything in advance, 
and at every point the Americans found their wishes 
anticipated and supplied. Their run into Scotland be- 
ween the Irish and English rifle prize meetings was a 
very pleasant interlude. While at Wimbledon, barring 
the almost constant downfall of rain, the Americans 
found plenty to occupy their time. In the shooting line 
the performances of the efficient men of the party may 
be summed up in the single word — success. At Dolly- 
mount, after some rather shaky practice, the great match 
of Ireland vs. America was shot, and resulted in a 
handsome victory for the latter. In the other shooting 
affairs at the Irish range, making up the annual meeting 
of the Irish Rifle Association, the Americans held their 
own at will. Two of the principal cups were avon bj' 
YIe.ssrs. Gildersleeve and Coleman, while in the .A.11 Ire- 
land Challenge Shield competition the Americans 
proved their superiority- over their Irish friends at 1 ,100 
yards, the International match having sufficiently proven 
their superior abiliiy at the lesser distances of 800, 900 
and 1,000 yards. At Clandeboye, in competition with 
the North of Ireland riflemen, a most intensely interest- 
ing competition gave another victory to the Ameri cans 
Col. Gildersleeve surpassing the most exjjert of the 
Ulster men. The next shooting was at Wimbledon, and 
here, amid the thousands of riflemen, and under circum- 
stances not calculated to call out their best efforts, the 
Americans added new honor to their previous laurels, 
and showeil by a series of good .scores that no mere luck 
had given them the Irish victory. The Englishmen, and 
in fact all the British riflemen, have been compelled to 
acknowledge two points : that the weapons used by the 
Americans are not one whit behind their favorite 
muzzle-loaders as accurate pieces. Beyonu all the argu- 
ments which may be urged for or against breech-loading 
rifles, the old plea that they must always be all03ved a 
mean variation,” in other words, that when fired from 
a fixed rest, a shot would hit the mark or thereabouts, 
but exactly where could not accurately be defined — this 
claim ag-ainst the breech-loaders is entirely dissipated in 
the performanec-s of the Sharps and other weapons in 
the hands of the Team men. The position which the 
American gentlemen employ in tiring, while not un- 
known in English ranges, has never been extensively 
adopted, but the universal advantage which it mani- 
festly gave the visiting Team in the matter of steadying 
the rifle has already shown itself in the number of 
“ natives ” observing and imitating their young Ameri- 
can teachers. 
When the acknowledged weak point in the use of the 
American weapons, a tendency to variation and uncer- 
tainty on the part of the ammunition, shall have been 
remedied, this cla-ss of arms will stand uiffivaled as the 
sharp-shooters’ weapon, and, in its way, fear no compe- 
ition with, or opposition from, the most accurately 
tmade of foreign arms. 
At the close of the Wimbledon meeting the Team 3vere 
glad enough to clean up their rifles and pack them for 
home before starting off on a pleasure trip for a few 
days, to occupy the time till the starting of the steamer 
they had selected. Paris was to be their objective 
point, and all left London for the French capital full of 
hopes for a pleasant ten days, leaving their heavy bag- 
gage behind them. The ladies. Aldermen Cole and 
the pleasure tourists of the party were all of the French 
company, and with fine weather the sight-seeing in and 
about Paris was uninterrupted. During their stay in 
that place the only occurrence of public interest was a 
visit to the celebrated French author, Victor Hugo, in 
response to an invitation received from him. The visit 
was a very simple affair, entirely without ceremony. 
A glass of wine 3vas taken, a few words of congratula- 
tion were spoken by the host in French, and responded 
to b}' the French-speaking members of the party. The 
return to London was made on the Mondat- preceding 
the Thursday of sailing, the intervening days being 
filled out in looking up the great accumulation of bag- 
gage, including the armament brought over, and the 
usual purchases laid in by European travelers. The 
route to Liverpool was broken by a trip to the country 
estate of Sir Henr}- Halford, one of the most expert rifle 
amateurs in England, and who had been most attentive 
in affording the American gentlemen every courtesy at 
Wimbledon. A private range on his grounds gave the 
American shots an opportunity of doing a little quiet 
shooting, using rifles selected from Sir Henry’s collec- 
tion, who took this opportunity to acquire the American 
knack of the back position. His first trials were veiy 
salisftctor}-, and at Liverpool a message was received 
from this new pupil giving a score made by him after the 
departure of the visitors, a very creditable one, he attrib- 
uting his success to the new jKisition used. A large 
dinner part}- brought this visit to a happy close. At 
Liverpool the Team once more reunited, the only absen- 
tees being Captain Bruce, who remains for a time long- 
er in Europe; Messrs. Coughtry and Holland, who had 
formed part of the American Team company, also sta 3 -ed 
behind. Col. Mitchell had already gone on before, but 
with these exceptions the Team was once more a united 
body. Thej- were visited at their hotel by Mr. Wm. 
Inman. Jr., 3vho expressed to Col. Gildersleeve his de- 
sire to assist inever^- way the embarkation of the Team, 
informing him that a special tender would convej' the 
Team’s baggage to the City of Berlin at an earlj- hour, 
lea3-ing suflScient time for a flying visit to the residence 
of Mr. Wm. Inman, Sr., who desired to see the Team 
members at luncheon. Accordingly, when Uie several 
truck loads of trunks and boxes had been safel}- lifted 
on the steamer’s deck, the special Team lender headed 
for M ood.side, a short distance down the Mersey, from 
3vhence a drive of some four miles back of Birkenhead 
brought the excursionists to Upton Manor, where the 
old .steamship magnate and his wife gave the visitors a 
ver^' cordial welcome. A stroll over the grounds, 
through the conservatories, and the enjoyment of the 
fine views of the estate, finished off b\' a circuitous 
drive back to the landing stage, brought the gentlemen 
back to the steamer a few moments before the hour set 
for sailing. As j'oung Inman left the steamer’.s side, the 
little signal cannon sounded their loudest, the flags were 
dipped, thi- Team gave their American cheer. A thun- 
der-storm which had sprung up suddenlj- during the 
afternoon cleared off to a bbautiful sunset, a bright 
moon making the enjoyment of the first night’s sail an 
excuse for watching the last glimpse of English land. 
On their arrival at Queenstown the first person on 
board was the gay, cheerful, and ever bright Major 
Leech, a true son of Old Erin, never Veary of hospitable 
cares and duties, and determined to be the last to hid us 
good-bye, as he had been the first to give us welcome. 
The last interchange of healths and adieus was at the 
Queen’s Hotel. Gildersleeve expressed hope that the 
meeting of the rifles at the Centennial next year — when 
he hoped to see representatives from all parts of Europe, 
if not from other quarters of the globe — would sustain 
the prestige of good feeling and general enjoyment 
which has been thrown about these contests in the two 
encounters which had made the names of Crecdmo«- 
and DoUymount known the world over. On behalf of 
his own defeated Team and countrymen Major Leech 
thought their defeat in the matter of target scores was 
more than compensated for in the brilliant effort made 
by the victors and in the manj- happy surroundings 
3rhich had accompanied the double battle, already 
fought, and 3vhich, he hoped, 3vas but the opening chap- 
ter in a long series of similar meetings. After all the 
speeches of compliment which the t3vo rifle teams had 
been exchanging for weeks previous, these parting 
speeches could add but little of friendliness, the main 
burden of wishes being that future meetings might be 
as free as the last from anj-thing to mar or disturb. A 
stroll through the streets of Queenstown, or rather up 
and down the steeph' inclined planes which answer the 
purposes of thoroughfares, under the escort of dozens 
of hawkers and beggars, aud a last experience in the 
rattling Irish outside car, and aU were ready to take the 
tender off to the Berlin, which had been riding at an- 
chor off Spike Island. Major Leech did not lea3'e them 
until the last mail bag had been thrown on deck, and the 
little harbor steamer was tossing off, when he was dis- 
missed with three cheers and a “tiger” from the team 
assembled about the gang3vay, which he returned in the 
peculiarly staccato “ hurrah” in which the Britishers 
attempt to approach the ringing American cry. 
Whit. 
HOME 
S-VTURDAY Dowx THE Bat. — Agreeable to an invita- 
tion from the National Rifle Association 3ve reported at 
the Stone Pier, foot of Whitehall street, at 3 f. m., and 
in tea minutes were steaming down the bay on the Nel- 
son K. Hopkins with the Commi ttee of Reception, offi- 
cers of the N. R, A . , relatives of the victorious Rifle 
Team, and a large party of invited guests. The steamer 
was gaily bedecked with flags, and the Governor’s 
Island band of twenty pieces furnished music for the 
occasion, while a twelve pound howitzer on the bow- 
made more noise if less music. Prominent among those 
present were Hon. David W. Judd, Brig. Gen. Kilboum 
Knox, and Mr. G. S. Schermerhorn, Jr., the reception 
committee. Maj. Gen. Alexander Sha'er, chairman, 
Gen. M. T. McMahon, Gen. Kilboum Knox, Col. G. 
"W. Wingate, Hon. D. W. Judd, Juege N. P. Stanton, 
Messrs. A. Alford and J. T. B. Collins of the joint com- 
mittee, and Ylr. A. H. Weston, Ass’t. Sec’y. N. R. A. 
Among the invited guests present were Ylys. John F. 
Rathbone, Mrs. Gen. Shaler, Mrs. G. W. Tale and her 
son Frank W., YIrs. Col. Gildersleeve, YIrs. IW L. 
Steers, Mrs. Gen. YIcQuade, daughters and neices, Mrs. 
H. L. John>tone, Mrs. Dr. Webster, Ylrs. P. H. Gill, 
Mrs. Gen. Lloyd. Mrs. J. T. B. Collins, Mrs. Coleman, 
Mrs. J. H. Bird. Mrs. C. A. Moore. Mrs. John King, Mrs. 
Dr. Mosher, iirs. Dr. Thompson, Mrs. Col. Wingate. Mrs. 
Gen. Knox. Mrs. Pettibone, Mrs. Justen, YIrs. Ex-Judge 
Stanton, Gen. King, U. S. A., Gen. Gibson, U. S. A., Col. 
Croftou, commanding Governor’s Island; Col. Denslow, 
Assistant -Adjt. -General ; Col. Cairoll, Col. Myerberg, 
Col. Bergen and Col. Thompson, of Gen. Dakin’s staff ; 
Gen. Jourdan and Lieut.-Col. Briggs, of 13th Regi- 
ment ; Lieut.-Col. Schurig, Capt. YBtchell and Capt. 
I 
