308 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Aug. 2i, 1909. 
The Western Handicap Tournament. 
The Interstate Association’s fourth Western Handicap 
tournament and fourth grand event for the year was 
held in St. Paul, Aug. 10-12, under the auspices of the 
St. Paul Rod and Gun Club. Like its predecessors, it 
was hooefully anticipated, pleasantly experienced and 
finally stowed away in memory’s stronghold, to be lived 
again in retrospection. » , 
The grounds where the tournament was held were 01 
easy access from both cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis, 
and only ten minutes’ ride on the trolley from historic 
Fort Snelling, picturesque Minnehaha, the Longfellow 
Zoological Gardens, and the Minnesota Soldiers Home, 
occupying a vantage point on the banks of the Missis* 
S * T^h'e grounds were open on Monday afternoon for 
practice, and were in gala attire, resplendent in an 
unsullied coat of nature’s green and the white canvas 
of many tents. . , , , , , , 
As one left the shady piazza of the little club house 
and started to walk down the line of traps, which were 
to the right and in the direction of the “Father of 
Waters,” that hastily pursues its course between shady 
banks but a short distance away and far enough to 
allow a fine skyline background for the five sets of 
traps, the first thing one observed to the left was an un¬ 
pretentious building where shells of various loads could 
be obtained bv the shooters when desired. 
Near this building ahd of windmill height was a plat¬ 
form from which the rod and gun club often practice 
tower shooting for diversion, and upon which Fred Gil¬ 
bert was heard to say—early in the game—the victor was 
to be placed to receive the high average cup. A listener 
nearby ventured to remark that “it would be high sure 
enough.” The next thing on the midway was a spacious 
tent, where the genial and invincible Fred Whitney, of 
Des Moines, la., with a competent corps of assistants, 
took in the coin of the realm and compiled scores. 
This tent was also headquarters for the popular general 
manager, Elmer E. Shaner, secretary-manager of the 
Interstate Association, and the piece de resistance of 
every tournament where he officiates, which alone tells a 
story of success. In this tent, too, J. L. D. Morrison, 
local general manager, could be seen when not elsewhere 
engaged. 
The next tent was properly equipped with U. M. C., 
Winchester, and Peters shells for the consumption of 
shooters. 
A little in the background, but doing an enviable 
business from morning until night, was the large pre¬ 
tentious looking commissary tent, which was garrisoned 
by an industrious corps of waiters under the command 
of the well-known caterer, Carling, of St. Paul. Here 
rations would run a little short at times, but no one 
went hungry, for the road house not far removed from 
the grounds was of easy access and “sufficient unto the 
needs of the inner man.” 
Last down the line of observation was the Amphithea¬ 
ter de Auto, where could be found almost any time of 
the day an attractive array of color and puffs peculiar 
to the fair sex. From this quarter emanated many an 
expression of praise and admiration over the perform¬ 
ance of a favorite or a well-known shooter at the traps. 
Charles North was in attendance with his ruddy 
countenance and complaisant smile of satisfaction over 
the fine exhibition of the five sets of traps, which rep¬ 
resented a variety of this particular branch of mechanism. 
In trap houses 1, 4 and 5, the Leggett trap was used; 
in No. 2, expert traps were found. These were retained 
throughout the entire tournament for the sake of Auld 
Lang Syne, though the supervisor of traps said they 
were impossible to remove in the time limit. The new 
Ideal Leggett trap in house No. 3 was certainly a prize 
winner. Here the event on doubles was shot off in a 
remarkably short time because of the smooth operation 
of the trap and the small percentage of breakage. 
Selection made from some of the best known mission¬ 
aries for supplying score sheets for the referees at the 
various traps finally resulted in squad hustling that kept 
every one in line and largely eliminated the usual num¬ 
ber of delinquents. The card system used at the score 
boards, indicating in figures the number of the squad 
shooting, greatly aided the shooters who were awake and 
took notice; others were hunched by means of the 
megaphone or by the squad hustlers. 
The shooting each day commenced at 9 o’clock, except¬ 
ing Monday, practice day, when it started at 1 o’clock. 
The entire programme called for 650 birds; this included 
20 pairs. Ten doubles were shot on Tuesday, the first 
day of the regular programme, and the same with 80 
singles for the Preliminary Handicap on Wedensday. 
All targets were thrown 50yds. and better. The Inter¬ 
state Association rules governed; a few special rules 
were incorporated in the programme, applying specifically 
<0 the Western Handicap. On Monday, practice day, 
the Rose system, 8, 5, 3, 2 per cent., was used for the 
division of money. In the Preliminary and the Western 
Handicap events high guns took the money; therefore 
it was not class shooting. 
The Interstate Association and the St. Paul Rod and 
Gun Club gave $1,000 added money. The Association 
gave a trophy to the amateur making high average in 
the Preliminary and Western Handicap events. And 
both high professional and high amateur in the Western 
Handicap was presented with a pair of the well-known 
Gotzian hunting boots. 
The only lady contestant was Mrs. S. S. Tohnston, a 
member of the Minneapolis Gun Club. She did not 
shoot up to her average much of the time, though she 
did some good clean work, which elicited words of 
praise from the spectators. 
The members of the Interstate Association who were 
present at the tourney were A. F. Hebard, vice-president; 
Elmer E. Shaner, secretary-manager, and J. T. Skelly, 
one of the directors. 
The names of the professionals listed in the category 
of shooters were many and well known, such as Fred 
Gilbert, W. R. Crosby, F. G. Bills, T. A. Marshall, 
W. H. Heer, Chris. Gottlieb and many others. 
One hundred and seventy entries were made in the 
great Western Handicap event, this being the greatest 
number for any event during the four days, and break¬ 
ing the record of any tournament previously held in the 
Twin Cities. , , . , , 
Darkness, however, prevented the finish on Thursday. 
Only twenty-three squads out of the thirty-four were 
enabled to put up their guns and return to the hotel to 
enjoy their dinner with no troublesome thought of the 
morrow. 
Monday, Practice Day. 
Monday was locating day, when one locates hotel and 
room, the Ryan at this time being the headquarters for 
the shooting, and also locates shooting grounds and the 
wary saucers, which many did on the opening practice 
day of the Western Handicap, Aug. 9. 
The weather was certainly conducive to good scores. 
There was no wind to affect the disks, and in conse¬ 
quence every one seemed anxious to demonstrate by the 
gun process their appreciation of the perfect day and 
the high earnest sailing targets. There were eighty-six 
shooters enrolled for 100 targets each. 
Before the first gun was fired every one seemed at 
peace with the world, from the kical manager down to 
the trappers, and this feeling of good fellowship pre¬ 
vailed throughout the day. Every one went away with 
happy recollections of good scores and in eager anticipa¬ 
tion of “worlds to conquer” on the morrow, which pre¬ 
dicted a record-smashing contest. 
Sam. W. Hamilton, of St. Paul, a local amateur, ex¬ 
hibited his prowess at the traps by leading the entire 
bunch in breaking 99 out of a possible 100. He missed 
his one bird early in the game, and then went out with 
over 63 straight kills to his credit. All eyes were upon 
him, and he received the many pleasantries from his 
friends like a veteran. TT TT , „ 
The professionals were led by W. H. Heer, of Con- 
cordia, Kans., who broke 98 out of a possible 100. A 
battle royal raged for the third average, and after the 
smoke had cleared away the professionals who were 
found to be victorious were F. G. Bills, of Chicago; 
W. R Crosby, of O’Fallon Ill.; Harry G. Tavlor, 
Meckling, S. D., and J. L. D. Morrison, of St. Paul. 
Two amateurs were found to have the same average; 
they were Sam. A. Huntley, of Omaha, Neb., and R. D. 
Guptill, of Aitkin, Minn., who was once the winner of 
the G. A. H. All in this class scored 97 out of a pos¬ 
sible i-IG. Two different squads this day broke 99 birds 
out of a possible 100, which assisted in establishing good 
work for the day. The totals follow: 
F Le Noir . 
F Foltz . 
A G Divet . 
W J Hileman. 
IT H Chesterman. 
F G Bills. 
T F Wulf. 
Kit Shepherdson 
F Elliott . 
C E Pockendorf.. 
W H Heer. 
H Starr . 
E O Feldman. 
J M Hughes. 
E H Houghton.. 
R R Barker. 
H Clark . 
W A Smith. 
Chas Gottlieb .... 
E Novotny . 
S A Huntley .... 
F Fuller . 
L Hezelwood .. 
C A Ferguson. 
F Gilbert . 
G W Tolan. 
Phil Murray ... 
G Deering . 
C Gruhm . 
W B Shepard... 
A J Kelly. 
W E Miller.... 
A J Ward. 
D S Brown 
T A Marshall... 
R D Guptill.... 
Dr F H Bailey. 
D C Rand. 
H G Taylor. 
W D Stannard.. 
J C Ramsey ... 
G A Searles. 
. 88 
W A Brown. 
. S4 
. 92 
O J Mooney. 
. 81 
. S5 
Geo Eck . 
. 83 
. 77 
D Thomas . 
.. 87 
. 83 
F Woody . 
.. 86 
. 97 
W W Vietmeyer. 
.. 87 
. 92 
H E Peck. 
.. 91 
. 94 
T L. D Morrison. 
.. 97 
. 94 
S Hamilton . 
.. 99 
. 92 
W B Thorp. 
.. 84 
. 98 
T H Noel. 
.. 89 
. 89 
R C Thompson. 
.. 85 
. 89 
H F Turner. 
.. 85 
. 79 
J Sack . 
.. 92 
. 95 
B B Ward. 
.. 89 
.. 7S 
. 84 
H W Heikes. 
.. 77 
. 80 
H T Borden. 
.. 94 
. 92 
L H Fitzsimmons... 
.. 92 
q? 
.. 91 
. 97 
IT E Snyder. 
.. 95 
. 95 
C E Ellis. 
.. S9 
. 86 
P White . 
.. 91 
. S4 
F Goodwin . 
.. S9 
. 96 
H D Bernard. 
.. 89 
. 90 
L W Lisher. 
.. 90 
. 93 
W S Magill. 
.. 54 
. 91 
E W Hicks. 
.. 94 
. 90 
F Churchyard . 
.. 83 
qq 
.. 87 
. ss 
Dr F M Edwards.... 
.. 93 
. 88 
T F Beard. 
.. 31 
. 78 
C E Vanslyke. 
.. 34 
. 85 
C E Trent, Tr. 
.. 33 
q| 
.. 35 
97 
.. 30 
SS 
O C White. 
.. 31 
. 90 
W H Linneman. 
.. 35 
Q? 
.. 10 
. 96 
T W Wiseman. 
.. 33 
qq 
.. 37 
. 52 
J W Nelson. 
.. 38 
every event was shot off. They were given the option 
of a daylight finish on the morrow, but preferred to 
shoot it out then and there. It was certainly a novel 
sight for a big tournament, and unprecedented in a 
handicap shoot, to see the guns belch forth their flames 
into the darkness of the night and the forms at the score 
kneeling in seeming adoration, but in truth to get the 
bird at skyline. Appropriate as it may seem, two 
devotees on the kneeling line were priests—lather 
Boland and Father MacConnachie. Both are shepherds 
of flocks in Minnesota, and both are esteemed contem¬ 
poraries in the sport with the gun. 
The amateurs again waved the triumphial palm and 
landed high average above the professionals. R. D. 
Guptill, of Aitkin, Minn., was pace-maker, coming under 
the wire with a score of 169 out of a possible 175. bam 
Hamilton, of St. Paul, and Sam Huntley, of Omaha, 
were close seconds with 167 scalps dangling at their 
belts. Third among the amateurs, and tying the highest 
professional, was E. W. Hicks, of Fairmont Minn., 
who scored 166 out of a possible 175. Fred Gilbert was 
the high professional whom Mr. Hicks tied, and it fell 
to him to demonstrate how easy it was to put 10 pairs 
straight into the game sack, which performance was not 
duplicated by another contestant. J. M. Hughes and 
W H. Heer, of Concordia, Kans., were two profes¬ 
sionals", who tied for second place with 165 out of a 
P°Grea* work is predicted at the traps in the near future 
for the two men, Guptill, of Aitkin, and Hamilton, of 
St Paul They have already started a few interesting 
panes of history, and many think they have the master- 
band to finish what they have so ably commenced. 
The totals follow: 
Aug. 10, First Day. 
Those who retired self-satisfied last night after win¬ 
ning laurel branches so easily, awoke this morning to a 
consciousness of a change in the weather, and later to 
recognize a difference in scores when they were lined up 
on the score board under the awning (another conces¬ 
sion on Midway that had grown like a mushroom in 
the night). The weather this day and the first day of 
the regular programme did not appear particularly 
pleasing to the gathering contestants. 
The strong wind was blowing into the faces of the 
shooters the fumes of the burnt and the residue of the 
unburnt powder. An overcast sky suggested moisture, 
which proved to be a false prediction, for the clouds 
gradually drifted away, leaving the sky clear and blue. 
The number of competitors on Monday was greatly 
augmented by the early arrival of trains Tuesday from 
the North and the East; 176 shooters faced the wind 
and traps, and in spite of the weather conditions some 
fine exhibitions were put up for the benefit of the crowd 
of interested spectators that gathered in the afternoon to 
witness in the flesh the work of some of those whom 
they had known for a long time on paper. 
On account of delays and the lack of sufficient help, 
the last squad of shooters was side-tracked until dark. 
They were game, and in the game they stayed until 
161 
166 
158 
158 
162 
149 
160 
161 
163 
F Le Noir .jf-jl 
J C Ramsey .IIS 
Geo Eck .||| 
Dave • Thomas, .j™ 
F Woody .. 
T A Marshall.. 154 
R D Guptill.169 
F H Bailey..•••• j" 
H G Taylor. 
F Gilbert . 
G W Tolan . 
Phil Murray . 
G Deering . 
G Gruhn . 
I Young . 
F G Bills . 
J Barto ... 1C1 
W D Stannard .161 
Kit Shepherdson .150 
I L D Morrison.158 
S Hamilton .167 
B C Thompson.13» 
R R Barber.159 
H C Clark..153 
W A Smith.110 
Chas Gottlieb .Ill 
F Elliott .159 
H W Vietmeyer.144 
H W Heikes.113 
H J Borden.164 
L H Fitzsimmons.... 153 
J S Clapper . 153 
W H Heer. 
H Stair . 
E A Feldman.... 
J M Hughes. 
E H Houghton.. 
H E Snvder. 
C E Ellis. 
Potter White ... 
T W Veatch. 
W E Miller . 
Dr O Braun .139 
W D Townsend. 141 
T F Beard.137 
T F Dins.150 
Geo Dius .150 
F E Foltz.159 
J W Wiseman.141 
F D Copsey. 160 
C C Dockendorf.153 
J Wulf .155 
A C White.141 
J C Davis .148 
Geo E Trent, Jr.147 
H H Linneman.143 
W H Cleary.139 
F Morrison. 117 
Chas Kuster ., 140 
A G Divet. 149 
E Novotny .153 
H H Chisteman.143 
S Huntley .167 
W R Crosby.160 
F Fuller .158 
L Hezelwood . 151 
Chas Ferguson .136 
A T Kelley . 146 
H C Hirschy. 163 
G A Olson .149 
F. W Hicks. 166 
F Churchyard .151 
W B Shepard. 142 
F M Edwards.153 
W A Brown. 129 
G A Searles. 74 
A F Hebard . 125 
S S Johnson.141 
Mrs S S Johnson.105 
T W Nelson.145 
T J Story.158 
W J Webb.110 
J T ICellev.151 
J O Ward.147 
W Henderson .165 
165 
154 
162 
165- 
142 
159 
146 
159 
134 
151 
T H Clay, Jr. 148 
H L Taylor.142 
A W McClelland.154 
E W Quinn .148 
Thos Angren .142 
H Hurley . 130 
J R Smith .159 
II O Schlander . 127 
W Ochs . 116 
A Poffrath . 127 
F M Reed .136 
M Danielson . 150 
H F Turner .140 
A R Chezik .146 
C Anderson .132 
B B Ward .152 
H E Peck. 149 
A L Johnson. 138 
I Doffing . 145 
A S Wycoff. 142 
M Carlbreath .153 
Jas T Brown. 140 
Jay Graham .157 
Geo Roll . 155 
A J Ward. 148 
Theo Weiland .128 
F Novotny, Sr.132 
John Theis . 135 
O J Mooney. 138 
H W Converse. 
L Rue . 
W Wolstencroft . 
A L Yearons.... 
W S Hoog. 
F Fisher 
148 
150 
136 
144 
159 
157 
Tohn Moland .148 
A J Thorp. 141 
R R Dragos . 54 
J A Schultz. 134 
E J Coward. 149 
E C Foelschow.117 
N B Gergen. 64 
T A Fredette.146 
C Headline .140 
E C Schwartz .148 
J S Frink.146 
F F Slocum. 150 
W S McGill.107 
C G Johnson. 143 
H W Buchanan.114 
A E Close. 151 
H W Jones. 154 
T C Fameshaw.146 
F H Sprague .152 
R C Brockvogel.152 
W G Pfister . 141 
H C Tegtmeier .113 
Wm Wetleaf . 159 
Wm Ridley .157 
F Dvorak . 139 
A E Von Wold.151 
J W Sack. 159 
P Pearson .117 
C Bothell . 155 
C A Van Slyke.145 
G J McGraw.134 
J C Feeze.151 
'F T Meyer. 129 
H D Bernard.153 
C H Ditto. 143 
Dr C F. Cook. 136 
C L Flannagan.113 
W H Sulton. 140 
L W Lisher. 156 
R E St John. 140 
M Schindler .101 
J E Wilson. 125 
L J Aitkins.149 
T T Laughlin.116 
N'H Nelson.131 
Fred McKay .154 
John Terner .135 
V Anderson .114 
IT S Greiner . 66 
J J Ending. 76 
Father MacConnachie.. 109 
A J Holmes. 42 
Father Boland . «3 
