The Queen’s Prize at Wimbledon.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 210, 18 November 1873, Page 7

The Queen’s Prize at Wimbledon.

The Daily Telegraph, gives the following account of the “ crisis ’ in the shooting for the Queen’s prize at Wimbledon “Pullman in the meantime has been taking it more leisurely, and now, when Baker and Menzies have finished, has still three shots to fire. His fourth shot was a miss, and left his score where it stood after the third—at 56. He has now three chances to score 4 to tie and 5 to win it. Everybody thinks he will do it easily. Carefully he loads, lies down, and quickly fires. A red flag—a centre. Three more to his score, now 59. Two more shots in which to make 1 to tie or 2 to win. It is a hundred to one on him ; at least so says the now eager crowd—and so thinks Menzies apparently, for lie looks very disappointed, and is busily explaining to some other Scotchmen that his score by rights should be 63 instead of 60. The conclusion seems to be so foregone that the people do not take a violent interest in Pullman’s sixth shot. But what is that ?—no flag ! Why, it’s a miss ! He may lose, after all. Another miss, and it’s all up. On the other hand, a simple outer will make him the winner. Two hundred and fifty pounds for him if he can once more hit the outermost edge of the target’s skirt. Two hundred and fifty bright golden dragon sovereigns if he will only once more do what on an ordinary occasion he would back himself to do half-a-dozen times running. But he is getting nervous now ; outwardly he is calm, but he has turned very pale. He loads for the last time ; the crowd swarms over the ropes ; the policemen are powerless to keep them back now. He lies down ; the crowd press still nearer. He aims ; a deep hush falls on every ear, not a sound, not a whisper ; you can almost hear the beating of the brave young marksman’s heart. The tension is getting painful, when crack goes the ri *v* vVhat is it ? Every eye strains to see which flag the marker waves. But, alas 1 no flag appears. The last shot was a miss again, and the Queen’s Prize is lost and won The crowd rush at Menzies, and bear him in triumph to the Council tent on their shoulders. His rifle is declared all right; the band strike up ‘ See the conquering hero comes ;’ his bearers carry him off to his tent; and every Scotchman on the ground is delighted, though on some of the Southern faces there is visible a slight depression—a slight hint that they considered too much Scotchman too much of a good thing.”