THE PIGEON SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

Evening Star, Issue 3946, 18 October 1875, Page 3

THE PIGEON SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

_ i (From the Illustrated Sportivff and Dramatic Nem.) A very large company assembled at Mr Warren’s on August 7 to witness the match in which Captain A. H. Bogardus, the champion of America, and Mr (I. Rimell, of London, contested for the above title, at one hundred pigeons each, on the following conditions viz , twenty single birds at twenty-one yards ri e from a spring trap, fifteen double rise-, •di-hteen yards rise from two spring traps, and fifty single rises from five traps five yards apart, thirty yards rise, the .‘cores at each distance to be added tegether !’ho shooting took place in the inclosure adjoining the house, and, owing to a heavy thunderstorm, it was three o’clock before proceedings commenced. It was agreed by each party to shoot at twenty-five pigeons each, at thirty yards rise to commence with, owing to the light being suitable for the longer range, Mr j I vimell opening the ball with a kill, an example ! which the American followed ; and at the end of the tenth round Captain Bogardus was four ahead, having scored nine to his opponent’s five. Mr Rimell then killed hia next five and let four escape out of his following five, making six killed out of the ten; whilst the American brought down seven out of a similar ; number, thus getting another bird to the good. 1 Mr Rimell brought down four out of his last 1 five, and his opponent only three, making the score at the conclusion of the twenty-fifth round Captain Bogardus, nineteen ; Mr Rimell, fifteen. The twenty birds at twenty- 1 one yards rise, from one spring-trao, came next, and of course a great score resulted, the American knocking over nineteen, his fifth bird just escaping out of bounds; Mr Rimell only brought down sixteen, missing his sixth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and twentieth, the 1 score at this time being—Captain Bogadus, thirty-eigh’ ; Mr Rimell, thirty-one. The fifteen double rises at eighteen yards followed, Captain Bogadus killing twenty-six pigeons out of his thirty, whilst Mr Bimell only brought 1 down eighteen, the American thus gaining eight more birds. Score —Captain Bogardus, sixty-f >ur ; Mr Rimell, forty-nine. The remaining twenty-five birds, at thirty yards’ rise, was now commenced, and, after each had scored eight, out of eleven, Mr Rimell ret red, 1 having no chance of winning, the score being— ( Captain Bogardus, seventy-two out of eightysix ; Mr Rimell, fifty-seven out of a similar number. The winner was alterwards pre ( sented with the medal, an appropriate speech being made by Mr Warner, The American replied, and said how happy he should be to meet any of our best shots on his own ground. 1 Captain Bogardus thus describes the kind of gun he shoots with :—“ The breechloader I am now using was a 300dols. gun, and, considering the prices they were selling at when I bought it, was worth the money. It has done a great deal of work—much hard work—and done it well. I have shot with it twelve times in matches against time, undertaking to kill fifty birds in eight minutes, and have won the money every time. I have also killed with it fiftytbree out of fifty-four birds in four minutes and ■ forty-five seconds This was at Jerseyville, Illinois, twenty yards from the trap and two birds in the trap. H. B. Slayton was present. At New Orleans I killed 111 out of 118 in seventeen minutes and thirty seconds, and picked up my own birds. I have shot many other matches with this gun, besides using it in a vast amount of field shooting every spring fall, and winter. All this work it has stood well. It has never been to a gunsmith-shop to be repaired, and is as tight at the breech and as perfect in the opening and clasping action as ever it was. These facts prove conclusively that there is nothing wrong in the principle of a breechloader, and that, if such a gun is properly constructed, it will stand as much wear \ and tear as a muzzleloader.” A. member of the Hurlinvham and of the ■ IntermiMonal Clubs has challenged Captain Bogardus to shoot fifty pigeons, thirty yards’ rise, for L2OO r.-side.