THE RIFLE CONTEST OF 1875 AT DOLLYMOUNT RANGE, NEAR DUBLIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 122, 27 August 1875, Page 13

THE RIFLE CONTEST OF 1875 AT DOLLYMOUNT RANGE, NEAR DUBLIN.

Victory once mor? perches on the banner of America in the trial of sharp eyes and steady nerves. In the international rifle contest of 1875, which took place at Dollymount, June 29, the American team defeated its Irish competitors by a score of 967 to 929. Previous to the day appointed for the final test, the American marksmen and their friends were treated to an imceasing round of banquets, pleasure excursions, entertainments, and exhibitions of all sorts. A banquet in their honor was- given by the Fellows of Trinity College — being the first event of its kind in twenty years. The preliminary practice of both .teams indicated that the match would probably be a close one; an opinion which was further strengthened by the result of last year's contest at Creedmoor. In Jreland, however, the prevailing impression foreshadowed an \tetory. Doubtless, the sympathy of the masses had something to do with this, foil anomalous though it may seem, the Americans, since their arrival in Dublin, have been the popular favorites. The anomaly is readily explained. No man in Ireland suspected of national proclivities is allowed to own or carry a firearm. Hence it is said that the Irish riflemen (so-called) are WestBritons in sentiment j else they would bo disarmed like their neighbors. Dollymount WHERE THE IRISH RANGE IS LOCATED, stands on the border of the Bay about four miles north-east of Dublin, and on the outskirts of the historic battlefield of Clontarf where " Brian smote down the Dane." On June 29 ib was the scene of a far different engagement. All through the morning hours the road from the city to the shooting-ground was thronged with vehicles and pedestrians on their way to the range. The weather at first was somewhat hazy, but in the afternoon it grew clear and pleasant as could be desired. The firing took place •under the same conditions as at Creedmoor last year. Six men in each team; ranges 800, 900, and 1000 yards ; fifteen shots per -man at each range ; targets six feet high by twelve feet wide, the black "bull's eye" three feet square, bounded by a "centre" six feet square, the remainder being " outer" — the " bull's eye " counting four points, the " centre " three points, and the " outer " two points ; the Americans shooting with American rifles, the Irish with Irish rifles, without telescope sights, hair triggers, or artificial rests. The following diagram shows the shape of the target :

COMPOSITION OP THE TEAMS. The victorkms American team consists of G-en. T. S. Dakin, Col. John Bodine, Col. H. A. .G-ildersleeve, Major Henry Fulton, Gr. W. Yale, and R. C. Coleman. The first five of these, with Mr Hepburn, constituted the winning party at Creedmoor last year. The Irish team of 1875 consists of Edmund Johnson, James Wilson, Dr J. B. Hamilton, J. K. Milner, J. Pollock, and J. M'Kenna. The first iovx, with .Rigby and Walker, participated in the Creedmoor contest. The markers for the occasion were a detachment of experts from the Fiftieth regiment. Everything being in readiness, the struggle beg in at the 800 yards range about eleven o'clock. In two hours the result was known : 338 for the Irish, 337 for their rivals — admirably close and fine shooting. At four o'clock the shooting at the second range was finished, giving a score of 327 to the Americans, against 292 to the Irish. This left the latter 34 points in the rear, and practically decided the victory. For the thousand yards range the bulletins" announced : Americans, 303 ; Irish, 299 — making Columbia the victor by 38 points altogether^ The following table presents the separate scores in detail : SCORES 03? THE AMERICAN TEAM.

Total scores by Irish Team ... - ... 929 Total American Score 967 Total Irish Score 920 Wonby 38 The Irishmen all used Rigby's muzzle-loading rifles ; the Americans used Remington's and Sharp's sporting rifles. By a glance at the foregoing table it will be seen that the overwhelming defeat of the Irish is due to Milncr and M'Kenna, who seem to have unaccountably broken down under the grand test, after having done splendid shooting in their previous practice. Rigby would have been a nrach more reliable shot than either of them. When the last bullet was fired, and the final result announced, cheer after cheer rung out for the victors from the forty thousand persons assembled on the sandy strip of sea-beach which constitutes the range. American and Irish flags fluttered in every direction, and the victorious team was positively amazed at the enthusiastic warmth of the greeting accorded it. The fact is, as already been mentioned, that the Irish Rifle Club is pro-British in sympathy ; for with reason the great mass of the peoplo were delighted to see Uncle Sam triumphant. The Creedmoor Scobes of 1874. A clearer idea of the comparative strength and capacity of the rival teams will be gained by measuring their last week's work beside which was achieved in the first international match at Creedmoor, September 26, 1874. Accordingly, we append the aggregate scores made on that occasion : — American Tjjam — 1874.

"When the Irisli shot for and won the Elcho Shield in 1873, at Wimbledon, defeating England, Wales, and Scotland, the total score of their six highest marksmen was only 214. At Creedmoor last year they scored 17 points better, making 931 to 934 of their competitors — which was the best shooting on record xip to that time. But now at Dolly mount, while the Irish fall only two points below "Choir Creedmoor score, the Americans oiitstrip their former achievement by 33 points, making the tmparalleled record of 967 otrb of a possible 1,080 ! The marksmen and rifle-mannfacttirers of the United States -naturally rejoice over so signal victory won by American nerve and American arms ; and the Irish people don't seem a whit disconcerted or annoyed at the result. That the whole affair will be fruitful of augurnented good-will and fraternal sympathy, is indicated in the comments of the press both in Ireland and the United States. On the following day, there * was another competition at the range, for the Spencer Cup, " open to all comers." Nearly all the members of both teams, with many fresh riflemen from various quarters, entered for the prize. It was borne away by an American, R. 0. Coleman, who scored 47 out of a possible 50 at 1000 yards distance. The Lloyd's of London have offered a fifty-guinoa cup to be contested for at Wimbledon by English, Irish, Scotch, and American eights at the time of the Elcho Challenge Shield match. That will be the grand trial of skill, nerve, and endurance. A brief despatch, dated July 1, announces that Major Leech has resigned the Captaincy of the Irish team, which would .seem to indicate a want of harmony. Very many people will regret thisj ss Major Leech was a general favorite wherever he went. In shooting for the All Ireland Challenge Shield, on July 3, the Aroorican team was beaten, and the Shield was won by thQ Dublin Club. The following was the score ;—; —

xards Colonel H. A. Gildcrsleeve. Totals, 800 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 4—56 ' 000 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 3—56 1000 ■ ... 2444333 4433 44 4 3—52—164 General T. S. Dakin. 800 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4—58 000 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4—55 1000 3 0 3 3 4 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4—51—164 Colonel John Bodine. 800 4 4 3 4 4 4 0 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 4—52 900 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4—59 1000 ... ' -44434343442233 4—51—162 Major Hemy Pulton. 800 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4—58 900 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3—57 1000 3 3 4 4 4 2 0 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 0—46—161 G. W. Yale. 800 2 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4—57 900 ■ ... 2344333 4344 34 4 4—52 1000 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 3—51—160 B. C. Coleman. 800 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3—56 900 3 4 4 0 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 0 3 4 4—48 1000 3 3 4 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 4—52—156 Total score of the American team 967 SCORES OF THE IRISH TEAM. Yards. Mr. Barnes Wilson. Totais. 800 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4—58 900 3 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 4—50 1000 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 3—55—163

800 ... 900 ... 1000... 800 ... 900 ... 1000 ... 800 ... 900 ... 1000 ... 800- ... 900 ... 1000 ... 800 ... 900 ... 1000 ..." Mr. Edtnond "Johnson. ... 3344444 4444 44 4 4—58 ... 4344 4 4 44433433 3—54 ... 34334 443 3 3 .3^3 4 3 3—50—162 Di\ J. B. Hamilton. ... 3444444 4344 33 4 4—56 ... 3 3 3 4 3 43444 44 4 3 4—54 ... 33 4*4 4443 4* 83440 4—51—161 Mr. J. Pollock. ,„ 4 444 44 4 3 444 44 4 4—59 ... 4 344 4 3 44 2 4 3 3 4 4 3—53 - ... 43434433334403 4—49—161 Mr. John M'Kenna. ... 0344344 4 43443 4 4—52 ... 2033443 4034 43 3 4—44'4 — 44' ... 44 4 3 34 4 3 33 4 3 3 4 4—53—149 Mr. J. K. Milner. ... 0444434 4444 44 4 4—55 ... 004 4 4030033444 4—37 ... 34044 334 0 3 04 3 3 3—41—133

Contestants. 800 yds. 900 yds. 1000 yds. Total. Henry Fulton 58 57 56 — 171 a. "W. Yale 55 56 51 — 162 Jolin Bodine 54 51 53 — 158 H. A. G-iiderslcevo 53 51 51 — 155 L. L. Hepburn 53 50 46 — 149 T. S. Dnkin 53 45 41 — 139 Total Score of American Team 934 Ikish Team — 1874. Jolmßigby 52 • . 56 55 — 163 J. B. Hamilton 58 52 50 — 160 James Wilson ... ... ... 54 51 55 — 160 J. 1C Milner 57 49 48 — 154 Edmond Johnson 50 49 51 — 150 P. Walter 46 55 43 — 144 Total American Score, 1874 ... ... , 934 Total Irish Score ... '... ... ..,- ... 931 "Wonby ... ..... ... ... 3

DUBLIN CLUB. < Johnson Pollock Hamilton Rigby 1000 yds. 79 77 73 84 ■ 1100 yds. 63 76 644S Total ... Grand total 313 251 564 Gildorsleeve... Dakin Fulton Bodine A3IATEUII, NEW YOEK. 67 73 79 62 73 60 66 78 Total ... Grand total 281 277 - 558 Wilson Walkington . . . Fulton Leo BELFAST CLUB. 8S 66 70 72 59 49 63 54 Total ... Grand total 296 225 521