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Normal Topic Transcript of 1903 Election Day Match II (Read 1353 times)
PETE
Ex Member


Transcript of 1903 Election Day Match II
Sep 15th, 2005 at 2:56pm
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  As was remarked above, the committee was up against it. The dissenters had the logic of the argument, but on the other hand there were our brother shooters from Boston who had come over 200 miles to join their New York brothers in the day's contest. To bar out their telescopes made their visit to New York a bitter disappointment, and would send them back to Boston with the feeling that the New York riflemen were not progressive. As a last resort in the effort of the committee to settle the vexed problem, all of the marksmen who were present and entered in the contest were induced to submit the question to a vote, and let the majority decide. This action was taken and the decision was in favor of permitting the use of the telescope. It was supposed that with the telescope problem adjusted, all would then be harmonious and that good fellowship would reign, but M. Dorrler, in the aftermath of the telescope decision, got provoked with one of his fellow shooters and retired from the contest on his second score. In closing this incident of the telescope it may not be out of place to remark that when the decision was made to allow the telescope, H.M. Pope and Fred C. Ross each brought forth from inner recesses of their grips a 'scope and proceeded to use them in the match.
  The question of the telescope had been the means of delay in opening the contest, and the hour, 11 A.M., for the opening of the shoot had passed before all the wrinkles had been ironed out of the situation. The shooting house was well filled with the twenty-nine competitors, the scorekeepers and visitors, and as a consequence there was not much empty floor space. The weather conditions were almost perfect, a clear sky and no wind other than enough to keep the smoke moving up and away. In speaking of the telescope five or six prominent riflemen have been mentioned. There were other of equal prominencewho were present  and always factors to be taken into consideration in any group of riflemen, gathered together in any part of this broad land. Two of these were Louis P. Ittle, and Dr, walter G. Hudson, of New York City. The score sheet below will show many others of prominence, veterns of forty years, and youngsters with reputation still in embryo. Wm. Hayes was enteredin the race, but did not get the opportunity to fire a shot. He simply devoted himself to the task of entertaining the visitors and spreading good cheer in all parts of the shooting house.
  With the shoot opened and well under way, there was a strong interest developed, both with the shooters and visitors. The four marksmen present from Massachuetts were using the telescope; all of the others were using the peep and globe, and in most cases the palm rest. The finish of the first ten shots showed Geo. Schlicht in the lead with 230; Dr, Hudson and W.A. Tewes were second, tied with 228. The other men in the race, who were expected to be in the upper strutm at the finish, did not get off in good form. Schlicht, on his second score, finished with a total of 208; from this point on he was out of it. On the other hand Dr. Hudson came to the front on his second score with a total of 232. The Doctor now became the center of interest for everybody in the shooting house; even the other competitors could not resist the desire to go over to Hudson's stand and take a peep at his score card, and when he had finished his third score with a total of 236, many took the opportunity to take a bracer and talk the matter over, for something was wrong. Here was a man shooting a peep and globe sight without a palm rest, and there was not a man within 50 points of him, telescopes included.
  
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