Gentlemen,
Sorry for my lack of attention in making my final report, business here at home has kept me occupied since my return from the east.
The final score of the 30 bird match was:
Bogardus - 22
Kimble - 18
The sun glaring off the river was brutal for the first half of the match, though the weather was warm for the season and pleasant enough. The members of the Philadelphia Gun Club made us very welcome as they always have in the past. We were visited for lunch by Mr. McCormack of the Parker Gun Company, always a pleasure to see that gentleman.
Mr. Kimble had a rough morning drawing some tough birds and I managed to get a considerable lead on him. After lunch he came back with a fury and drew the match very close but I managed to hold him off and win the day.
We shot three separate contests actually, a 15 bird race in the morning for the silver watch that was donated my Mr. Kaas last year, a 15 bird race in the afternoon for the championship medal which we've shot for on several occasions, and then a cumulative match adding the scores from morning and afternoon for the $50 purse.
The afternoon match came down to the last shot, we were even at 11 dead and had to decide the winner by long run which I took with 7 birds to Kimble's 6 birds. As I said, he came back with a vengance after the luncheon break and was a hard man to beat.
I took Mr. Kimble to the train station on Sunday morning and then proceeded to Gunsmith Bickel's home in the hills of Berks County. We had some refreshment and looked over his collection of guns, his shop is full of fine fowling pieces he's taken in for repair and restocking. We'd planned on shooting pigeons at Wing Pointe in the afternoon but the foul rainy weather had kept many of the gunners at home so they were closing down the ring just as we arrived. No matter though, we had a good visit, I left him in the late afternoon and headed home.
About 1500 miles under my belt for this tour, meeting with excellent friends and sport, what more could a man ask for. Again my thanks to Mr. Kaas Esq. for his hospitality in setting this up for Kimble and I.
Regards,
Bogardus
__________________
I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need to be; virtuous enough; swore little; diced not above seven times a week; went to a bawdy-house once in a quarter--of an hour; paid money that I borrowed, three of four times; lived well and in good compass: and now I live out of all order, out of all compass. Falstaff - Henry IV
|
Threaded Mode