126 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

marksmen left for Truro, where they arrived the next day, under the Adjutant General’s command.

On the morning of the 12th, all being in readiness for the contest, every movement in connection with which, being under strict military rules and regulations, superintended by officers and non-commissioned officers of the garrison at Hali- fax, argued that the contest was to be a stiff one.

At the hour of nine o’clock, the bugles sounded the assem- bling of the teams in front of the sites of six sets of targets. They were told off into six squads, so intermixed that every third man was either a Nova Scotian, New Brunswicker, or an Islander. At eleven o’clock the bugles again sounded the com— mencement, when under the scorching rays of an autumn’s sun and a serene atmosphere, the teams began to blaze away till each man had fired five rounds. The range was then changed from 200 to 300 yards, but the narrow target with its 8 inch circular bull’s eye and standing position, was still adhered to. At the 400 yards range, the targets were increased to the width of 6 feet— bulls eye being dispensed with—and kneeling posi- tion admitted.

The firing at the various ranges having been finished, it was then found that three competitors—namely, Sergeant Kelly, of the Nova Scotia team, Major Pollard and Private Maclaren, of the Island team, had each scored 21 points, but in reference to the number of hits, the Sergeant, as discovered, missed the target once, while of the Islanders, every shot told; the two latter competitors were then called to the front to fire off for ownership of the prize,——a handsome silver cup, standing 18 inches high, decorated with the arms of Nova Scotia, and entwined with richly embossed wild foliage of that Province,— resulting in the trophy being captured by Major Pollard.

The following is the average of the shooting Upon this occa- sion: New Brunswick 13.50, Nova Scotia 13.70, Prince Ed- ward Island 16.30.

When the news reached Charlottetown that the prize had been won by a member of the Island team, there arose consid— erable excitement and rejoicing. A bonfire was set off on Queen Square, which continued to send forth a cheering blaze until a late hour of the night, while frequent volleys of mus- ketry, and an almost incessant blaze of small fireworks bore testimony to, and kept alive the general enthusiasm.