Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1891 — MIRACLES WITH THE RIFLE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MIRACLES WITH THE RIFLE.

Wonderful Feats Performed by William Rigden, World’s Champion Snap Shot. William Rigden, the rifleman who broke the world’s snap shooting record near Ottawa, 111., by hitting with a twenty-two caliber ball twenty

pennies out of a possible twenty-live thrown in the air, is without question the finest shot in his line in the United States. He is little known, save to a limited circle of marksmenIn Illinois, for the reason that be shoots wholly for his own amusement and has never taken part in tournaments or matches. He discovered his remarkable talent as a rifleman through an accident in killingswallows on the wing, and at once began practicing at snap-shooting. For nearly five years liis work was done spasmodicallj r , but about four years ago he began regular practice, shooting not less than 500 shells a day. He has no favorite target, but shoots glass balls, pennies, pebbles, white beans and other small objects, according to bis fancy..

Rigden considers the use of shot cartridges demoralizing and will not use them under any circumstances, preferring the small 22-caliber ball, as is the J most difficult. He exercises great care in selecting his guns, and has several splendid weapons which he holds priceless. Truly phenomenal was his latest score with glass balls in a 500-ball shoot at the old Lime Kiln shooting grounds, he breaking 400 balls with 22 short-ball cartridges out of a possible 500, while over one hundred and fifty balls were broken before lie missed. He has frequently broken 480, 483 and 485 glass balls out of a possible half thousand, and expects in a short time to be able to break 500 without a miss. One of his favorite shots, and one requiring great skill, i$ the double. He has his thrower select a pebble about the size of a glass ball and toss it into the air at a regulation height and distance,and will strike the.pebble twice before it touches the ground, breaking the gun before the second sh,ot. This is a wonderful feat, but he seldom fails of performing it at the first trial. Here is another favorite shot: He faces the thrower, gives the order ter throw, turns completely around and breaks a glass ball before it has l’alleu half way to the ground.

WILLIAM RIGDEN.