September 2016

McKinley Mountain Schedule of Upcoming Events

Date Category Event Location Contact

13 Sep (Tues)

Pistol Shoot

Kelly/Reed Pistol Shoot MVS Range, Mile 38 Glen Hwy, (6pm) outdoors

Mike Kelly: ph, 232-7737 email:1biggdawg@excite.com

15 Sep (Thurs)

Meeting Monthly Meeting McKinley Mountainmen

Basement Eagle River VFW (7:00 pm)

Calvin Pope: ph. 232-4651 Email: susanpope@live.com

17 Sep (Sat)

Rifle Shoot

McKinley Mountainmen Monthly Rifle Shoot

MVS Range, Mile 38 Glen Hwy, (9:00am) outdoors

Pat Reed: ph. 376-6826 Email: patreed@mtaonline.net

23-25 Sep

(Sat-Sun)

Rendezvous MMMLRC Fall Rendezvous Ft. Wick, Yoder Rd., Mile 3 Talkeetna Spur Rd, Mile 98.7 Parks Hwy

Ed Wick Booshway Cell ph. 907-345-7081 Email: jlldriver@hotmail.com

8-9 Oct (Sat-Sun)

Gun Show AGCA Fall Gun Show Website: http://www.agca.net

Raven Hall, Palmer Fair Grounds, 2075 Glenn Hwy.

Alaska Gun Collectors Assoc. Phone: (907) 346-1075 Email: tables@agca.net

9 Oct (Tues)

Pistol Shoot Kelly/Reed Pistol Shoot MVS Range, Mile 38 Glen Hwy, (6pm) indoors

Mike Kelly: ph. 232-7737 email:1biggdawg@excite.com

18 Oct (Thurs)

Meeting Monthly Meeting McKinley Mountainmen

Basement Eagle River VFW (7:00 pm)

Calvin Pope: ph. 232-4651 Email: susanpope@live.com

20 Oct (Sat)

Rifle Shoot

McKinley Mountainmen Monthly Rifle Shoot

MVS Range, Mile 38 Glen Hwy, (9:00am) indoors

Pat Reed: ph. 376-6826 Email: patreed@mtaonline.net

President’s Message: The summer is practically over. Days are shortening, leaves are turning, and before you know it snow will be in the air. This month we still have a September outdoor shoot for both pistol and rifle, plus the shoots at Ft. Wick for the Fall Rendezvous, so you fair weather shooters best get out and join us for the last time this year. October through April will all be indoors on the 25 yd. MVS range. Rob & I am co-chairmen for our presentation at the AGCA Gun Show in Raven Hall, Palmer Fair Ground, Oct. 8 & 9th, “A Mountainman’s Accoutrements” is the theme so brings your favorite toys to display at our tables. Hope to see y’all there! President MMMLRC, Calvin “Bush Hog” Pope

Minutes of McKinley Mountainmen Monthly Meeting for August 18, 2016 • The meeting was called to order by President Calvin Pope at 7:01 pm at Eagle River VFW. Members in attendance were: Calvin Pope, Rob Bargewell, Bear Kelsey, Jeff Binegar, Tim Pauloski, Harry Kadel, Pat Reed. Keith and Mary Mathis. Eight members and a President are minimum to constitute a quorum to make the meeting official. Calvin Pope had guests Kenny Belvin from Colorado and his friend Wayne from Texas. Both have blackpowder weapons and hunt with them so their participation in our meeting was welcomed. Also attending for the first time was Justin Petriski, who just immigrated to Alaska from Upstate New York (Adirondacks Region) and wishes to join our club. Justin grew up buckskinning and is quite familiar with traditional rendezvousing and owns several flintlock rifles. • Mary Mathis motioned, and Bear Kelsey seconded, that the minutes be accepted as posted in the August Newsletter. Motion approved.

Treasurers Report for August 2016 • Total Deposits for the last month:

$ 163.56 from Keith Bayha for $18.32 Host’s share of Territorial profits and $145.24 for Targets $ 35.00 from Dean Bean/Earlene Harper of Delta Jct. AK for a family membership renewal $ 68.00 for 2 mouse hawks and 1 handle at Deltana Fair

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$ 5.00 from Jason Dunlap for10% sales commission for sales on sale table at Deltana Fair $ 20.00 from Al Avenger for 10% sales commission for sales on sale table at Deltana Fair $ 0.14 Bank deposited account for dividends for July $ 291.70 Total Deposits for July 21st thru August 18th, 2016

• Checks written in the past month: $ 42.02 to Inkspot for the July Newsletter distribution (ck. no. 2247)

$ 100.00 to A-1 Sign for a new MMMLRC Banner (ck. no. 2248) $ 46.50 to Diversified Tire for tire and tube for Omnibus (ck. no. 2249) $ 54.00 to reimburse Keith Mathis for tire,tube, & mounting, for Omnibus at Rendezvous (ck. no. 2250)

$1,675.00 to Keith Mathis State Rendezvous Booshway Raffle Proceeds (ck. no. 2251) $ 40.51 to Inkspot for the August Newsletter distribution (ck. no. 2252)

$1,958.03 Total expenses the past month • MMMLRC Bank Balance as of August 18th, 2016, is $3,863.99. Jeff Binegar motioned, Treasurer’s Report be accepted as read. Rob Bargewell seconded, with the motion carrying.

Shoot Report • Pat Reed commented on the up-coming August 18th rifle shoot stating it would consist of the Territorial “one gun aggregate” with a total of 20 shots. There are two bench targets (50 and 100 yds.) and two offhand targets (50 and 100 yds.). Five record shots at each target. For a 5th target he was going to use a 200 yd. bull target at 100 yds. It would be a time event of highest score accumulated in ten minutes. Speed of reloading as well as accuracy would be rewarded with a $10 prize for high score. Spotting scopes are allowed but not on the firing line, so anyone reloading on staying on the line would have a speed advantage! After the regular shoot there would also be a smooth bore shoot of 5 shots at 25 yds. and 5 shots at 50 yds. on the same one bull target for a total of ten shots. • The Monthly Pistol Shoot was held at the Mat Valley Sportsman’s 100-yard outdoor range at 6:00pm, Tuesday, August 9, 2016. There were 6 shooters: Rob Bargewell, Bear Kelsey, Calvin Pope, Keith Mathis, Jeff “Beans” Binegar, and Steve Anderson. Mike Kelly officiated and was Range Safety Officer. There were two targets of 10 shots by each shooter, shooter’s discretion at 25 or 50 yards. Calvin shot a revolver at two 25 yd. targets scoring 60 and 53. Rob shot a flintlock at 25 yds. scoring a 55 and a percussion at the 50 scoring 60. Steve shot a percussion at two 25 yd. targets scoring 76xx & 74. Beans shot a 25 and a 50 yd. target with a percussion scoring 37 and 49 respectively, then shot a 3rd 10 shot target scoring 72 at 25 yds. Bear used a percussion to shoot 54xx on a 25yd. target and a 34 on a 50 yd. one. Keith shot 60 and 65 on two 25 yd. targets with a percussion, then shot a 3rd 25 yd. percussion of 73 points. Looks like Calvin was the high revolver shooter, Rob the high flintlock shooter as well as the high 50 yd. shooter. Steve Anderson had the best composite score on two targets. Keith and Beans had the most fun with three targets each, too bad their high scores were on their 3rd target! • Pat Reed reminded us of the August Rifle Shoot at the MVs outdoor 100 yd. Range Saturday 18 August at 9am. As he stated last month, the shoot will be the “One Gun Aggregate” from the Territorial Shoot. Two offhand and two bench targets at 50 & 100 yds., plus a 10-minute timed event, offhand at 100 yds. A total of 30 shots. There will also be a 10 shot smoothbore target right after the regular shoot.

Old Business

• The Deltana Fair was held July 29-31, with most of our fellow campers arriving in Delta Jct. on Thursday July 28. Present was our “Go to Person” in Delta Jct., Al Avenger, who had fire wood ready for us, as well as

keeping up with the fair board thru out the year. (To him, we say Thank You.) We had 9 primitive camp sites set up and on display. Attending were Keith and Mary Mathis, Jeff Bineger, Bob Lochman, JD Biggs and Mary Jo Summersill, Steve “Wag” Waggoner, Tim Pauloski, Rob Bargewell, Calvin Pope, Dick Gilliand, Jason Dunlap,

Rockie & Don Phillips. Saturday overnight quests were Kathy Waggoner, with Charlotte and Alexandra Phillips. Old friends, Smitty and Jessie Smith, from Mendelta attended the fair and stopped by to chat with us all. It

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was nice to see them. They said they would attend next year’s State Rendezvous at the Buffalo Range. We were an informative group as usual, with lead melting by Keith Mathis, lead ball making by Bob Lochman, Mary did her usual dutch oven cooking along with Rockie, Dick showed how to do quill work on a basket, the shooting was watched over by Jeff Bineger, Tim Pauloski, Mary Jo and JD Biggs. With the loss of Ed Wick because of gall bladder problems the Hawk was attended to by whomever was available when needed. Rob Bargewell and Cal Pope had a Video presentation showing what we do at rendezvous, as well as membership applications for both NMLRA and MMMLRA. It was a busy but fun weekend with the parade being a high light. The new, back to back, MMMLRC banners worked well on Keith’s trailer. The parade crowd, as always, enjoyed the shooting off of the rifles as we went down the street. Craig Taylor supplied us a brand new JD tractor to pull us through the parade. Thanks to all for helping as I know it is a long way to go, and outside of the nice reception, encouragement, and invitation to return by fair committee, there is little financial or membership benefit achieved. But we are appreciated, and have an extremely good time, so as of now we intend to return in 2017. Dean Bean and Earline of Delta Jct, renewed their membership at the fair for the 4th year in a row. Dean has worked fair security and blocked the road for us to shoot back in 2013. He is now a club member and on the Deltana fair board. Because of our liaison, Al Avenger, and Dean’s presence on the Fair Board, McKinley Mountainmen’s interests are well represented in Delta Jct.. • Jeff “Beans” Binegar inquired about his proposal last month to building portable shelters to cover the firing line at next year’s Territorial Shoot. He has acquired the steel from the wash rack at work he described last month and would like to proceed on constructing the portable shelters. If not out of metal pipe, then out of wood. Even using pole construction from trees available on site and the metal siding/roofing he has acquired. The pop-up shelter used this year worked fine for the loading benches with two benches fitting nicely under each on allowing plenty of room to stand around and load. A point was brought up that the club had voted to extend the firing line next year another 50 feet on top of the 75 foot now completed. That would be a total of 125 feet of covering. Large shelters would not be portable even on skids without large equipment. Beans suggested 10 or 12 foot lengths to be skidded by a 4-wheeler! Further discussion pursued until President Calvin Pope appoint “Beans” to be Committee Chairman to gather the facts, costs, and other information on the venture and present to the club for further consideration. • Joe Coe did go back up to Ft. Wick and talk to Ed about Fall Rendezvous and Ed said he would prefer to remain Booshway, but Joe was welcome to help him as Sergundo. While there, Joe worked on Ed’s four wheelers and got the Honda running but was unable to correct the shifting problem with the Yamaha. Joe said the Yamaha needs extensive work with the motor being removed to fix the transmission. Something that needed done in a shop. Rob Bargewell also visited Ed and brought the pull behind mower back to his shop to repair before fall rendezvous. However, parts had to be ordered and time will tell when they will arrive. Anyway, Rob will have the mower fixed for next year as soon as parts come in.

New Business

• Jeff Binegar received from a patron at a gun show 3-hole binder with ASMLA and McKinley Mountainmen Newsletters from the early 1990’s. This binder was made by Jo & Al Hintz, who were members of McKinley Mountainmen at least from 1989 -1994. He wanted this binder to go to Keith Bayha for ASMLA records. I would like to copy the Newsletters from McKinley Mountainmen in that binder, from 1992 and 1993, for our records. We currently have newsletters saved back into the 1990’s however we do not have these. It will cost $0.25 per page (front &back) to copy and there are approximately 100 single pages. The total cost should be under $20 if I supply the labor to un-staple, copy, and re-staple the newsletters myself. If Keith does not want the newsletters for ASMLA records, then MMMLRC will not have to copy them. Harry Kadel motioned the club pay to make the copies of the old newsletters for our records if need be, and Jeff Binegar seconded. Members present unanimously approved the motion. • Keith Bayha had reported at State Rendezvous that Roger King, visiting for a day, had volunteered to Booshway the 2018 State Rendezvous. Jeff Binegar had ran into Roger in Anchorage and he had reiterated that he would like to Booshway State 2018, its official and if not confirmed and reported to members previously is now. Page 3

• “Beans” also stated Steve Waggoner had requested use steel silhouette targets from Ft. Wick for use at the 2017 State Rendezvous at the Buffalo Range (Delta Jct. AK) next year, so if anyone is going to Fairbanks this winter and wouldn’t mind hauling them to Steve it would be appreciated. • Rob Bargewell reported he had finally heard from Friendship about our request to print NMLRA targets here in Alaska to avoid the high price of shipping. He was informed we had permission to print NMLRA targets, however, not the NRA targets and the “Heffner” animal targets which were patented. Rob doubted if we could get permission to print them from Heffner because they sold them as a business. Pat Reed suggested we check with American Target Company about targets as his friends in Idaho buy theirs from them. But, to be a sanctioned as a NMLRA Territorial we would have to use the same targets as other Territorials. It was also suggested someone traveling back from the lower 48 pay the price for an extra bag on the airline to haul targets back on a commercial airline. Currently with the Territorial behind us and our club targets replenished for the year we are flush with targets. However, we will need to replace and flush up our targets again before next year’s Territorial in July 2017. End of discussion, with the high cost of shipping still looming over us. • When asked about his itemized financial expense sheet over materials and expenses putting on a MMMLRC sponsored NMLRA Alaska Territorial, Rob Bargewell verified the figures final and the club could settle with him after the $500 Grant from NMLRA is finalized. The club has previously given Rob $1,500 for materials for the shooting and work benches, plus he has received $190.48 back from Lowes and Home Depot for credits and discounts. He also received an anonymous $160 donation. Yet, the club still owes Rob for additional bench and stool materials, deck screws, flagging tape, outhouse supplies, bottled drinking water, trash fees, target stand materials, mailing expenses for the grant application and the medals awarded at Territorial, plus target inventory and replacement. All concluded, the club owes Rob $641.25 whenever the grant is complete and Rob is ready to settle up. The club owes Rob even more in gratitude for the commitment and work he did to make the 2016 Alaska Territorial at Ft. Wick happen, and be a complete success! • Keith Bayha is traveling right now and not available for comment, however President Calvin Pope questioned members to be considering where and when we want to have our Christmas Party this year. “No Horn” normally is our liaison with the 36th St. Bistro where we have had our Christmas party for the past several years so he can follow up on this when he returns. However, to guarantee the date and place we want, we need to get a request in soon. Last year we had the party on the 2nd Friday of December as the 1st Friday was booked. This year, the 1st Friday is the 2 December and the 2nd is 9 December. All present agreed the 36th St. Bistro is hospitable, has done a good job, is comfortable, and serves a good meal for the modest price of $25 each. All present agreed to have Keith look into scheduling the party there again this year.

Good of the Order

• Ed Wick was unable to attend the Deltana Fair because the day before he acquired an unscheduled ambulance ride to the Mat-Su Regional Hospital. He had a severe gall bladder attack with a blockage to the duct. His Gall bladder removed at Mat-Su, then sent on to Anchorage to remove the blockage (gall stone) lodged in the duct. He has recovered nicely now and wanting to begin working on his house as soon as he’s fully recovered from the surgery.

• A sad message from Music Man, David Underwood: “Beaver Killer (Dick Underwood) passed on to Gods great hunting ground last night (8/9/16) He’d been battling the results of stroke and other health problems. We’re glad he is now in the arms of God, and not suffering any more. Full obituary and time of memorial service will be shared soon. Thanks! David “Music Man” Underwood”. The obituary is attached to this month’s newsletter along with the updated shoot schedule. • Dick Gilland sent a note to Tim Pauloski thanking McKinley Mountainmen for welcoming him into the fold and inviting him to dress and camp with us at the Deltana Fair. He stated he was considering leaving the state

until coming to State Rendezvous and then on to Delta Jct. for the fair. He is an experienced rendezvouser, Page 4

having spent a lot of time at Friendship Indiana in the past. (Even having one of the NMLRA black powder shoots named after him.) He said he may change his mind as he has had such a good time with us, and never felt as welcome and accepted as we were toward him. He truly thanks us for our acceptance and hospitality. Dick attended both State Rendezvous and Deltana fair in complete costumes he had made. Plus, he showed crafts and clothing he had made that were extremely intricate and beautiful.

Meeting Adjournment:

• Bear Kelsey motioned with Beans Binegar seconding, to adjourn the July meeting at 8:09 pm. Motion approved.

Split-the-Pot • Jim Anderson was not in attendance again this month with the split-the-pot can so there was no drawing again this month. It was suggested someone contact Jim and find out if he was all right. Jim has rarely missed two months in a row without have health problems.

Other Information

• There are two corrections to be made to the August and one to the September Newsletter:

(1) On the date listed in the Schedule of Events of the August Newsletter, the 2016 Fall Rendezvous was listed as 28-30 September and it should have been 23, 24 & 25 September. The last full weekend of September has always been the same, just an incorrect date listing in the August Schedule of Events.

(2) Also in the August Newsletter, State Rendezvous Report, the two meals listed at State Rendezvous were actually potluck, not potlatch! I did not realize there was a difference, however, it has been brought to my attention “Potluck” is where the guests, or participants, bring a dish to a gathering with the meal shared with all. Without any coordination, and if dishes all turn out to be the same it is just bad luck. “Potlatch” is an Athabaskan, or other northwestern North American Indian custom, of a well off person, a chief, or deceased person’s family, hosting a lavish feast, along with extensive gifts for a tribe or a group. The host’s lavish distribution of gifts may or may not require reciprocation depending on whether he wears gloves or not! Tremendous amounts of food and wealth are shared with the tribe, or less fortunate. So, the “host” supplies the meal (and much more), not the guests!

(3) It was also stated in this Newsletter, the September Treasurer Report, that the MMMLRC Bank Balance of August 18th, 2016, was $3,863.99. That was correct, however, checks received at the July 21st Meeting from Suellyn Novack for $85 and $1590 from AGCA for proceeds from the Quilt raffled at the State Rendezvous, and checks of $100 & $220 from Keith Bayha for Omnibus tires & Territorial Range Fees, were not listed as deposited on the September Treasurer’s Report in this newsletter. (However, they were mentioned as received at the meeting in the Old Business section of the August Newsletter.) All four checks should have been listed in this month’s Treasurer Report as deposited July 26th, 2016. The error was, “not listing” the deposit in the September Treasurer’s Report, not, “not depositing” the check. The bank balance of $3,863.99 is correct with the above mentioned checks included.

• Pat Reed’s Rifle Shoot Report for Saturday, 20 August, 2016: For the shoot, we had eleven show up, and eight shot the scheduled match. I didn't shoot the rifle match as I normally do. I decided to just RO and help out if I could. Rob and Janet shot, but not the match. What was shot, was the territorial “one gun aggregate”. It consisted of two bench and two offhand targets (one of each at 50 yds. and one of each at 100 yds.). When the smoke cleared, Sean Carney (16 yr. old junior) had the highest score with a 142. He was followed by Bob Lochman with 139 and Bear with a 136. Other competitors were Steve Anderson, Cal Pope, James Montgomery, Keith Mathis, and Justin Petriski. This was Justin's first time shooting with us. Hope to see you again.

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After everyone finished the above, we shot a 100-yard target with the objective to get as many good shots off as possible in 10 minutes, with the high score winning a $10 gift card. Here again, Sean had the high score with a 52. Next best was Bob and Bear who both scored 36. Almost forgot, James Montgomery won a $25 gift certificate, donated by Beans, for his 8th place finish in the 50-yard bench part of the aggregate. The day concluded with a 10 shot smooth bore match. Four of us took part with Pat getting a 73, Justin a 65, Keith a 57 and Cal 54X. Congratulations Sean and hope to see you back whenever possible. Thanks to Mary Mathis for scoring and to everyone who took part. Pat

2016 NMLRA Alaska Territorial at Ft. Wick

New Territorial Setting at Ft. Wick

Firing Line, New Shooting and Loading Benches with Pop-up Shelters

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Officials/Administration Target and Scoring Headquarters

Aggregate Scoring and Records Setting Up Targets

Territorial Shooting in Progress

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RSO Watches the Firing Line while Active Shooting Hawk Block for the Primitive Aggregate

Both Modern and Primitive Camping

Saturday Night Burger Fest an Annual Occurrence at Territorial

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Dick Underwood Richard “Dick” Vance Underwood went to be with his Lord on August 9, 2016, surrounded by

his family.

Born April 4, 1933 to Floy and Helen (Vance) Underwood in Roanoke Virginia. He went to a

one room school in Ellet, Virginia. He accepted Jesus as his Saviour at age 12 and was baptized

in the Roanoke River near Ellet, VA, where he attended a 1 room school. The family moved to

Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he graduated high school, then attended and graduated from

Oklahoma A&M in 1954 with a BA in Chemistry. He then completed 2 years of study at

Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in Berkley California and later returned to what had become

Oklahoma State University to complete an MA in Biological sciences. He met the love of his

live, Patsy Harris at OSU, when she was a freshman there. They married in 1955, had 4

children and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage. When they lived in Arizona he took the 1960

census of the Grand Canyon area which included riding a mule down into the Grand Canyon.

He was also a rock hound and collected minerals and semiprecious gems. Later, they moved to

Clarkston, Washington where he worked as an Explosives

Chemist at CCI.

The great adventure began in 1968 when they drove up the

old Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska to assist

missionaries. Dick faithfully served God as a church music

leader for over 44 years, taught Sunday School, and served on

various boards and committees, including Food Bank

distribution. Dick was a gifted teacher and mentor. He taught

high school biology, algebra and chemistry in Arizona,

Oklahoma and Alaska. He delighted in his children and taught

them many skills; cooking, animal care, gardening, camping,

canoeing, fishing, hunting and shooting & vehicle care. He

taught them the value of hard work, honesty and encouraged

pursuit of their own interests, art, skiing & 4H projects. He

was an out spoken man who wrote heartfelt letters to the

editor regarding Constitutional Rights, Creation Science and

more.

Dick managed the Small Animal Division at Tanana Valley Fair and was known as the Rabbit

Man. He purchased and ran Alaska Feed Company on Fideler Rd in the 1970’s, sponsored

many in FFA/4H as well as many dog mushers. He was a premier sponsor and board member of

the Yukon Quest. Dick enjoyed 1840s period historic reenactment with the Mountain Men,

Lewis & Clark history and blacksmithing. He inspired many to enjoy pounding iron!

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Tom and granddaughter Ruth Ann.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy, daughter Kathy (Jeff Gates), sons Jim ( Rosemary), Dave (

Callie) and Jon (Johnna), sister Mary Craddock, grandchildren: Michael, Stephen, Vance,

Mark, Luke & Kendra.

McKinley Mountainmen Monthly Shoot Schedule Thru March 2018 At Mat-Valley Sprortsman’s Range, Mile 38 Glenn Hwy, Palmer AK

Rifle Shoot Schedule through March 2018,

3rd Saturday of each month:

September 17, 2016 - 100yd outdoor range

9am-4pm

October 15, 2016 - indoor range 9am-4pm

November 19, 2016 - indoor range 9am-4pm

December 17, 2016 - indoor range 9am-4pm

January 21, 2017 - indoor range 9am-4pm

February 18, 2017 - indoor range 9am-4pm

March 18, 2017 - indoor range 9am-4pm

April 15, 2017 - indoor range 9am-4pm

May 6 and 7, 2017 - 50yd outdoor range 9am -

???, NMLRA 1000 Point Pistol Shoot

May 20, 2017 - 100yd outdoor range 9am -

4pm

June 17, 2017 - 100yd outdoor range 9am -

4pm

July 15, 2017 - 100yd outdoor range 9am - 4pm

August 19, 2017 - 100yd outdoor range 9am -

4pm

September 16, 2017 - 100yd outdoor range

9am - 4pm

October 21, 2017 - indoor range 9am - 4pm

November 18, 2017 - indoor range 9am - 4pm

December 16, 2017 - indoor range 9am - 4pm

January 20, 2018 - indoor range 9am - 4pm

February 17, 2018 - indoor range 9am - 4pm March 17, 2018 - indoor range 9am - 4pm

Mile Kelly Pistol Shoot through March

2018, 2nd Tuesday of each month:

September 13, 2016 50yd outdoor range 6pm-

9pm

October 11, 2016 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

November 8, 2016 indoor range 6pm-9pm

December 13, 2016 indoor range 6pm-9pm

January 10, 2017 indoor range 6pm-9pm

February 14, 2017 indoor range 6pm-9pm

March 14, 2017 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

April 11, 2017 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

May 9, 2017 50yd outdoor range 6pm - 9pm

June 13, 2017 50yd outdoor range 6pm - 9pm

July 11, 2017 50yd outdoor range 6pm - 9pm

August 8, 2017 50yd outdoor range 6pm - 9pm

September 12, 2017 50yd outdoor range 6pm -

9pm

October 10, 2017 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

November 14, 2017 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

December 12, 2017 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

January 9, 2018 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

February 13, 2018 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

March 13, 2018 indoor range 6pm - 9pm

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Joseph Doddridge continued: Law, Morality, and religion. In the section of the country where my father lived there was, for many years after the settlement of the country, "neither law nor gospel". Our want of legal government was owing to the uncertainty whether we belonged to the state of Virginia or Pennsylvania. The line, which at present divides' the two states, was not run till sometime after the conclusion of the revolutionary war. Thus it happened that after a long period of time we knew nothing of courts, lawyers, sheriff's, or constables. Everyone was therefore at liberty "to do whatever was right in his own eyes".

As this is the state of society which few of my readers have ever witnessed, I shall describe it minutely as I can, and give in detail those moral maxims which, in a great degree, answered the important purposes of municipal jurisprudence. In the first place, let it be observed that in a sparse population, where all the members of the community are well known to each other, and especially in time of war, where every man capable of bearing arms is considered highly valuable as a defender of his country, public opinion has its full effect and answers the purposes of legal government better than it would in a dense population, and in time of peace.

Such was the situation of our people along the frontiers of our settlements. They had no civil, military, or ecclesiastical laws, at least non that were enforced, and yet "they were a law unto themselves", as to the leading obligations of our nature in all the relations in which they stood to each other. The turpitude of vice and the majesty of moral virtue were then as apparent as they are now, and they were then regarded with the same settlements of aversion or respect which they inspire at the present time. Industry in working and hunting, bravery in war, candor, honesty, hospitality and steadiness of deportment, received their full reward of public opinion. The punishments which they inflicted upon offenders, by the imperial court of public opinion, were well adapted for the reformation of the culprit or his expulsion from the community. The punishments for idleness, lying, dishonesty, and ill fame generally was that of "hating the offender out", as they expressed it. This mode of chastisement was like the "atimea" of the Greeks. It was a public expression in various ways, of a general sentiment of indignation against such as transgressed the moral maxims of the community to which they belonged. This commonly resulted in the reformation or banishment of the person against whom it was directed.

At house raising, log rollings, and harvest parties, everyone was expected to do his duty faithfully. A person who did not perform his share of labor on these occasions was designated by the epithet of Lawrence, or

some other title still more opprobrious; and when it came to his turn to require the like aid from his neighbors, the idler soon felt his punishment in their refusal to attend to his calls. Although there was no legal compulsion to the performance of military duty, yet every man of full age and size was expected to do his full share of public service. If he did not do so he was "hated out a coward". Even the want of any article of war equipments, such as ammunition, a sharp flint, a priming wire, a scalping

knife or tomahawk, was thought highly disgraceful. A man who, without a reasonable cause, failed to go on a scout or campaign, when it came to his turn, met with an expression of indignation in the countenances of all

of his neighbors, and epithets of dishonor were fastened upon him without mercy. Debts, which make such an uproar in civilized life, were but little known among our forefathers at the early settlements of this country. After the depreciation of the continental paper they have no money of any

kind; everything purchased was paid for in produce or labor. A good cow and calf was often the price of a bushel of alum salt. If a contract was not punctually fulfilled, the credit of the delinquent was at an end. Any petty theft was punished with all the infamy that could be heaped upon the offender. A man on a campaign stole from his comrade a cake out of the ashes in which it was baking. He was immediately named

"the bread rounds". This epithet of reproach was bandied about in this way; when he came in sight of a group of men, one of them would call "Who comes there?" Another would answer " the bread rounds". If anyone meant to be more serious about the matter, he could call out, "who stole the cake out of the ashes?"

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Another replied giving the man's name in full; a third would give a confirmation exclaiming, "That is true and no lie". This type of tongue lashing he was doomed to bear for the rest of the campaign, as well as for years after his return home.

If a theft was detected in any of the frontier settlements, a summery mode of punishment was always resorted to. The first settlers, as I know of them, had a kind of innate or hereditary detestation of the crime of theft, in any shape or degree, and their maxim was that "a thief must be whipped." If the theft was something of some value, a kind of jury of the neighborhood, after hearing the testimony, would condemn the culprit to Moses's law, that is, to forty stripes save one. If the theft was of some small article, the offender was doomed to carry on his back the flag of the United States, which then consisted of thirteen stripes. In either case, some able hands were selected to execute the sentence, so that the stripes were well laid on. This punishment was followed by a sentence of exile. He was then informed he must decamp in so many days and be seen no more on penalty of having the number of stripes doubled. For many years after the law was put in operation in the western part of Virginia the magistrates themselves were in the habit of giving those who were brought before them on charges of small thefts the liberty of being sent to jail or taking a whipping. The latter was commonly chosen and was immediately inflicted, after which the thief was ordered to clear out. In some instances, stripes were inflicted, not for the punishment of an offense, but for the purpose of extorting a confession from suspected persons. This was the torture of our early times, and no doubt sometimes very unjustly inflicted. If a woman was given to tattling and slandering her neighbors, she was furnished, by common consent, with a kind of patent right to say whatever she pleased without being believed. Her tongue was then said to be harmless, or to be no scandal.

With all their rudeness, these people were given to hospitality, and freely divided their rough fare with a neighbor or stranger, and would have been offended at the offer of pay. In their settlements and forts they lived, they worked, they fought and feasted, or suffered together, in cordial harmony. They were warm and constant in their friendships. On the other hand, they were revengeful in their resentments, and the point of honor sometimes led to combats. If one man called the other a liar, he was considered as having given a challenge which the person who received it must accept, or be deemed a coward, and the charge was generally answered on the spot with a blow. If the injured person was decidedly unable to fight the aggressor he might get a friend to do it for him. The same thing took place on a charge of cowardice, or any other dishonorable action; a battle must follow and the person who made the charge must fight either the person against whom he made the charge of any champion who was chose to espouse his cause. Thus circumstanced, our people in early times were much more cautious of speaking evil of their neighbors then they are at present.

Sometimes pitched battles occurred in which time, place and seconds were appointed beforehand. I remember having seen one of those pitched battles in my father's fort, when a boy. One of the young men knew very well beforehand that he should get the worst of the battle, and no doubt repented the engagement to fight; but there was no getting over it. The point of honor demanded the risk of battle. He got his whipping; they then shook hands and were good friends afterwards.

The modes of single combat in those days were dangerous in the extreme; although no weapons were used, fists, teeth and feet were employed at will, but above all the detestable practice of gouging, by which eyes were sometimes put out, rendered this mode of fighting frightful indeed: it was not, however, so destructive as the stiletto of an Italian, the knife of a Spaniard, the small sword of the Frenchman, or the pistol of the American or English duelist. Instances of seduction and bastardy did not happen frequently in our times. I remember one instance of the former, in which the life of a man was put in jeopardy by the resentment of the family for which the girl belonged. Indeed, considering the chivalrous temper of our people, this crime could not take place without great personal danger from the brothers or other relations of the victims of seductions, family honor being then estimated at a high rate.

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I do not recollect that profane language was much more prevalent in our early times than at present. Among the people I was most conversant, there was no other vestige of the Christian religion than a faint observation of Sunday, and that merely a day of rest for the aged, and a play day for the young. The first Christian service I ever heard was in the garrison church in Baltimore county in Maryland, where my father had sent me to school. I was then about ten years old. The appearance of the church, the windows of which were gothic, the white surplice of the minister, and the responses in the service, overwhelmed me with surprise. Among my schoolfellows in that place, it was a matter of reproach to me that I was not baptized, and why? Because, as they said, I had no name. Such was their notion of the efficacy of baptism.

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