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Weekly News September 29, 2014Description
The Atlantic Indians, (1918- ): Ruth and I returned Sunday night from a day at the annual Pow-Wow (trapshooting tournament) of the Atlantic Indians, a membership trapshooting organization founded in 1918. My father, T. Clarence Marshall, was a charter member and served as High Chief (President) in 1945-46. Ruth had never attended a trapshoot before, and it was my first since 1972. We were entertained royally at their annual banquet at the Inn at Pocono Manor and witnessed some of the competition at the nearby shooting grounds.
For most of their history, the “Indians” have had a membership numbering between 100 and 150, with an average attendance at their tournaments of about 100 shooters, 15 or 20 of whom are women. In the early years, the tournaments were held at various gun clubs in the northeast, but in 1930, the organization settled on Buckwood Inn at Shawnee-on-the-Delaware in Pennsylvania, where temporary traps were erected on the river bank and the lead shot fell into the Delaware River. It was a convenient location, equidistant from New York and Philadelphia with the four traps located on the front lawn of the hotel. Except for one year (1936), the annual three- or four-day shoot, usually in September, was held at Shawnee until the early 1980s. Fred Waring bought the property at the end of World War II and changed the name to Shawnee Inn.
Mainly because of environmental concerns, the Indians moved their fall tournament to Pocono Manor, about 25 miles northwest of Shawnee, in the early 1980s. Although over ½ mile from the inn, permanent shooting grounds were established that serve them well. In fact, a slightly smaller annual spring tournament is held in May at this location. These spring shoots are not new to the organization, either. In the 1930s and 1940s, usually one or two days in length, these shoots were held at the Wilmington Trapshooting Association, at the Quaker City Gun Club in Philadelphia, and on the boardwalk at Asbury Park, New Jersey, where shooters, standing on the boardwalk, shot at clay targets thrown over the ocean from temporary traps on the beach.
In 1923, the Rhode Island Reds, an early trapshooting organization, donated a heavy bronze trophy to the Atlantic Indians for an annual competition. It has an Indian brave with a spear sitting on his horse, and it weighs close to 100 pounds. The idea was that the shooter with the highest score in the handicap event each year would win “the horse” and have possession of the trophy for one year, after which he would bring it back for the next year’s competition. Each year’s winner’s name was engraved on the trophy. In addition, a small bronze replica about eight inches long was presented to the winner for his permanent possession. Many years ago, it became impractical to transport the full-sized trophy, so it stays at Pocono Manor. This year’s winner was 23-year-old Nathan Storb, who broke 92 out of 100 from 25 yards.
This was the 92nd year the “horse” has been in competition. Five shooters have won it twice. I won in 1942 and am the only living Indian who won it before 1968. That is the reason Ruth and I were invited to Pocono Manor this past weekend, so an ancient “has-been” could present the trophy to the 2014 winner. Our FAHP member Tom Bullock was responsible for our invitation. We enjoyed the experience and were treated like royalty.
Work Report: On Tuesday, September 23, nine volunteers were on hand as follows: Jerry Novak (in charge), Dave Leon, Steve Bryce, Bob Jordan, Jerry Lucas, Tom Marshall, Ted Kamen, John Bacino and Devon Hall.
A new bracket for the whistle on Locomotive 401 was fabricated by Dave Leon to replace the broken one. Jerry Lucas filled the boiler and cleaned the Model 76 after its trip to Hagley on 9/14. Jerry Novak and several helpers moved the ’32 Packard and the Rauch & Lang electric back to their permanent places in the museum. All museum cars were properly arranged. The chairs were returned from the museum to the office.
The flower pot display stands were stored in the attic, as were the wheel chocks used on 9/21. Display cabinets were moved to a more permanent location. John Bacino and Devon Hall had a continuing lesson from Tom in the “driving course.” This time, fuel, water, and pressures were checked on the Mountain Wagon before the various steps required to light the pilot and the main fire were undertaken. The steam pressure was raised to 200#. (The next “lesson” is scheduled for October 2.)
On Thursday, September 25, 14 volunteers were here, as follows: Jim Personti, Bob Jordan, Geoff Fallows, Gerhard Maute, Eugene Maute, Tim Ward, Gary Green, Dave Leon, Steve Bryce, Ed Paschall, Mark Russell, Bob Stransky, Ted Kamen, and Tom Marshall (in charge).
Mark Russell, Ted Kamen, and Bob Stransky took the new cart for the popcorn machine out of its shipping crate. The axle nuts were loosened enough to allow the wheels to turn freely, but it was discovered that one of the wheels had been bent in shipment. This was straightened by Jim Personti and Geoff Fallows. They also turned down two more piston-halves for the Model H-5 engine. Dave Leon and Gary Green thoroughly cleaned Locomotive 401 after its runs on 9/21. Steve Bryce and Dave Leon installed the pilot on the Model 607, found a cap screw leaking, annealed and inserted a new gasket under the head, and tested it. The pin was filed slightly to make the pilot a little stronger, and they feel it is just right.
Tim Ward, with help from Ed Paschall, resumed the cleaning work on the body of the Model 750. Bob Jordan checked on the Model 607 and was glad to learn that Bill Schwoebel has received the necessary speedometer drive to make the speedo operable again. The Maute brothers continued their work in the library.
Our Work Session on September 30 will be shortened so we can enjoy the party for Tim Nolan, who is moving to Colorado permanently.
