Military Funeral of Major General Collery and Preparations for Archduke Johann's Grand Marksmen's Festival

Meran, 8 April. We have just laid to rest Major General Collery, Knight of the Military Order of Maria Theresa and of three other orders, most recently brigadier in Reutte, who recently earned the rank of general through his valor on the Hungarian battlefields, but thereby also lost his health, and has now fallen victim to the hardships endured. Only a company of the Grand Duke of Baden Infantry stationed in Bozen and our National Guard were able to provide him with military honors, as there are no other troops stationed in the wider area around Meran. We must consider it a particular mark of honor for the deceased that Archduke Heinrich in colonel's uniform, arriving from Bozen with his illustrious brothers, escorted him to the grave. Alongside the local authorities, many of the visitors staying here, such as the Princes Solms and Isenburg and others, also joined the funeral procession.

Our grand marksmen's festival will begin on 18 May. H.I.H. Archduke Johann wished—to use the local expression—to give it solemnly as his "Hochzeitundelsschießen". As the owner of the castle in Schenna, he had originally intended it for that municipality. However, as the local conditions in Schenna seemed too confined for so magnificent a celebration, His Highness resolved to hold it in Meran. The Archduke will arrive in Schenna eight days before the start of the festival with the young Count of Meran, who trained this winter to become a fine target marksman; and on the opening day he will have the grand prizes and banners solemnly conveyed to Meran by the marksmen of Schenna. H.I.H. is not only donating 120 ducats as top prizes, but has also undertaken to cover all other expenses necessary to dignify the festival, and will devote a sum of approximately 4,000 fl. to it. The local shooting range calculated the expenses to be incurred here alone at 1,081 fl. CM; the Archduke, however, granted the round sum of 1,500 fl. CM for this purpose. Even more considerable are the expenses for the splendid festival decorations, which are being procured in Innsbruck through the art dealer Mr. Unterberger and will certainly prove very tasteful, having been ordered and precisely specified by H.I.H. himself. These include the numerous banners and wreaths containing the top prizes; then distinct banners for each of the country's nine district shooting ranges, which are to be presented to the marksmen delegations appearing from these ranges as an enduring keepsake to take home; furthermore, several rifles and presentation targets; also distinct bronze medallions for "four-ring" shooters and bullseye pins for center shooters. As a goblet for the ceremonial toast, a magnificent ibex horn is to be used, whose golden rim will bear a thoughtful motto. With such preparations, the grandeur of the shooting contest can well be gauged, and we may expect marksmen from across the entire land. As all expenses are assumed and covered by the Archduke, the shooting range is also enabled to set the entry fees for the marksmen so that everyone will be satisfied. The young marksmen are also provided for, as a separate top prize is reserved solely for them, in which the seasoned marksmen may not take part. The formal invitation will contain all these personal arrangements of His Imperial Highness.