Preparations for the Grand Shooting Festival under Archduke Johann

Daily report.

Merano, 8 April. A correspondence of today's date in the Tir. Bothe reports the following regarding the great open shooting competition beginning on the 18th of next month: Our great marksmen's festival will begin on 18 May. His Imperial Highness Archduke Johann wished—to use the local expression—to give it solemnly as his Hochzeitnudelschießen. As 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 festival, His Highness resolved to hold it in Merano. The Archduke will arrive in Schenna eight days before the opening of the festival with the young Count of Meran, who trained diligently this past winter to become an accomplished target marksman, and will then have the prizes and flags brought solemnly to Merano by the marksmen of Schenna on opening day. His Imperial Highness is not only donating 120 ducats in prizes, but has also assumed coverage of all other expenses required to glorify the festival, devoting an approximate sum of 4,000 florins to that end. The local shooting range calculated the expenditures to be incurred here alone at 1,081 fl. CM; in response, the Archduke approved the round sum of 1,500 fl. CM. Even more substantial are the expenses for the splendid festival decorations, which are being procured in Innsbruck through the art dealer Unterberger and will certainly turn out very tasteful, having been personally arranged and specified in detail by His Imperial Highness. Among them are numerous flags and wreaths carrying the prizes; distinct flags for each of the country's nine district shooting ranges, to be given to the visiting marksmen's deputations from these ranges to take home as an enduring memento; furthermore, several stutzen rifles and painted display targets; also special bronze medallions for four-ring shooters and center-bull pins for center marksmen. Serving as the goblet for the toast of honor will be a magnificent ibex horn, upon whose golden band a thoughtful motto will be inscribed. Given such preparations, one can gauge the magnificence of the competition, and marksmen from across the entire land are expected to attend. Since all costs are assumed and defrayed by the Archduke, the shooting range has also been able to set entry conditions in such a way that everyone will be satisfied. The young marksmen are likewise provided for, as a dedicated festival has been set aside for them, in which the adult prize marksmen may not take part. The official shooting invitation will contain all these personal directions issued by His Imperial Highness.