What Do We Know of the Great "Race Field" of Pelham Used in the First Half of the 19th Century?

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Tradition long has held that in the early 19th century there was an important horse racing area in the Town of Pelham that was known as the great "Race Field."  The Race Field reportedly attracted important wealthy thoroughbred owners from far and near who traveled to Pelham to test their horses, race them, bet, and enjoy the region.

What do we really know about this tradition of a great "Race Field?"

In his seminal book on the history of Pelham published in 1946, Lockwood Barr mentioned the Race Field.  He wrote:

"In some of the ancient books narrating life in Westchester, there are references to a famous Pelhamville Race Track, where Westchester squires who bred fast-trotting and pacing horses and were proud of their sporting proclivities, would meet to hold friendly brushes, each driving his own favorite steed; and they do say the side bets were often sizeable!  In the map room of the New York Public Library, is a map of Westchester dated 1851, showing this 'Race Field' in Pelhamville as being located west of the present New Haven Railroad Station, east of the Hutchinson River, extending from about where is now the old ice plant, up beyond where is now St. Catharine's Church.  The word 'Race' is on the south side, and 'Field' on the north side of the New Haven Railroad.  Since the Railroad began operation through Pelham in 1848, the Race Field must have been there long before that date."

Source:  Barr, Lockwood, A Brief, But Most Complete & True Account of the Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham Westchester County, State of new York Known One Time Well & Favourably as The Lordshipp & Mannour of Pelham Also the Story of the Three Modern Villages Called the Pelhams, pp. 133-34 (Richmond, VA:  The Dietz Press, Inc., 1946).  

The map referenced by Lockwood Barr in the quote above is the "Map of West Chester County, New York" published by Newell S. Brown (Philadelphia, PA) in 1851.  The Surveyor was Sidney & Neff.  A pertinent detail from that map appears immediately below.

Detail from 1851 Map of Westchester County Showing Northern

Tip of the Town of Pelham with "Race Field" Noted on Each Side

of the New Haven Railroad Line.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

A sporting magazine published in 1884 provided some interesting information about the great Race Field that once stood in Pelham in an article about famed local horse Barometer, winner of the 1884 Great Pelham Steeplechase.  The article stated in pertinent part:

"The neighborhood [surrounding the Country Club Steeplechase grounds that once stood along today's Shore Road] is also not without its turf history.  About a mile to the north, and in sight of the spire of the old Eastchester Church is the broad heath which, in the past generation was known as the Race Field.  Here it was that nearly a century since the Pells, the Morrises, the Delanceys, and others of the old Westchester families tested their thoroughbreds.  Racing had a well-defined existence even at that early day, as many of the settlers had brought with them their fondness for the sport. . . ."

Source:  Barometer, Winner of the Great Pelham Steeplechase, Owned and Ridden by J. D. Cheever, Esq., The Spirit of the Times, Oct. 25, 1884, Vol. 108, No. 18, p. 409, col. 1.  

In 1881, Robert Bolton, Jr. made a brief reference to the "Race Field" in the second edition of his seminal history of Westchester County.  There, Bolton was writing about the home that once belonged to James Hay known today as Pelhamdale (located at 45 Iden Avenue).  Bolton stated in pertinent part:

"Pelham Dale, the property of Hargous, is delightfully situated near the junction of the salt and fresh waters of the Acqueanouncke.  This estate formerly belonged to Colonel David Pell; and upon the division of his property, was purchased by the late James Hay, Esq.  The dwelling house is a handsome structure of stone, and commands a beautiful view of Hutchinson's River, together with the distant village and spire of Eastchester.  The garden contains a choice collection of trees and shrubs, and is also enlivened by a running stream.  About half a mile further up the valley is situated the 'Race Field,' once famous in the annals of the turf, adjoining which is the village of Pelhamville; here is a depot of the New Haven Railroad and a small Episcopal church, called the Church of the Redeemer. . ."

Source:  Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester from its First Settlement to the Present Time Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, pp. 68-69 (NY, NY:  Chas. F. Roper, 1881).  

From such sources we can surmise the following about the Great Race Field of Pelham.  It predated the construction of the New Haven Line, the first tracks of which were laid in 1847 and 1848.  For perhaps a decade or two before that, maybe longer, the broad heath that stood between the intersection of today's Fifth Avenue and 1st Street and today's Pelham Reservoir beyond the Hutchinson River Parkway was the site of the great Race Field.  Very roughly, the tracks of the New Haven Line built on an artificial berm to raise the tracks through the region split the broad heath where the great Race Field once stood.  A portion of the Race Field must have been located where the giant parking lot now sits behind the Village of Pelham Village Hall.  On the other side of the New Haven Line, the Race Field must have extended roughly to where St. Catharine's now stands.  Additionally, it would seem that Westchester families such as the Morrises and the Delanceys raced and tested their thoroughbreds on the great Race Field in days long gone.

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Is This the Earliest Documented Professional Prize Fight Held in the Town of Pelham?

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Though difficult to imagine, the Town of Pelham once was one of the most popular havens for prize fights in the New York City region.  Bare-knuckled brawls were held in Pelham because it was so desolate, so difficult to reach at the time, and had no meaningful police force -- only a handful of Town Police Constables.  Consequently, a number of nationally-renowned prize fighters fought for large cash purses in the midst of crowds of gamblers, often in hotels or barns near Pelham Bridge on Shore Road.  

I have written about such prize fights on a number of occasions.  See, e.g.:

Mon., Jul. 17, 2017:  Rode a Horse to Death Getting to and From the Famous Yankee Sullivan Prize Fight in Pelham on August 29, 1842.

Fri., Mar. 17, 2017:  "One of the Fiercest" Prize Fights On Record Between Tommy Flannigan and Pete McCabe in Pelham on November 1, 1888.

Tue., Apr. 26, 2016:  Another Pelham Prize Fight: American Jim Larkin Defeated Englishman Bill Hook on June 27, 1889.

Wed., Jan. 27, 2016:  Yet Another Illegal Prize Fight in Pelham in 1887.

Wed., Jan. 20, 2016:  Another Exciting Account of 1884 Pelham Prize Fight Between Jim Murray of New York and Tom Henry of England. 

Wed., Nov. 04, 2015:  The Famous Nineteenth Century Prize Fighter Yankee Sullivan Fought in Pelham in 1842. 

Thu., Jul. 10, 2014:  Illegal Prize Fight in Pelham in 1902. 

Wed., Feb. 12, 2014:  Pelham Was the Scene of Illegal Prize Fights During the Early Days of the "Sweet Science" of Boxing. 

Wed., Mar. 23, 2005:  Prize Fighting At Pelham Bridge in 1884. 

Tue., Oct. 04, 2005:  Front Page of the May 12, 1902 Issue of The Pelham Republican (describing the fight between Joe Gleacher and Joe Kerwin held in the spring of 1902; Gleacher was found in Mt. Vernon after the fight and was arrested, although Kerwin apparently escaped to Philadelphia before his arrest).

When was the earliest organized prize fight held in Pelham?  Though it is not known with certainty, the earliest seems to have been a major fight between James Reed of Philadelphia and Thomas Barrett of New York City (known as "Long Tom") on June 8, 1835.  (Some accounts erroneously identified Barrett as "Samuel Barrett," his brother's name.)  The fight was a brutal bare-knuckled affair that lasted forty-seven or forty-eight rounds (depending on the account) and stretched for one hour and ten minutes.

The Queensbury Rules for prize fighting did not yet exist.  They were devised more than thirty years later in 1867 by John Graham Chambers of the Amateur Athletic Club in England.  The London Prize Fight rules established by the British Pugilists’ Protective Association did not yet exist either.  They were devised three years later in 1838 (and were revised in 1853).  Thus, the Reed-Barrett prize fight fought in Pelham likely was fought under the original set of prize fight rules devised by Jack Broughton in 1743.

The Broughton rules were fairly simple.  The rules were intended to protect fighters in the ring from death.  If a man went down during the fight and could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over.  Hitting a fighter who was down was prohibited.  Although wrestling holds above the waist were permitted, grasping below the waist was prohibited.

The fight between "Long Tom" Barrett and James Reed was held on Hart Island just off the shore of City Island.  (Both islands were part of the Town of Pelham at the time and remained so until annexation by New York City in 1895.)  At the time Hart Island was virtually uninhabited.  Adjacent City Island had only about 400 to 500 residents.

Newspapers throughout the nation reported accounts of the fight, describing it as "a gallant and severe one."  Each of the fighters brought a large entourage including seconds.  

Immediately before the fight, there was a parlay during which those in attendance exchanged bets on the two prize fighters.  When the fight commenced, the two athletes immediately began pummeling each other.  Though the fight went either 47 or 48 rounds (depending on various accounts), it lasted an exhausting one hour and ten minutes.  One of the few descriptions of the progress of the fight stated:

"The fight commenced with a parley, was followed by blows, afterwards a smasher followed by claret, both went down -- afterwards rallied -- one caught a cross buttacher -- to'ther planted a knowing one -- Reed threw a somerset over the ropes -- both lost their wind -- Reed got a smasher in the bread-basket -- he also got a winder. . . ."

At the close of the 47th round, a dispute erupted between the entourages of the two fighters.  Some claimed it originated with the entourage, including seconds, of James Reed who seemed to be more worse off than his opponent, Long Tom.  The implications of the reports were that Reed was struggling and needed time to recover sufficiently to resume the fight.  In any event, the dispute devolved into a brawl between the two sides.  As the crowd brawled, they broke down the ring within which the fight was staged.  Cooler heads eventually prevailed.  Once order was restored and the rink was rebuilt for the completion of the fight, it was discovered that James Reed was "unable to come to time."  Long Tom Barrett was declared the victor.  

It may be hard to imagine Pelham as a center for the sport of prize fighting.  Yet, for decades during the mid- to late 19th century, the little town was precisely that.  It was desolate and dark with little law enforcement protection to interfere.  It was immediately adjacent to New York City but also outside the jurisdiction of New York City police.  Thus, Pelham repeatedly was the scene of famous fights including the June 8, 1835 fight between Long Tom Barrett of New York City and James Reed of Philadelphia.  

A Bare-Knuckled Prize Fight, Circa 1880's, Like Many

Prize Fights Held in Pelham Between 1835 and the Early
20th Century.  NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *         *         *          *

"Another Pugilistic Encounter. -- A fight took place yesterday, at Hart's Island, 22 miles from New York, between James Reed, of Philadelphia, and Samuel Barrett, of this city.  The contest was a gallant and severe one, and lasted one hour and ten minutes, during which forty-seven rounds were fought.  At this stage of the affair, a row commenced; originating, it is supposed, with the partizans [sic] of Reed.  This was, however, quelled, after a short period, and the 'business of the day was resumed, when it was found that Reed was unable to come to time, and Barrett was declared the victor."

Source:  Another Pugilistic Encounter, N.Y. Transcript, Jun. 9, 1835, Vol. II, No. 108, p. 2, col. 2.  

"Pugilism.  --  Last week a regular match fight took place at Hart Island near Hell-gate, between Reed and Barrett, who by description must have been experienced prize fighters.  The fight is described in detail in some of the N. Y. papers.  They had 48 rounds, occupying one hour and ten minutes.  The fight commenced with a parley, was followed by blows, afterwards a smasher followed by claret, both went down -- afterwards rallied -- one caught a cross buttacher -- to'ther planted a knowing one -- Reed threw a somerset over the ropes -- both lost their wind -- Reed got a smasher in the bread-basket -- he also got a winder.  Barrett came off victorious.  At the close the ring was broken, and the seconds and all were fighting.  This prize fighting is a foreign fashion, lately introduced among us."

Source:  Pugilism, The Long-Island Star [Brooklyn, NY], Jun. 18, 1835, p. 2, col. 4 (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

"REED AND BARRETT.  --  In the same year, Jem [sic] Reed and Tom Barrett, alias Long Tom, of Philadelphia, fought at Hart's Island, but after some hard work, the ring was broken in, and a row ensued, which terminated the fight.  There was but little difference between them at the close of the fight."

Source:  "CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL PRIZE FIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES" in The American Fistiana:  Containing a History of Prize Fighting in the United States, with All the Principal Battles for the Last Forty Years, and a Full and Precise Account of all the Particulars of the Great $10,000 Match Between Sullivan and Hye With Their Method of Training for the Fight, as Described by Patrick Timony, Esq., p. 29 (NY, NY:  H. Johnson, 1849).  

"THOMAS BARRETT THE BOXER -- Philadelphia, Nov. 12, 1858.  Frank Queen.  --  Dear Sir:  Although a careful reader of your paper, I recollect not seeing much about a gentleman whose rank as one of the best sparrers in the United States is unquestionable.  --  I allude to Thomas Barrett, Esq. of this city.  This omission may have proceeded from the fact that he now belongs to the olden time, and won his fame before the CLIPPER was instituted.  Permit me, therefore, to say something of him.  

Mr. Barrett, a native of London, came to Philadelphia, about the year 1832, and established a gymnasium in Market street near [illegible].  Soon after that I paid a visit to the establishment, then a novelty, to see 'the English [illegible].'  With his light complexion and ruddy cheeks, he looked at you; his stature was very tall, and he seemed an ox in strength.

The gymnasium became popular, was patronized by persons of high respectability, and recommended by a lot of physicians as the best medicine.  Samuel Barrett, an older brother, an excellent sparrer [remainder illegible]

Source:  THOMAS BARRETT THE BOXER, N.Y. Clipper, Nov. 26, 1858, Vol. VI, No. 31, p. 3, col. 2.  

"THE AMERICAN PRIZE-RING.
-----
Its Battles, Its Wrangles and Its Heroes.
-----
An Interesting Record of Fistic Sport in the Past.
-----
A Fight Which Lasted Two Hours and Fifty-Five Minutes and Embraced 1010 Rounds.
-----
COUNTRY M'CLOSKEY'S PLUCK.
-----
WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, BY W. E. HARDING.
-----
(Continued.)

Abe Vanderzee and Frank Speight fought at Fort Washington, on the Hudson, near New York, on Sept. 26, 1837.  Fourteen rounds were fought in twenty minutes, and Abe was declared the winner.

George Owens, the Manchester Pet, an English pugilist, arrived from England in September.  He was matched to fight Jim Reed, of Cincinnati, who had defeated McLane and fought a draw [sic] with Tom Barrett.  The fight took place at Fort Washington, N. Y.; on Nov. 10, 1837.  Owens proved to be a first-class pugilist, and he whipped Reed in thirty-nine rounds, lasting one hour, forty minutes. . . ."

Source:  Harding, W. E., THE AMERICAN PRIZE-RING -- Its Battles, Its Wrangles and Its Heroes -- An Interesting Record of Fistic Sport in the Past -- A Fight Which Lasted Two Hours and Fifty-Five Minutes and Embraced 1010 Rounds -- COUNTRY M'CLOSKEY'S PLUCK, The National Police Gazette [NY, NY], Jun. 12, 1880, Vol. XXXVI, No. 142, p. 15, col. 1.  

"The men who competed in combative, 'ritualized, rule-bound, respectable spectacles' of bareknuckle boxing were likely workingmen of the traditionalist variety, demonstrating 'no fast and hard distinction between work and play.'  Unlike their revivalist counterparts, Philadelphia's traditionalist workers refused to label 'certain amusements as sinful,' indulging in a wide range of sporting pursuits, from hunting and fishing, to balloon launchings and cockfighting.  Spectator sports were particularly appealing to traditionalist artisans, permitting large groups of men to exercise communal masculinities vicariously by supporting a representative -- human or animal -- of their group.  Although cockfighting and dogfighting were popular amongst traditionalists, prizefighting was their spectator sport of choice.  Andy McLane was one of Philadelphia's earliest pugilistic heroes.  McLane's first recorded prizefight was his 1832 defeat of Jim Sanford on the outskirts of Philadelphia.  On May 7, 1833, McLane continued his pugilistic exploits, facing William 'Boss' Harrington, a New York City butcher, on neutral ground in Baltimore, Maryland, for one thousand dollars.  When it became apparent that Harrington would defeat McLane, however, the latter's followers tore down the ring, drawing their knives and pistols, to end the bout before Harrington could earn a decisive victory.  The violence surrounding the McLane-Harrington bout was exactly the sort of behavior that led many Philadelphians to demonize the prize ring, labeling it a source of immorality and vice.  While Lane's popularity in Philadelphia waned, sibling English boxers Tom and Sam Barrett were incorporating sparring into the activities offered at their local gymnasium.  When one of the Barrett brothers -- sources differ on which -- attempted to parlay his sporting popularity into a prizefight with Jim Reed of Cincinnati in 1836 [sic], however, the outcome was strikingly similar to the McLane-Harrington debacle, resulting in the destruction of the ring and a general brawl before a winner could be determined. 53  [Endnote 53, p. 250, states:  "Most historical works claim it was Tom Barrett who fought Jim Reed.  See, Timothy, American Fistiana, 29; National Police Gazette, June 5, 1880.  A resident of Pittsburgh, however, wrote the New York Clipper in 1858 claiming it was in fact Sam Barrett that fought Reed.  See, New York Clipper, November 20, 1858."]

The Barrett-Reed prizefight, staged at Hart's Island, New York, was likely facilitated by the advent of rail transportation between Pennsylvania and New York City.  In 1833, the Camden and Amboy Railroad provided relatively quick travel -- about nine hours, including a ferry and stagecoach -- between the Quaker and Empire cities.  While this new rail connection presented prizefighters with an array of potential fighting grounds, it also accelerated the formation of a more thoroughly class-based society in Philadelphia, dividing the population sharply between a working class of manual laborers and a middle class of non-manual workers.  Although the new railway connecting Philadelphia to New York increased demand for Philadelphian products domestically, the locomotive also ushered in an era of considerable industrialization. . . ."

Source:  Ross, Greggory M., Boxing in the Union Blue:  A Social History of American Boxing in the Union States During the Late Antebellum and Civil War Years, The University of Western Ontario Western Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies:  Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository, pp. 209-10 & n. 53 (Ontario, Canada:  May 2014) (certain endnotes omitted).  

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The Tenth Trapshooting Amateur National Championships Held in Pelham in 1915

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Introduction

Anticipation was high!  Over the winter of 1914-1915, the New York Athletic Club spent more $50,000 (about $1,262,000 in today's dollars) to improve its already-famous shooting grounds on Travers Island in the little Town of Pelham.  The improvements made the shooting grounds "undoubtedly the best in the country."  The improvements were prompted by the highly-anticipated tenth annual Amateur Championship of America among trap shooters from throughout the United States held on Travers Island April 30 - May 1, 1915.

Among the 143 who stepped to the firing line during that competition was George Leonidas Lyon.  An avid sportsman and trap-shooting enthusiast, Lyon was among the best in the United States.  Indeed, he was tapped to serve as an Olympic Coach and adviser to the United States Men's Trap Team for the Summer Games of the V Olympiad held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912.  He coached James Graham of the United States to the Gold Medal in the Men's Trap event at those games.  He led the entire team to a first place finish in those Summer Games.

In the spring of 1915, however, as Lyon stood on the firing line at the New York Athletic Club among his friends and competitors, only he knew that his health was failing him.  His beautiful wife, Annie Snowden Carr Lyon, had died of tuberculosis only months before in 1914.  George Lyon suffered from the same disease; it was taking its toll.  Indeed, as Lyon stood on the Travers Island firing line, his life was ebbing away.  He even admitted, at the time, that he was in "very poor health."  George Lyon would die of the terrible disease only nine months later on January 11, 1916 in a sanatorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he sought relief.

During the two-day championship competition April 30 - May 1, 1915 held on Travers Island, however, George Lyon used all energy he could muster to focus on the competition.  When the event ended, he had broken all records and finished as the Amateur Champion of America in men's trap.  He considered it his "greatest triumph."

Portrait of George Leonidas Lyon in About 1911.  Source:

Ashe, Samuel A'Court, et al., Sketches from the Biographical

History of North Carolina, p. 316 (Greensboro, NC:  C. L.

Van Noppen, 1908 - 1925).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

George Leonidas Lyon

George Leonidas Lyon was born on February 3, 1881 in Durham, North Carolina.  He was the second son of Robert E. and Mary Duke Lyon.  His paternal grandfather, Zachariah Inge Lyon, was a tobacco magnate, as was his maternal grandfather, noted philanthropist Washington Duke.  

As a young man, Lyon received a sterling education at Horner School (Oxford, North Carolina), Bingham Military School (founded in Mebane, North Carolina in 1865 and moved to Asheville in 1891.  This school is not to be confused with Bingham Military School founded in Williamsborough, North Carolina in 1826 and subsequently moved to Littleton and then Oxford, North Carolina).  Lyon matriculated for two years at Trinity College (now Duke University) in 1897.  

While visiting in Baltimore in 1901, Lyon attended a match at the Baltimore Shooting Association.  One of the members of the Association showed Lyon how to shoot clay targets and was shocked to learn that Lyon was a natural talent.  This sparked an interest in firearms that led Lyon to a career as a field representative and demonstrator for such companies as Remington Arms, Du Pont Powder, and Union Metallic Cartridge.  Within a remarkably-short time, Lyon "jumped into fame as an amateur and then as a professional trap-shooter."

In 1904, Lyon won the North Carolina - Virginia combined trapshooting championship (one of three such championships.  According to one account, he "progressed year by year for four state wins in North Carolina, the Grand American Preliminary in Chicago, the Southern at Birmingham, and the Great Eastern in Boston, all as an amateur."  Source:  Flannagan, Clara Hamlett Robertson, Lyon, George Leonidas, NCPedida (visited Feb. 2, 2019).

Shooting as an amateur, Lyon competed successfully in the Grand American Handicap held in Indianapolis in 1906.  This "brought him into national fame."  He continued to compete as an amateur until 1910 when he turned professional.  Between 1910 and 1912, he shot professionally representing a number of manufacturers.  (Hence his service as a coach during the 1912 Olympic Summer Games rather than a competitor.)

In 1913, Lyon gave up his professional status and returned to competing as an amateur -- perhaps with his eye on the 1916 Olympic games.  He won a national championship during the 1913 Grand American Handicap in Dayton, Ohio.  He followed that by winning the 1914 and 1915 annual championships of the Long Island Sound Clubs.  According to one biographer, these victories "brought him national recognition again and the popular title of 'Chief Bull Durham,' which had previously been given him in the trapshooting social organization, the Okoboji Indian Chiefs."  Id.

The 1915 Amateur Championship of America on Travers Island

In 1915, Lyon achieved what some believe is among his greatest accomplishments.  He set records in, and won, the tenth annual trapshooting Amateur Championship of America held on Travers Island April 30 - May 1, 1915.

Magic Lantern Slide Displayed to Silent Film Audiences in 1915

During News Displays Prior to Each Movie.  The Caption Reads:

"A team taking part in the national championship trap shooting

contest at Travers Island, N. Y. More than 100 gunners took part.

Shown Through Courtesy of The Haverhill Electric Co."  Source:

Recent eBay Auction.

Anticipation for the 1915 Trapshooting Amateur National Championship on Travers Island was high in the New York Athletic Club and in all of the Town of Pelham.  During the winter of 1914 - 1915, the New York Athletic Club spent more than $50,000 to improve the shooting grounds at the island to make it "undoubtedly the best in the country."  The club enlarged and improved the old shooting house overlooking the bay.  Indeed, according to one newspaper account, the improved shooting house was so nice that it was preferred by shooters over the main clubhouse.  According to the same account, quoted in full at the end of this article, "It has been handsomely furnished in a manner that appeals to the eye of gunners.  Heads of deer, moose and other large game are upon the walls, as also are pictures of hunting and shooting scenes.  Handsome skins are thrown over the floor and there is a big open fireplace in which blazing logs warm the gunners when they come from the firing line."

Even before shooters began registering for the competition, the New York Athletic Club expected the event to be the largest such championship competition to date.  To accommodate such a large event, the club member in charge of trapshooting, George J. Corbett, devised a new technique to move the competition along more quickly.  There were four traps available for shooting.  Previously, trapshooters were broken into multiple groups of four squads with even squads (squads 2 and 4) shooting on traps 1 and 2 and odd squads (squads 1 and 3) shooting on the other two traps -- traps 3 and 4 -- then moving along to the next trap.  Often, one of the squads would finish long before others.  That squad would have to wait to move to the next trap until all gunners had finished on all three other respective traps.

Corbett implemented a new process for the championship.  He described it as follows:

"This year I am going to divide the squads into companies of five squads each and shoot the companies together.  In this manner I should save several hours in handling a big field.  The first company will be made up of squads Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.  In the second company will be squads Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.  The next five squads will make up the next company, and so on until all squads have been put into companies.  At the start of the shoot the first four companies will take to the trap and will interchange at the end of the first string of 'birds.'  In this manner we should facilitate matters and save considerable time.  I expect at least 200 gunners at Travers Island for the amateur championship.'"

Lyon won the preliminaries by breaking 191 out of 200 targets, a new record.  He then broke 192 out of 200 targets in the finals of the championship, another new record.  Of course, his competition total of breaking 383 out of 400 targets was yet another record.  According to a biography of George Lyon, he considered the victory "his greatest triumph."

During the finals, Lyon was pushed by A. L. Chamberlin of Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The targets were shot in eight sets of 25 targets.  After the third set, Chamberlin was up by one target.  After the fourth, Lyon was up by one target.  Lyon was up by three targets at the end of the sixth.  He was up by two targets at the end of the seventh.  The two men each broke 23 out of 25 targets in the eighth and final round, leaving Lyon as the champion with 192 broken targets versus 190 broken by his principal opponent.  The two men shot as follows:

Lyon	23	25	24	25	24	24	24	23	192
Chamberlin	24	25	24	23	22	24	25	23	190

Conclusion

Only months later, George Leonidas Lyon died of tuberculosis on January 11, 1916.  He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in the mausoleum of his maternal grandfather, Washington Duke.  The cemetery is near Lyon's Park in Durham, North Carolina.  The park is named after him.  He was inducted into the Trapshooting Hall of Fame posthumously in 1976.  See Trapshooting Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame Inductee George Lyon Inducted in 1976 (visited Feb. 2, 2019).  

Trapshooting Hall of Famer George Leonidas Lyon died at the age of 34 after achieving his "greatest triumph" in the tiny little town of Pelham, New York.  

Chateauesque Revival Home of George L. Lyon Designed by Charles W. Barrett

Once Located at 803 South Duke Street, Durham, North Carolina and Demolished

in 1975.  Source:  Barrett, Charles W., Colonial Southern Homes -- Illustrated by

Camera and Pen, pp. 20-21 (Raleigh, NC:  Presses of Edwards and Broughton,

1903) (NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge).

*          *          *          *          *

"INTER-YACHT CLUB TRAP-SHOOTING
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NEW ROCHELLE WINS FIRST TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MEET.
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Tenth Annual Amateur Tournament for the National Title on the New York Athletic Club Grounds at Travers Island. . . . 

The tenth annual championship of America will be shot for at the Travers Island traps of the New York Athletic Club on April 30 and May 1.  The preliminary match at 200 targets will be shot on the first day, for five prizes, and on the second day, in addition to the championship, at 200 targets, there will be a five-man team match for that championship, each member of the team receiving a gold medal.  In addition to this, there will be a gold medal for the highest score of the two days, and another for the longest continuous run in the two days.  A silver cup will be given for the top score in 100 targets over each set of traps.  Capt. Corbett, of the New York Athletic Club has made all the arrangements. . . ."

Source:  INTER-YACHT CLUB TRAP-SHOOTING -- NEW ROCHELLE WINS FIRST TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MEET -- Tenth Annual Amateur Tournament for the National Title on the New York Athletic Club Grounds at Travers Island, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Jan. 18, 1915, p. 10, col. 3.  

"GUNNERS TO SHOOT FOR NATIONAL TITLE
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Over 200 Will Assemble on April 30 at N. Y. A. C. Traps on Travers Island.
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NEW SYSTEM TO BE USED
-----

Out of town gunners who take part in the tenth annual amateur championship of America at clay birds on April 30 and on May 1 will be impressed by the improvement that the New York Athletic Club has made in its shooting grounds at Travers Island.  During the winter more than $50,000 has been spent in improvements and the grounds now are undoubtedly the best in the country.

The old shooting house by the waters of Pelham Bay has been enlarged and now is used by the nimrods in preference to the big clubhouse on the island.  It has been handsomely furnished in a manner that appeals to the eye of gunners.  Heads of deer, moose and other large game are upon the walls, as also are pictures of hunting and shooting scenes.  Handsome skins are thrown over the floor and there is a big open fireplace in which blazing logs warm the gunners when they come from the firing line.

Four sets of traps have been used throughout the winter at Travers Island.  As a result the New York Athletic Club has been able to handle an unusually large number of gunners each Saturday.  It has been no uncommon thing to have more than fifty on the firing line.  All this has helped the sport, and indications point to the shoot at the end of the month being the largest ever held for the title.

George J. Corbett, who has had full charge of the shooting at Travers Island this winter, will try an innovation at the big shoot which should facilitate matters.  'It has been the custom in former years,' said Mr. Corbett yesterday, 'to shoot all the even squads in traps No. 1 and No. 2, and all the odd squads on traps Nos. 3 and 4.  It quite often happened that one of the squads would finish long before the other.  It would hold them up for quite some little while as the squads could not swing from one trap to another until all the gunners had finished on their respective traps,

'This year I am going to divide the squads into companies of five squads each and shoot the companies together.  In this manner I should save several hours in handling a big field.  The first company will be made up of squads Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.  In the second company will be squads Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.  The next five squads will make up the next company, and so on until all squads have been put into companies.  At the start of the shoot the first four companies will take to the trap and will interchange at the end of the first string of 'birds.'  In this manner we should facilitate matters and save considerable time.  I expect at least 200 gunners at Travers Island for the amateur championship.'"

Source:  GUNNERS TO SHOOT FOR NATIONAL TITLE -- Over 200 Will Assemble on April 30 at N. Y. A. C. Traps on Travers Island -- NEW SYSTEM TO BE USED, N.Y. Sun, Apr. 4, 1915, Vol. LXXXII, No. 216, p. 15, cols. 5-6.  

"TRAVERS ISLAND SHOOTERS' PARADISE
------

Out of town shooters who will take part in the tenth annual amateur championship of America at clay birds on April 30 and on May 1 will be struck with the improvement that the New York Athletic Club has made in its shooting grounds at Travers Island.  During the winter more than $50,000 has been spent in improvements, and the grounds now are among the best in the country.

the old shooting house by the waters of Pelham Bay has been enlarged and now is used in preference to the big clubhouse on the island.  It has been handsomely furnished in a manner that appeals to the eye of experts.  Heads of deer, moose and other large game are upon the walls, as also are pictures of hunting and shooting scenes.  Handsome skins are thrown over the floor, and there is a big open fireplace in which blazing logs warm the men when they come from the firing line.

Four sets of traps have been used throughout the winter at Travers Island.  As a result the New York Athletic Club has been able to handle an unusually large number of competitors each Saturday.  It has been no uncommon thing to have more than fifty on the firing line.  All this has helped the sport, and indications point to the shoot at the end of the month being the largest ever held for the title.

George J. Corbett, who has had full charge of the shooting at Travers Island this winter, will try an innovation at the big shoot which should facilitate matters.  'It has been the custom in former years,' said Mr. Corbett yesterday, 'to shoot all the even squads in Traps No. 1 and No. 2, and all the odd squads on Traps Nos. 3 and 4.  It quite often happened that one of the squads would finish long before the other.  It would hold them up for quite some little while, as the squads could not swing from one trap to another until all the gunners had finished on their respective traps.

'This year I am going to divide the squads into companies of five squads each and shoot the companies together.  In this manner I should have several hours in handling a big field.  The first company will be made up of Squads Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.  In the second company will be Squads Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.  The next five squads will make up the next company, and so on until all squads have been put into companies.  At the start of the shoot the first four companies will take to the traps and will interchange at the end of the first string of 'birds.'  In this manner we should wonderfully facilitate matters and save considerable time.  I expect at least 200 competitors at Travers Island for the amateur championship.'"

Source:  TRAVERS ISLAND SHOOTERS' PARADISE, N. Y. Herald, Apr. 11, 1915, 1st Section, Part IV, p. 2, col. 6.

"CHAMPIONSHIP TRAP SHOOTING TOURNEY TODAY
-----

NEW YORK -- Record work is expected to take place today, when the amateur marksmen of the United States compete at Travers island in the championship trap shooting tournament of the Amateur Athletic Union.  A preliminary shoot was held Friday and a number of new marks were registered.  

The first record to fall was in the number that took part in the hoot, there being 115 gunners, principally from out of town, on the firing line.  It was the biggest field that ever has taken part in a preliminary shoot.

G. L. Lyon, New York Athletic Club, was the high man of the day.  He captured the feature event with a record score of 191 out of a possible 200 targets.  Last year the event was won by R. L. Spotts, the present amateur champion.  

Spotts finished third yesterday, the second prize going to A. B. Richardson, who comes from Dover, Del.  The fourth gunner was J. L. Snow of Boston.  All these gunners did better than the old record of 184 made by Spotts a year ago.

In addition to the individual shoot, the gunners of the New York Athletic Club and the Boston A. A. decided the second leg of their home and home series.  In the shoot in Boston, the Hub gunners won by 27 targets.  Friday, they were beaten by the Winged Foot experts, who won the second leg by 1783 to 1694 targets.  It gave them 89 targets on the day, enough to win the series by 62."

Source:  CHAMPIONSHIP TRAP SHOOTING TOURNEY TODAY, The Christian Science Monitor [Boston, MA], May 1, 1915, Vol. VII, No. 133, p. 30, col. 2.  

"Trap-Shooting Championship.

The national trap-shooting championship tournament was begun yesterday at Travers Island, and will be concluded today with the contest for the title at 200 targets.  In the preliminary shoot at 200 targets.  In the preliminary shoot at 200 targets yesterday G. L. Lyon of the New York Athletic Club won, with 191; A. B. Richardson was second, with 190; R. L. Spotts, third, with 186; J. L. Snow, fourth, with 185, and A. L. Burns, fifth, 19th 184.  New York Athletic Cub shots won the second leg of their contest with the Boston Athletic Association by 1,783 to 1,694, making their total advantage 62 targets, as they lost by 27 in the first shoot.  The New York Athletic Club second team also beat the Boston Athletic Club second team by 1,543 to 1,433."

Source:  Trap-Shooting Championship, The Evening Post [NY, NY], May 1, 1915, p. 11, col. 6.  

"LYON TAKES TITLE IN NATIONAL SHOOT
-----
Home Representative Leads at Trap with Record Score of 192 Out of 200.
-----
CHAMBERLIN IS SECOND
-----
Bridgeport Gunner Misses Only Ten Targets in Big Event  at Travers Island.
-----

George L. Lyon of Durham, N. C., representing the home club, won the tenth annual national trap shooting championship over the Travers Island traps of the New York Athletic Club yesterday.  He took the event with a score of 192 out of a possible 200 targets.  It was the highest score that has ever won the title.

Lyon had a great fight before he won the title.  Throughout the shoot A. L. Chamberlin of Bridgeport, A. E. Conley of Buffalo, C. H. Newcomb of Philadelphia, a former national champion, and E. A. Randall of Portland, Me., were always close up.  Conley led at the end of the sixth string by a single bird.

In the next 25, Lyon came back and was only seven down at the 175 mark.  The other three were ten down.  The champion finally won by two targets from Chamberlin.  The individual strings of the two leaders were:

Lyon -- 23, 25, 24, 25, 24, 24, 24, 23 -- 192.

Chamberlin -- 24, 25, 24, 23, 22, 24, 25, 23 -- 190

The prize for the longest run during the two days was won by A. B. Richardson, who finished sixth.  He had a straight run of 131 targets.  R. L. Spotts, who won the championship in 1914, fell down badly and finished fifteenth.  He had a total of 183.

Quaker Team Leads.

In the team race Philadelphia was the winner, her best five men scoring 927, with C. Newcomb leading with 189.  Other scores were:  A. B. Richardson, 187; A. Heil, 187; W. Foord, 186, and J. C. Griffith, 178.  The New York A. C. was five points behind, its score being 922.  The Mercury Foot team was made up of G. L. Lyon, 192; A. L. Burns, 186; R. L. Spotts, 183; J. H. Hendrickson, 181, and Dr. G. H. Martin, 80.

There were 143 gunners on the firing line, practically all finished well before dark.  This was due to the excellent work of George J. Corbett, chairman of the Shooting Committee of the New York A. C., who managed the affair.  Last night the New York A. C. gave the visiting gunners a beefsteak diner at Healy's.  

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- 200 TARGETS.

Name.	…………………	1st 100 T’gets,	2d 100 T’gets.	Total.
W. G. Allen	…………………	74	71	145
H. G. Galt	…………………	85	87	172
F. G. Hogan	…………………	88	81	169
C. E. Sheldon	…………………	87	82	169
B. F. Mallory	…………………	80	85	165
L. O. Graham	…………………	90	91	181
E. C. Gunther	…………………	90	90	180
N. B. Cook	…………………	84	81	165
W. C. Newton	…………………	79	89	168
J. C. Griffith	…………………	87	91	178
J. Fountain	…………………	74	77	151
E. B. Melrath	…………………	82	83	165
C. B. Platt	…………………	93	90	183
F. Plum	…………………	81	94	175
H. G. Allyn	…………………	92	83	175
W. S. Silkworth	…………………	82	90	172
T. Lenane, Jr.	…………………	80	90	170
E. N. Dickerman	…………………	85	93	173
M. McVey, Jr.	…………………	81	78	159
E. A. Wilson	…………………	84	80	164
E. A. Staples	…………………	93	91	184
H. C. Brooks	…………………	89	85	174
C. B. Tucker	…………………	71	78	149
W. B. Farmer	…………………	86	85	171
C. P. Blinn	…………………	80	79	159
D. C. Culver	…………………	90	88	178
R. R. Debacher	…………………	79	77	156
W. B. Ogden	…………………	87	89	176
W. H. Yule	…………………	87	85	172
J. H. Hendrickson	…………………	94	87	181
E. J. Monahan	…………………	66	63	129
E. L. Bartlett	…………………	86	85	171
G. J. Tuckett	…………………	74	86	160
W. A. Flinn	…………………	84	84	168
V. Oliver	…………………	85	88	173
L. B. Flint	…………………	81	81	162
J. E. Lynch	…………………	82	81	163
T. B. Heintz	…………………	88	80	168
W. F. Carlton	…………………	72	77	149
A. E. Conley	…………………	96	93	189
J. H. Vanderveer	…………………	87	72	159
A. Chandler	…………………	77	67	144
Frank Hall	…………………	89	87	176
J. I. Brandenburg	…………………	88	88	176
F. A. Baker	…………………	70	80	150
C. W. Billings	…………………	83	86	169
A. B. Richardsons	…………………	94	93	187
C. H. Newcomb	…………………	96	93	189
W. M. Foord	…………………	92	94	186
A. Heil	…………………	91	96	187
George L. Lyon	…………………	97	95	192
A. L. Burns	…………………	90	96	186
G. J. Corbett	…………………	88	90	178
D. F. McMahon	…………………	89	88	177
T. Lawrence	…………………	84	70	154
G. S. Moller	…………………	89	88	177
C. J. Stein	…………………	90	90	180
W. R Delehanty	…………………	68	76	144
B. F. Eldred	…………………	81	77	158
H. J. Thielman	…………………	78	88	166
E. A. Ranney	…………………	86	90	176
D. T. Leshy	…………………	87	87	174
R. L. Spotts	…………………	87	96	183
R. A. King	…………………	90	95	185
A. W. Church	…………………	88	81	169
S. W. Putnam	…………………	87	95	182
E. H. Kidder	…………………	90	85	175
J. Clark, Jr.	…………………	81	89	170
F. O. Williams	…………………	90	88	178
C. F. Marden	…………………	85	87	172
E. A. Randall	…………………	93	95	188
W. H. Stohle	…………………	83	88	171
O. P. Weymouth	…………………	92	84	176
C. S. Randall	…………………	85	92	177
W. D. Hinds	…………………	84	83	176
S. B. Adams	…………………	86	86	172
G. Gill	…………………	92	90	182
F. U. Rosebury	…………………	87	87	174
G. R. Steel	…………………	89	83	172
T. O’Donohue	…………………	83	86	169
G. F. Pelham	…………………	90	88	178
E. H. Locatelli	…………………	82	79	161
R. N. Burns	…………………	84	81	165
R. K. Spotts	…………………	80	82	162
C. W. Berner	…………………	74	73	147
C. C. Moore	…………………	86	81	167
C. B. Cotler	…………………	85	82	167
A. L. Chamberlin	…………………	96	84	190

FINAL STANDING OF LEADING GUNNERS.

G. L. Lyon, 192; A. L. Chamberlain, 190; G. H. Newcomb, 189; A. E. Conley, 189; E. A. Randall, 188; A. Heil, 187, A. B. Richardson, 187; J. L. Snow, 187; W. M. Foord, 186; A. L. Burns, 186; R. A. King, 185; E. A. Staples, 184; C. T. Dey, 184; J. E. Baldwin, 184; R. L. Spotts, 183; C. B. Platt, 183; L. C. Wilson, 183; S. P. Senlor, 183; C. W. Van Stone, 182; G. Gill, 182; S. W. Putnam, 182; J. H. Hendrickson, 181; L. O. S. Graham, 181; C. J. Stein, 180; E. C. Gunther, 180; G. L. Osborn, 180; G. H. Martin, 180.

Shoot-off for third and fourth place won by Newcomb, with Conley fourth; shoot-off for sixth place, won by Richardson; shoot-off for seventh place won by Snow, with Heil eighth; shoot-off for ninth place won by Foord, with A. L. Burns, tenth.

TEAM SHOOTS.

Philadelphia, 927; New York A. C., 922; Smith Gun Club, Jersey City, 887; Portland, Me., 884.  Also competed, Boston A. A., Baltimore and Bridgeport.

LONG-RUN PRIZE.

Won by A. B. Richardson with 131."

Source:  LYON TAKES TITLE IN NATIONAL SHOOT -- Home Representative Leads at Trap with Record Score of 192 Out of 200 -- CHAMBERLIN IS SECOND -- Bridgeport Gunner Misses Only Ten Targets in Big Event at Travers Island, The New York Press, May 2, 1915, Vol. XXVIII, No. 10,014, Part III, Sports Section, p. 8, col. 7.  "NATIONAL TRAP SHOOTING TITLE GOES TO LYON
-----
N. Y. A. C. Gunner Takes Trophy with Highest Score on Record.
-----
PHILADELPHIA WINS TEAM COMPETITION
-----
Uniformly Good Work by Quaker Nimrods Offsets N. Y. A. C. Stars.

George L. Lyon won the tenth annual clay bird championship of America at the Travers Island traps of the New York Athletic Club yesterday.  He took the event with a score of 192 out of a possible 200 targets.  It was the highest score that has ever won the title.

Lyon had a great fight before he won.  Throughout the shoot A. L. Chamberlin, of Bridgeport; A. E. Conley, of Buffalo; C. H. Newcomb, of Philadelphia, a former national champion, and E. A. Randall, of Portland, Me., were always at his heels; in fact, Conley led the field at the end of the sixth string by a single bird.

In the next 25 Lyon came back, and was only seven down at the 175 mark.  The other three were ten down.  The champion finally won by two targets from Chamberlin.  The individual strings of the two leaders were:

Lyon	23	25	24	25	24	24	24	23	192
Chamberlin	24	25	24	23	22	24	25	23	190

The prize for the longest run during the two days was won by G. A. B. Richardson, who finished sixty.  He had a straight run of 131 targets.  R. L. Spotts, who won the championship in 1914, fell down badly and finished fifteenth.  He had a total of 183.

In the team race Philadelphia was the winner, its best five men scoring 927.  The New York A. C. was 5 points behind; its score being 922.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- 200 TARGETS.

Name.		First 100 Targets,	Second 100 Targets.	T’l.
W. G. Allen	…………………	74	71	145
H. A. Galt	…………………	85	87	172
F. G. Hogan	…………………	88	81	169
C. E. Sheldon	…………………	87	82	169
B. F. Mallory	…………………	80	85	165
L. O. Graham	…………………	90	91	181
E. C. Gunther	…………………	90	90	180
N. B. Cook	…………………	84	81	165
W. C. Newton	…………………	79	89	168
J. C. Griffith	…………………	87	91	178
J. Fountain	…………………	74	77	151
E. B. Melrath	…………………	82	83	165
C. B. Platt	…………………	93	90	183
F. Plum	…………………	81	94	175
H. G. Allyn	…………………	92	83	175
W. S. Silkworth	…………………	82	90	172
T. Lenane, Jr.	…………………	80	90	170
E. N. Dickerman	…………………	85	93	173
M. McVey, Jr.	…………………	81	78	159
E. A. Wilson	…………………	84	80	164
E. A. Staples	…………………	93	91	184
H. C. Brooks	…………………	89	85	174
C. B. Tucker	…………………	71	78	149
W. B. Farmer	…………………	86	85	171
C. P. Blinn	…………………	80	79	159
D. C. Culver	…………………	90	88	178
R. R. Debacher	…………………	79	77	156
W. B. Ogden	…………………	87	89	176
W. H. Yule	…………………	87	85	172
J. H. Hendrickson	…………………	94	87	181
E. J. Monahan	…………………	66	63	129
E. L. Bartlett	…………………	86	85	171
G. J. Tuckett	…………………	74	86	160
W. A. Flinn	…………………	84	84	168
V. Oliver	…………………	85	88	173
L. B. Flint	…………………	81	81	162
J. E. Lynch	…………………	82	81	163
T. B. Heintz	…………………	88	80	168
W. F. Carlton	…………………	72	77	149
A. E. Conley	…………………	96	93	189
J. H. Vanderveer	…………………	87	72	159
A. Chandler	…………………	77	67	144
Frank Hall	…………………	89	87	176
J. I. Brandenburg	…………………	88	88	176
F. A. Baker	…………………	70	80	150
C. W. Billings	…………………	83	86	169
A. B. Richardson	…………………	94	93	187
C. H. Newcomb	…………………	96	93	189
W. M. Foord	…………………	92	94	186
A. Heil	…………………	91	96	187
George L. Lyon	…………………	97	95	192
A. L. Burns	…………………	90	96	186
G. J. Corbett	…………………	88	90	178
D. F. McMahon	…………………	89	88	177
G. H. Martin	………………...	90	90	180
J. L. Snow	…………………	94	93	187
T. C. Adams	………………..	84	84	168
G. L. Osborn	………………..	91	89	180
S. A. Ellis	………………..	91	84	175
I. H. Davis	………………..	84	92	176
A. J. McManus	………………..	80	84	164
T. Lawrence	…………………	84	70	154
G. S. Medler	…………………	89	88	177
C. J. Stein	…………………	90	90	180
W. R Delehanty	…………………	68	76	144
B. E. Eldred	…………………	81	77	158
H. J. Thielman	…………………	78	88	166
E. A. Ranney	…………………	86	90	176
D. T. Leahy	…………………	87	87	174
R. L. Spotts	…………………	87	96	183
R. A. King	…………………	90	95	185
A. W. Church	…………………	88	81	169
S. W. Putnam	…………………	87	95	182
E. H. Kidder	…………………	90	85	175
J. Clark, Jr.	…………………	81	89	170
F. O. Williams	…………………	90	88	178
C. F. Marden	…………………	85	87	172
E. A. Randall	…………………	93	95	188
W. H. Stoble	…………………	83	88	171
O. P. Weymouth	…………………	92	84	176
C. S. Randall	…………………	85	92	177
W. D. Hinds	…………………	84	83	176
S. B. Adams	…………………	86	86	172
G. Gill	…………………	92	90	182
F. U. Rosebury	…………………	87	87	174
G. R. Steel	…………………	89	83	172
T. O’Donohue	…………………	83	86	169
G. F. Pelham	…………………	90	88	178
E. H. Locatelli	…………………	82	79	161
R. N. Burns	…………………	84	81	165
R. K. Spotts	…………………	80	82	162
C. W. Barner	…………………	74	73	147
C. C. Moore	…………………	86	81	167
C. B. Cutler	…………………	85	82	167
A. L. Chamberlin	…………………	96	94	190
J. J. Phelan	………………..	55	50	105
H. L. F. Funche	………………..	77	87	164
H. H. Shannon	………………..	86	85	171
T. J. Mooney	…………………	85	84	169
W. H. Luckett	………………..	77	80	157
F. Fowler	………………..	75	71	146
H. Lee	………………..	83	84	167
J. W. Mason	………………..	87	85	173
J. E. Baldwin	………………..	94	90	184
W. M. Collins	………………..	85	73	158
J. L. Griggs	………………..	84	83	167
T. Fleming	………………..	75	82	157
M. H. Ithner	………………..	73	70	143
G. Percy	………………..	89	90	179
E. Byram	………………..	87	82	169
H. N. Brigham	………………..	84	90	174
W. H. Mathews	………………..	67	72	139
H. D. Tracy	………………..	88	84	172
C. T. Day	………………..	92	92	184

Source:  NATIONAL TRAP SHOOTING TITLE GOES TO LYON -- N. Y. A. C. Gunner Takes Trophy with Highest Score on Record -- PHILADELPHIA WINS TEAM COMPETITION -- Uniformly Good Work by Quaker Nimrods Offsets N. Y. A. C. Stars, New York Tribune, May 2, 1915, Part II, p. 4, col. 5.  

"GEORGE LEONIDAS LYON

THE subject of this sketch, George Leonidas Lyon, was born in Durham, N. C., February 3, 1881.  He was the second don of Robert Elkana and Mary Duke Lyon, and the grandson of two captains of industry, Zachariah I. Lyon, manufacturer and originator of the 'Pride of Durham' smoking tobacco, and Washington Duke, manufacturer, patriot and philanthropist, sketches of whom will be found in the present work.

George Lyon received his academic training at Horner School (Oxford), at Guilford College and Trinity College. But neither his disposition nor his interests encouraged him to pursue any of the learned professions, and it was by the merest accident, it seems, that he found a career in which he could distinguish himself and a profession that could claim his time and energy.  While visiting in Baltimore in 1901, he was invited to attend a match at the Baltimore Shooting Association.  One of the members of this association took enough interest in young Lyon to show him how to hit inanimate targets, and the pupil became so apt that he at once attracted the attention of the members of the association, and in a remarkably short time jumped into fame as an amateur and then as a professional trap-shooter.

From 1906 till 1910 he shot as an amateur.  His shooting [Page 317 / Page 318] at Indianapolis in 1906, where he competed successfully in the Grand American Handicap, brought him into national fame which was sustained a year later at Chicago, and in 1908 he won the Great Eastern Handicap at Boston, making ninety-one successful shots out of a hundred at nineteen yards.  He continued piling up winnings as an amateur until 1910, when he joined the professionals.  A short time afterward America sent a team of amateurs to the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, and George Lyon accompanied the team as coach and adviser, and it was due in part to his work that the American team was successful.

He established his claim to national distinction by defeating Lester German in 1911 in a match game for the world championship at inanimate targets.  This title was won at Atlantic City, and later defended in a contest between Lyon and German at the Dupont Trap Shooting Club, Wilmington, Del., May 4, 1912.  It was in 1915 that he made a record-breaking record at the New York Athletic Club grounds, Travers Island, where against a field of one hundred and forty-three of the crack shots of the country he won out for the national championship honor with a total of one hundred and ninety-two breaks out of two hundred targets.  He also won the preliminary event with a score of one hundred and ninety-one out of two hundred targets.  These winnings, with his average of three hundred and eighty-three breaks out of four hundred, established a new record in this country.  This victory the young champion considered his greatest triumph.  At that time he was in very poor health, but he finished with the remarkable record given above.  The best previous score he had made was one hundred and eighty-eight out of two hundred.  His winning of the preliminary handicap at the same time and place was by a score that passed any ever before turned in.  Previous to this contest he won the annual championship of the Long Island Club, held at the Manhasset Yacht Club.  The last important shoot in which he took part was a southern handicap at Memphis, Tenn., held in May, 1915.  At that time he pushed Woodfolk Henderson to the limit for high average honors but [Page 318 / Page 319] his strength was now failing and his career was coming to a close.  His health did not permit him to enter into any other great contest.  

While still young this inclination for sport found for him an occupation that was congenial to his disposition and in harmony with his brilliant but short career.  The Remington Arms Company discovered in him a very worthy representative, and he remained in the employ of this company until his failing health made it possible only for him to serve one master -- the dreaded disease that had already claimed him for a victim.

Feeling that his life was ebbing away, he went to Albuquerque, N. M., in search of health, but his journey was in vain.  The summons had already come, and on January 11, 1916, he died at St. Joseph's Sanatorium, Albuquerque, N. M., in his thirty-fifth year.

He was regarded as one of the best all-around shots in this country and was respected as a clean-cut and congenial sportsman.  Sporting Life of Philadelphia paid him this tribute:  

'George L. Lyon was one of the greatest trap shooters that ever stepped to the firing line.'

The sporting fraternity has organizations called Indian bands or tribes, and this beautiful tribute by one of these tribes is paid to the subject of the sketch:

'THE SPIRIT OF THE CHIEF HAS PASSED

'George L. Lyon, of Durham, N. C., is dead, as announced by the signal fires built at Albuquerque, N. M., January 11, 1916.  The spirit of one of the very best of the Okoboji Indian chiefs has passed to the happy hunting grounds.  Yet Chief Bull Durham will live in the memory of the tribe until generations have come and gone, until a sufficient number of years have passed that the falling of the seared and withered leaves, dropped by the winter blasts, will make a comfortable covering to his grave and memory.  The Great Spirit will welcome Chief Bull Durham to the realms of the happy hunters.  His many acts of kindness on this mundane sphere have been placed to his credit, hence there is much due him in the happy hunting grounds.

'Popular here, popular there, hence the sunny smile, winning manners, and most pleasing personality of George L. Lyon will constitute him a star guest in the realms where men are weighed up for their true worth and their welcome extended accordingly.  We have lost a valued chief and a close friend.  The Great Father beckoned and he has gone to that land from which no warrior returns.  He has gone from our ranks and council, but never from our hearts.  Until the next regular meeting of the tribe, this tribute from the high chief will represent the sorrow and grief of the tribe as an entity.

'In witness hereof, in deep token of our respect, sympathy, regret and esteem we, the tribe of Okoboji Indians, inclusive of squaws and papooses, assure the family of Chief Bull Durham that in their hour of grief and trouble we sorrow with them.  Hereunto is fixed the official seal of the Okoboji Indians.

'TOM A. MARSHAL, High Chief.

'CHICAGO, January 12, 1916.'

The following tribute from the celebrated Mr. Sousa is but one of many similar expressions rendered to Mr. Lyon's memory by the large hosts of friends which he had in all the walks of life:

'The companionship of Mr. Lyon and myself was one of sunshine and happiness at all times.

'I admired him tremendously for his worth as a man and was very proud of his achievement as a wonderful shot.

'I question if there are many men who were so generally beloved as George Lyon.

'While his individuality and personality always commanded the respect of those who met him, there was something so cheery and happy about him that everybody felt at ease in his presence.

'I am sure his memory will remain in the hearts of all who knew him.

'Very sincerely yours,

'JOHN PHILIP SOUSA.'

Mr. Lyon was married November 6, 1900, to Miss Snowden Carr, daughter of the late L. A. Carr, of Durham, and a niece of George W. Watts, the Durham philanthropist.  His wife preceded him to the grave by two years.  Three children survive him:  Clara E., George L., Jr., and Mary Duke; and he leaves one brother, E. B. Lyon, and one sister, Mrs. J. E. Stagg.

Soon after his marriage he connected himself with the Presby- [Page 320 / Page 321] terian Church.  He served his city as police and fire commissioner until his failing health compelled him to resign.  At his death he was a member of the New York Athletic Club, the Quail Roost Gunning Club, of Durham, and seventy-two other sporting clubs and social orders.  He was a Mason, and just before his death he had the thirty-third degree conferred upon him in Albuquerque, N. M.  Moreover, he was a stockholder in a number of Durham enterprises.  His genial and sunny disposition won for him a host of friends, and the number of clubs in which he retained membership is an evidence of his popularity.  He lived and died a true sportsman.

E. C. Brooks."

Source:  Ashe, Samuel A'Court, et al., Sketches from the Biographical History of North Carolina, pp. 316 - 321 (Greensboro, NC: C. L. Van Noppen, 1908 - 1925).

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