Capt. Jack Brewer was a bit of a shamelessly self-promoting sociopath with some substance abuse issues. He declared himself the "Champion Wing Shot of the World" and "The Best Shot on Live Birds the World Has Ever Known". He was defeated by E.D. Fulford when they shot three, 100 bird matches at Al Heritage's grounds, Marion, New Jersey in November, 1891 for $3000 a side. Fulford killed 204 birds straight during the match. That was serious money in 1891.
Fulford won the re-match January, 1892 at Woodland Park, Long Island for $1,000 a side, killing 100 birds straight to Brewer’s 99. In preliminary practice and in the match Fulford scored 421 birds straight. After the loss, Brewer declared "I will shoot against any man in the world for the World's Championship Cup which I now hold with $5000 or $10,000 a side, Hurlingham or London Club rules to govern." There is no record that match took place.
In 1898, Fred Gilbert held the American "E. C." Powder Company Trophy Emblematic of the World’s Championship at Inanimate Target Shooting, the Kansas City "Star" American Wing Shot Cup "Champion at Pigeons" and defeated J.A.R. Elliott to regain the DuPont Grand Smokeless Handicap Live-bird Championship
Jan. 22 1898 Sporting Life
“New York. Jan. 15. Once more the DuPont, trophy changes hands, and Fred Gilbert, of Spirit Lake, Ia., is able to claim the possession of it. The DuPont trophy has been changed around considerably of late, in fact ever since J. A. R. Elliott of Kansas City, went after all of the championship trophies. Elliott first won it from Budd, lost it to Gilbert; won it back from Gilbert, and finally at Dexter Park, L. I., yesterday afternoon, lost it to Gilbert by the score of 96 to 91 out of 100 live birds in a driving rain, and under protest by Elliott.”
“Gilbert used an L. C. Smith gun, 7 1/2 pounds, 3 1/2 drams DuPont powder. 1 1/4 ounces No. 7 chilled shot in 3-inch Leader shell, loaded by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.”
“After the match was finished J. L. Brewer announced that he would shoot Gilbert a match on the same grounds for $25 to $500 a side. On the following Wednesday Ed. Bingham who came on with Gilbert to look after his interests, said that they were not looking for matters of that kind, but if Brewer wanted to shoot with Gilbert he could come to Chicago and shoot against him for the DuPont trophy. Brewer said that there was no money in that for him and offered to wager $1000 that he could defeat Gilbert on Watson’s grounds in Chicago. Here is a chance to make a good match or call a bluff.”
There is no evidence that match took place.
Brewer shot a Greener for most of his career.
Last edited by Drew Hause; 02/20/12 12:04 PM.
