THE SHOT

There are several shots know as “the shot”. Michael Jordans game winner in the 1988-89 deciding game in Cleveland. Jordan dribbled toward the key and rose up for a jumper from inside the circle. Craig Ehlo, one of Cleveland's top defenders, leaped out to block the shot, but Jordan seemed to hang in the air until Ehlo was out of his way. Then he would release the shot that would be the game winner.

On 19 April 1775, on Lexington Square (Lexington is between Boston and Concord), the British Major John Pitcairn and his six light Infantry companies faced about seventy colonial militiamen. The details of the ensuing skirmish, and critically who fired the first shot, are disputed. What is clear is that this was "the shot heard 'round the world".

By the rude bridge that arched the flood their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattle farmers stood, and fired the shot heard round the world."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

But there's one more.

It is known, in Jackson County and especially in Bellevue, as "The Shot." It was been replayed in my mind hundreds of times, to the agony of Becker and the ecstasy of Donovan supporters. It was only one rifle shot, yet it played an integral role in the fortunes of not one but two families. Becker was thought to be one of the Buchanan  Counties best young marks men in the late 1970s, with his skills honed at the state BB gun shoot in Bellevue, Using only a simple peep site.

I don't know when the first aperture sight was used, but the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rifle was, I believe, the first military rifle to offer it as an option. In 1884, the Buffington sight was added to the Springfield.

In his way stood the Benard Bullet  a young hot shot named Donovan that was just beginning to mesh into the world of marksmenship.  While pinging cans and poppin squirrels in the hill east of the village near Washington Mills.

“The Shot” was taken on a blustery April afternoon with the wind howling at near 25 knots and as he would so many times in his career, Donovan had the rifle aimed with the whole shooting match on the line. Starting from the right side and adjusting for the cross wind Donovan aimed slightly toward the top of 12 gauge shot gun shell and softly he began to squeeze the trigger.  With that the shell fell dead in its tracks, Donovan pumped his fists in jubilation, completing a video highlight for the ages.  (no video available at this time)