159

THE AMERICAN FIELD

OAKLEY - GRAHAM

NEW YORK.

EDITOR AMERICAN FIELD:- One of the most interesting matches shot on Washington's Birthday was the one between Miss Annie Oakley and Mr. Wm. Graham at Merchantille, N.J. About two months ago, Mr. Graham easily defeated the "Little Sure Shot" at the same place, the weather being zero and blowing a lively gale so that it was necessary to rub the hands and arms of Miss Oakley with brandy to enable her to shoot out the programme of fifty birds. The weather clerk, evidently ashamed of his former treatment of our fair lady trap shooter, tried his best to make up and aton for old sins and provided a most perfect day for the occasion. Probably 600 people from neighboring towns, as well as from New York, Philadelphia, Newwark and Jersey City, took advantage of the fine weather to see the match and many expected Miss Oakley to make a good showing judging by the splendid run of 13 clean kills made bu her the first day of Dunellen tournament; but hardly anybody dared to hope for such a treat as was really in store for all who attended the match, for Miss Oakley no doubt did a little the best shooting she has ever done before, either in this country or in Europe, and her score of 47 oit of 50 under the condition will likely top the besy lady records for a long time to come. Mr. Graham also shot well, killing his birds cleanly and neatly and making several phenomenal long second barrel kills. The birds were a good lot, above the average, and only a very small percentage needed any starting. What little wind there was helped the birds. Miss Oakley's sixteenth bird, the first scored as lost, fell dead out of bounds and would have been scored dead in closed grounds. The next miss was the twentyfirst, and the next and last the twenty seventh when she finished up the match with twenty-three straight kills. Mr. Graham started in with seventeen straight birds and also lost his first miss clear out of bonds. In the next ten he missed two and one each in the next two scores of ten.

Miss Oakley used her second barrel 21 times and Mr. Graham 23 times. In the Monaco boundary Miss Okaley would have scored either 43 or 44 birds, as her shooting was very quick and clean, most birds being killed clear within 15 yards of the traps. She used her favorite 12-bore. 6 1/2-pound Chas. Lancaster hammerless gun, loaded with 42 grains or 3 drama of Schultze powder and 1 ounce of No. 7 chilled shot in Kynoch green paper cases in both barrels. Mr. Graham shot his Lang gun with the new U. M. C. Co. strong primer shells and 3 1/2 dra,s, or 48 grains of Schultze powder and 1 1/
ounces No. 7 chilled shot.

Miss Oakley's shooting was a revelation to many. After the conclusion of the match Mr. Graham warmly congratulated his fiar victor and upon Miss Oakley making a remark about her good luck to Englishman blandly replied: "Hang the good luck, it was downright good shooting you know."

The match was at 50 birds, Hurlingham rules, Miss Oakley shooting at 25 yards and Mr. Graham at 30 yards. John Lovatt, scorer; Frank Kleintz, referee

The following is the score:

Miss Annie Oakley...1111111111- 10
1111101111- 9
0111110111- 8
1111111111- 10
1111111111- 10 - 47

Wm. Graham...........1111111111
1111111011
0111111110
1111111101
1111111110 - 45