Annie Oakley Scrapbook

THE Breeder and Sportsman

The "Wild West" Rampant.

Readers of this paper will remember that in June last appeared a letter signed "A California," which purported to give actual facts relative to the doings and standing of the two famous and very charming ladies, Miss Lillian Smith and Miss Annie Oakley, who are giveing shooting exhibtions with what is known as "Buffalo Bill's Wild West," an aggregation of vaqueros, Indians, buffalos and show people, which illustrates the incidents of life on the plains. The aggregation is now the drawing card in London, and the leading people have been subjected to marked and flattering attentions from persons of all positions in society. The experience is a peculiar one to the performers, and there is little wonder that the husband of Miss Annie Oakley, from one of the proprietors of the show, Mr. Nate Salsbury, and from the "Orator" of the aggregation. No assurance of the modesty, skill and attractiveness of Miss Oakley was needed by anyone who knows the pretty Diana.

EDITOR BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN: - The statement made by your correspondent, (A California), regarding the status of Miss Annie Oakley is entirely without foundation. In public estimation and in social preference Miss Oakley is the equal of anybody connected with out entertainment. You will greatly favor me if you will not publish either side of a story that should never have forced its way into the public press. N. SASBURY,

Vice-President Buffalo Bill's Wild West Co.

LONDON, Ang. 11th, 1887.

EDITOR BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN: - A communication has been called to my attention in a late issue of your paper, signed "A California." Its illiteracy and evident bias I have nothing to say about; but I myself had the pleasure of presenting Miss Oakley to Her Majesty, who complimented her very kindly upon her skill. Miss Oakley has always received a full recognition of her abilities during the four years I have had a daily opportunity of observing her career as a professional wing-shooter, and the members of the royal families who have honored us with their presence are no less fair and generous, I am sure, than are the general public.

FRANK RICHMOND,

Orator of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Co.,

LONDON, Aug. 16th, 1887.

EDITOR BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN: - In your issue of June 23d you publish a letter headed "Wild West," and signed "A California," in which he says Miss Oakley was not presented to the Queen. Had it not been that your paper is circulated largely among people who do not know Miss Oakley, I should never have answered it. Miss Oakley, as well as Madame Patti, Mary Anderson, or any other lady who distances all competitors and gets to the front has her enemies, and such letters as that have about the same effect on her as rain would have on the back of a mallard duck. That letter was written in the camp of "Wild West." There was no need of the writer signing his name. All here knew who wrote it. His bad English was a good as his signature. He is not a Californian; had he been so you could justly claim the champion liar.

Now, the facts are that Mr. Cody, Mr. Salsbury, Buck Taylor, Lillian Smith and Annie Oakley were presented to the Queen. She spoke very few words and handled no guns. As regards Miss Oakley shooting a shotgun, nearly every shooter east of the Rocky Mountains knows that for the first three years before the public Miss Oakley did nothing but rifle and pistol shooting, and gave it up because she could not get a living salary for doing it. This was owing to the fact that gallery or fancy rifle shooting was very early learned, and at that time there were about twenty girls and women giving exhibitions in that line. And I find by actual count there were no less than sixteen here, some of them at present playing in music halls here, while Miss Oakley is the only lady trap shot seen here yet. It may be well to say that she has not entirely forgotten all her rifle shooting, as was proved by her recent visit to Wimbledon, an account of which I sent you.

Inclosed you will find two letters, one from Mr. Salsbury, the main owner of the Wild West, and which, in justice to Miss Oakley, I hope you will publish. In conclusion, I will say Miss Oakley has the extract from your paper framed and it hangs in her tent, creating no little amount of amusement. To the readers of your paper I will say I may bring Miss Oakley out to California before many years, when I venture to say she will make as much of a sensation there as she has here. With thanks for sending paper, and hoping you may find room for this, I am, respectfully,

Frank E. Butler.

[We shall be glad at any time to receive communications from "A California," or Mr. Butler, and can assure the latter that when he comes this way he and Miss Oakley will meet an appreciative reception.—ED.]

THE TOPICAL TIMES.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 1887.

LONDON'S FAREWELL TO THE WILD WEST.

Farewell, ye hero of the far Wild West, 'Gainst whose departure we would not protest; You came, you conquered, now you take your leave, And many are they, who at parting grieve. Farewell, Nate Salsbury, all indeed confess That you were foremost in the show's success. Good John Burke too, alas from thee we part, Kind genial friend, with honest monster heart. Farewell, Buck Taylor, too, who had a spill And broke your leg whilst riding in quadrille. And oh, ye Redshirt, native warrior bold, Would you could speak! Our love must be untold. Farewell, ye orator, for many a day Your voice sonorous will ring far away. Farewell, dear Annie Oakley, whose great skill And charming manners captures hearts at will. Farewell to neatest tent with flowers arrayed, Where many a visit oft to thee we paid. Farewell to Broncho Charlie's golden hair, That's turned the head of many a maiden fair. Farewell, Tom Webb, who never had a fall; Jim Mitchell, too, the Wild West cow-boy tail. And Giant Johnson, who from choky gay, Is welcomed back in Wild West camp to-day. Farewell, ye Californian belle, Miss Lilly, Whose shooting's turned the English public silly. Farewell, ye mustang, and ye bucking horse, Who tried your best the Cowboys all to toss. Farewell, ye Buffaloes, ye prancing steer, Who jumped the fence and made the public cheer. Farewell to old John Nelson, scout and guide, Who always on the Deadwood Coach did ride. And oh, ye pop-corn nigger, dear "Wall-Wall," Who broke the heart of many a servant gal. You've done your best to let the world all know, "It's sweet as honey and as white as snow." To all you pretty girls who ride so well, We say to thee the fatal word farewell! Farewell to one and all; to part 'tis pain, All hope ere long to see you back again!

They were telling some rather smart narratives of exploits with the rifle, à la "Little Sure Shot," when a stranger looked in, and the following was his contribution:

"Well, lads, I was out shootin', and I snapped at a squirrel. The cap exploded, but the gun didn't go off. So I took it down from my shoulder, and looked down the barrel, and as I saw the charge was just starting, I brought the gun to my shoulder again and killed that squirrel."

THE STAR FOR SHOOTING AT PIGEONS AND SPARROWS

Result of a Tournament on the Oak Point Grounds.

Notwithstanding the extreme cold yesterday the pigeon and sparrow shooting tournament at the Oak Point shooting grounds in the afternoon was well attended. The pigeons were strong and fast-flying birds. The sparrow shoot proved very amusing.

The pigeon shoot was under Hurlingham rules. Ten birds each were shot at, at thirty and twenty-five yards, from five ground traps, using two barrels, with gun elbow. Appended are the scores:

James Pilkington 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1—8 Andrew Ward 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1—8 William Ward 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1—7 John Elliott 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0—6 Frank Butler 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1—7 Harry Force 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1—8 James Thompson 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1—7 T. Trott 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1—6 J. Jarvis 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1—7

Pilkington, Ward and Force shot off for first money, and Pilkington won. Ward, Butler, Thompson and Jarvis shot off for second money, and Ward won. Elliott and Trott divided third money.

In the sparrow shooting contest there were six competitors. Five birds each were shot at from one trap, two barrels, with gun below elbow. Following are the scores:

Miss Annie Oakley 1 1 1 0 1—4 Jack Elliott 1 1 0 0 1—3 James Pilkington 1 0 0 1 1—3 Harry Force 1 0 0 0 1—2 William Ward 1 1 0 1 0—3 Andrew Ward 1 1 0 0 0—2

Miss Oakely got first money, Elliott Pilkington and Ward shot off, miss and out, for second money and Elliott won. Force and Ward divided third money.

James Pilkington and Andrew Ward shot a special match, thirty yards rise, at eighty clay pigeons, using both barrels, with gun below elbow, for a handsome silver pitcher. Fifty pigeons each were shot at, when, darkness coming on, the continuation of the match was postponed to Saturday next.

BUFFALO BILL STILL BOOMS.

Miss Oakley's Managerial Husband Tells About the Show and his Wife.

To the Editor of The Sun—Sir: In The sun of to-day appears an article headed "Buffalo Bill Not Coining Money," which in justice to Mr. Cody, Miss Oakley, and myself. I hope you will allow me to contradict. In the first place, I could not have made any such statement in Newark, N. J., as I have not been in Newark for exactly one year and nine days, that being the date of the Graham and Budd match. In regard to Mr. Cody's Wild West I must say that up to the time I left the show (Oct. 31) the show not only did a big business but an immense business, far surpassing anything ever seen or heard of in the show line.

What it has done since I cannot day, as they had not opened in Manchester, but I think from the reputation Buffalo Bill made in London he ought to and will do well any place in Europe. In regard to the cowboys and Indians leaving the show, the only Indians that left were about eight or ten that Mr. Cody had to send home on account of their being sick. All his cowboys except two were with him when I left.

Miss Oakley has not been in Philadelphia. She has been living quietly in New York city under the care of her physician until this morning, when she came here, believing the change of climate would benefit her. In regard to her pigeon shooting in England, it is true the first time she tried blue rocks she only killed 5 out of 20; it is also true that she killed 41 out of 50 in a match before she left England. My reasons for bringing her back was on account of her health.

Frank E. Butler, Manager Annie Oakley.