Annie Oakley Scrapbook

Under Frankey's guidance, I made my way through further rows of neat tents, until we arrived at the inhabited by Miss Annie Oakley, the champion lady shot of America. This young lady is possessed of a decidedly pretty and winsome face, of sweet and gentle maners, and a soft, girlish voice. Having been formerly introduced, Miss Oakley proceeded to give me a few particulars of her life and adventures.

AN AMAZONIAN RIFLE SHOOTER

"I am about twenty years of age," said this young Amazon, "and have been fond of shooting from the time I was a toddling mite. At the age of twelve I was presented with a fourteen-guage muzzle-loading shot-gun. With this I practised all day long, and became so good a shot that by the time I had reached the age of fourteen I had paid off a mortgage on my father's homestead with money earned from the sale of game and skins, shot and trapped entirely by myself. Once at a place called Tiffin, in Ohio, I shot a ten-cent. piece, held between the thumb and forefinger of an attendant, at a distance of 30 feet. In 1884 I attempted to beat the best record made at balls thrown in the air, using a 22-cal. rifle. The best record was 979, made by Dr. Ruth. I used a Stevens 22-cal. rifle, and broke 944. A few months after this I attempted the feat of shooting at 5,000 balls in one day, loading the guns myself. I used three 16-guage hammer guns. The balls were thrown straight away from the three traps, fifteen yards rise. Out of the 5,000 shot at I broke 4,772. On the second thousand I only missed 16, making the best 1,000 ball record—984. I took nine hours to do the whole thing. I have shot in many thousands of exhibitions, in thirty-one matches and tournaments, and have won twenty-five prizes. In shooting clay pigeons I have recorded ninety-six out of one hundred, in live pigeons twenty-three out of twenty-five, and I have received congratulations from Budd, Stice, Erb, Bogardus, Cody, Carver, and the English champions, Graham and Price."

Miss Oakley having kindly showed me her numerous costly medals, of which she possesses quite a magnificent collection, and having assured me that she does not claim any championship, but looks upon her skill merely as a matter of dollars and cents, Frankey White bore me off to other [?] camp. En route for the stables.

The scores made by Miss Annie Oakley this week were as follows: Monday, Jack Brewer and Annie Oakley, at Pastime Park, Philadelphia, 50 birds each, Hurlingham rules, 50 yards boundry, Brewer killed 45, Oakley 30. Tuesday, clay pigeon match, 50 birds each, $50, between Miss Oakley and Louis Goff, near Morristown, Oakley 46, Goff 41. Thursday, at Point Breeze Race Track, Philadelphia, John L. Brewer and Oakley, 50 birds each, Hurlingham rules, Brewer 44, Oakley 43. Oakley only used one ounce shot, and this is said to be the highest score ever made under such conditions. When Brewer beat Bogardus, at Pastime park, same conditions, the score was: Brewer 43, Bogardus 42.

THE

Birmingham & Aston

Chronicle.

SATURDAY, MAY 7th, 1887.

Annie Oakley, a modest young lady of twenty-one years of age, has obtained a wonderful reputation for her accuracy with the rifle. She has made the highest 1,000 ball record—984.

The Sporting Life,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4.

Another eminent American, to wit, Buffalo Bill, has also been making a sensation, as he and his companions have been "doing" the theatres, much to the delight of sightseers. Red Indians in the stalls of the Lyceum and Drury Lane are not to be seen every day, or rather night. Just as we go to press we have recieved a very pleasing photograph of Miss Annie Oakley ("Little Sure Shot"), for which we have to thank Mr. Frank Butler.

MISS ANNIE OAKLEY.

This young lady is one of the numerous [shooting wonders which have been produced in America. She is twenty years of age, and has practised shooting from almost babyhood, until she has now attained to great skill with shot-gun, rifle and pistol. With the rifle she once made a score of 943 glass balls (36 behind Ruth's "record") out of 1,000. We believe that she is engaged to appear at the coming American [Exhibition in May next.