Annie Oakley Scrapbook

THE SPORTING LIFE, MAY 4,

A PRIVATE VIEW OF BUFFALO BILL.

A correspondent writes:—We went for Buffalo Bill: this is how it was. Some friends lunched with me yesterday, and bore me with them after our light refreshment to the most curious situation, just north of the Brompton Cemetery, which our enterprising brothers "across the pond" have converted into a "plaza," containing sheds, camps, wigwams, gardens, toboggan erections, and many other new expositions we have hitherto been unacquainted with in London city. But we were to see Buffalo Bill, his lieutenants, his cowboys, Indians, horses, buffaloes, and every other Transatlantic fixing of his cortège. We wandered about the camps of men, horses, and cattle till a bell sounded, when we all marshalled off to a large open space, a couple of acres or more, one side of which was bounded by rows of seats under a covered shedding (much the same as a Spanish "Torrea"), the other by artistic scenery of the old Vauxhall and Cremorne reminiscence, representing the Rocky Mountains and the Wild West. In a moment came the whole of his following in single file, headed by their stalwart leader mounted on a handsome grey. Off the gallopped forward, on and round about, four or five excellent horsewomen to the front, and all the cowboys and Indians following, the latter on bare-backed horses. The way these ladies rode put Leicestershire in the background. Every movement of their lithe steeds met with a suppleness in their riders that did an old horseman good to witness—plunging mounts and roughish ground gave them no anxiety, and one lady threw herself right back in her saddle on to her horse's back, suiting her movement to that of her horse, which evidently showed him that all he could do would neither put her out of temper or saddle.

THE REFEREE.

The Wild West Show went a great deal better on Wednesday, and was enthusiastically recieved by a tremendous audience of half-crowners. The world of rank and fashion and beauty had flocked to the Exhibition. I noted a host of improvements both in the arena and in the auditorium. The "stage management" I spoke about last week has been brought to bear on the performance. Later in the day the courteous general manager, Major Burke, discovered me in some extraordinary way, for I always wear my hat well down over my nose and preserve a strict incognito, and personally conducted me over the encampment, introducing me to Red Shirt and Buck Taylor, Miss Annie Oakley

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE WILD WEST SHOW.

Yesterday was a great day for the Wild West Show, inasmuch as it was marked by a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales, who, accompanied by their two daughters and a numerous suite, came to witness the first performance given on this side of the Atlantic by Buffalo Bill and his troupe. The performance was private, none of the public being admitted, and was carried out under some disadvantages, inasmuch as the large arena in which the exhibition takes place is not quite finished, and the ground in parts exceedingly rough. Great efforts had been made to push forward the preparations in view of the occasion and truly remarkable results were obtained. A tan track was laid down, a log hut erected about the centre of the arena, and the realistic rockwork and vegetation in the background artfully grouped, so as to conceal the entrances from the stables. A pavillion had been erected on the north side of the grand stand, where their Royal Highnesses took their places at half-past four. The performance immediately began with a march-past of the entire company, who, mounted on their mustangs, and dressed in full costume—which in the case of the majority of the Indians means none at all—passed by in detachments eight abreast, led by the chiefs, the procession ending with Red Shirt, the Sioux chief, and Mr. Cody. The make up of the Indians differed materially from their usual exterior, seeing that the Sioux had divested themselved of all costume excepting a waist cloth, the deficiency being supplied by a plentiful supply of paint, with which their limbs were besmeared. The favourite colour, or, at any rate, the most "worn," was green. The march past, accompanied by the music of the Cowboy Band, which was stationed behind the Royal party, concluded, a race between Cowboys and Indians followed, in which "Loamwolf" won, and was succeeded by a novel exhibition of speed in crossing country by "pony express." A mounted man rides hard some miles, and then stops, dismounts, remounts a fresh horse and starts again, at a gallop in less than 20 seconds. The next item in the programme was of a far more dramatic character. From the lower end of the arena an emigrant train enters, and steadily pursues its way along the track. The train comprises two waggons, containing women and children, with plenty of baggage, and is accompanied by half-a-dozen mounted men. A brief interval elapses, while all goes well, when suddenly a mounted Indian enters, to be speedily followed by other, until some 50 have collected, and then with whoops, startling in their shrillness, the cavalcade makes for the train. They meet with a warm reception, several reskins falling off their horses, apparently shot dead, but numbers tell, and the raiders are about to take possession of the waggons, when cheering is heard from the other end of the arena, and a number of cowboys gallop in armed cap à pie. The scrimmage does not last long. Some hundred blank cartridges are expended and the Indians flee, leaving the dead and wounded on the field. The waggons, escorted by their preservers, pursue their way amid the applause of the Royal party, the bodies get up and walk out, and the ring is clear for the next performance, a very pretty one, consisting of the dancing of a quadrille by four ladies and four gentlemen, all mounted.

The first sensation in yesterday's performance was caused by the marvellous shooting of Miss Annie Oakley, who, if we mistake not, claims to be the champion shot of America. The feats performed by this little lady are the more remarkable, since they are all performed with a pea rifle, rendering her unerring aim more wonderful still. Among the numerous feats performed by Miss Oakley was one which seemed especially remarkable. Placing her rifle on the ground, she throws two glass balls in the air, and, picking up the rifle, fires and breaks both before they reach the ground. This marvellous "shootist" also hits moving things, adding to the difficulty of ther feats by pushing the muzzle of the rifle through a card, so as to render the sight useless; and also firing over her shoulder, and aiming by aid of a hand looking-glass. On the conclusion of these remarkable feats, the Princess of Wales [?] for Miss Oakley, and shook her hands with her.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH.

Amongst the skilled in arms of precision, a very popular performance was given by Miss Annie Oakley, who at "wing shooting" would make a formidable antagonist to Colonel Carver, a well-known mechanical [?] Great was the speculation as to who Mr. Frank Richmond, the orator, could be. He had long hair—so has Buffalo Bill; he was fantastic in attire and headdress—so, according to the hoarding, was Buffalo Bill! So bets were made and doubts were exchanged until the matter was settled by the orator ascending the rostrum and addressing a tremendous concourse of people that has been estimated as numbering at least 20,000. Marvellous to relate, though no one could have believed it for an instant, every word of Mr. Frank Richmond's comments was distinctly heard throughout the afternoon. Not one comic aside was lost, and he can be comic, as we found when one of the ladies had missed a difficult shot at the glass balls, the orator sententiosly observed "She can do it." And she did. The orator has a fine, resonant, and distinct voice. He articulates admirably, and certainly no one can deny that the very necessary part of the show

The Sportsman.

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1887.

Yesterday the opening of the American Exhibition, of which the Wild West Show forms so important a part, took place at half-past three, at which hour the Grenadier Guards' Band, under Mr Dan Godfrey's conductorship, played "Hail, Columbia." Canon Farrer then offered up prayer, and Lord Ronald Gower read an address, in the name of the Committee of Welcome, to which Col. Henry L. Russell suitably responded, this part of the proceedings, however, losing some little interest from the fact that several of the speeches were read. "The Star-spangled Banner," "Rule Britannia" being played by the band, Miss Lillian Nordica charmingly singing the solos. Mr J. R. Whitley read an address, and the opening ceremony terminated. It was rumoured in the building that through the bursting of the boiler it was found impossible to set the machinery in motion, but the mishap did not militate against the success of the ceremony, those present trooping on to the "Wild West" long before the whole of the speeches were delivered. The scene under the huge corrugated iron velarium, which runs nearly two-thirds round the arena, was a brilliant one. Lady Dalhousie in blue, Lady Bective and Lady [Down?e], Mr Henry Irving, Sir Henry de Bathe, and [?] Terry in an oatmeal-coloured costume, [occupied?] prominent positions. Amongst others present were Mr Leopold de Rothschild, Mr [Poole?], Mr Thorne, the Turkish Ambassador, and Mr Bancroft. The pretty Princess Victoria of Teck, Cardinal Manning, Mr Wyndham, Mrs John Wood, Mr John Clayton, Mr Walter Slaughter, and indeed almost everyone who is known in London's innermost literary and dramatic circles were also to be seen. The first part of the programme consisted of a grand processional review, which was followed by the introduction of individual celebrities. A picturesque sombrero-crowned figure in the person of Mr Frank Richmond did excellent duty as an animated programme, and prefaced each event with a few ringing words, which were distinctly heard in every part of the vast assemblage. Following came a race between a cowboy, a Mexican, and an Indian, on ponies, the latter coming in a bad third. The following item, an illustration of the old-fashioned "Pony Express," was one of the best on the programme. Even more vigorous, however, was the attack on an emigrant train by the Indians, and its defence by frontiersmen, the picturesque figure of Buffalo Bill standing vividly out amongst the dashing cavalcade of riders who gallop to the defence of their compatriots. A delightful "Virginian Reel on horseback by Western girls and cowboys," daintily danced by their equine aides, was loudly applauded. Then came Miss Annie Oakley's shooting, which our own gun clubs would find it difficult to beat; the cowboys' fun, a ladies' race on horseback, and the attack on the Old Deadwood stage-coach by Indians.