Buffalo Bill's Wild West In England (Part 1)

The Shooting Times, AND KENNEL NEWS. OFFICES: EAST TEMPLE CHAMBERS, E.C.

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1887. YANKEE TRICKS IN SHOOTING. To the Editor of the SHOOTING TIMES.

DEAR SIR,-I send you a few lines, which I hope you will insert in your paper. I have headed my letter as you see because of three visits I paid the Wild West Circus at the American Exhibition. Being anxious to find out just how this shooting was done, I watched it all through carefully each time, taking a pair of field glasses and sitting close to where the shooting was mostly done. Miss Smith is stated in the programme to be only 15 years of age, become find on making her acquaintance that she is a married woman of at least 19 or 20. The orator on teh perch in the arena says, in very loud tones, "She will next shoot at swinging balls on a target, covering the sight of the riffle with a large card." Our English audience cannot see that it is cut away on one side so that it does not cover the sight. She breaks the balls and gets some applause. Next we are told "She will shoot at a revolving ball going at the rate of 3,000 feet in a minute." This is on the same style as our sham pigeons at the Derby, only not near so fast. Well, I take out my watch, note the revolutions, after the show is over measure the wire, figure it out, and find it revolves 362 times per minute, which makes quite a little difference from what we have been told. As to the next feat, "breaking 20 balls on a swinging deer inside of 30 seconds," the lowest time Miss Smith made on any day I was present was 35 seconds, timed by two other gentlemen, with a stop-watch. Once she was 40 seconds, and then only shot 18, leaving two on the deer, while each day two and three balls dropped off at one shot. The last day (Friday) others must have seen this happen, as there was some hissing. Now, Mr. Editor, while we are willing to pay our money to see what is really a novel show, would it not be better for Colonel Cody to give us straight shooting, or, in other words, he might allow us to know a little about shooting?

JAMES S. CARTER.

New-street, Brompton-road.

New-street, Brompton-road.

"E. C." POWDER AT THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION.

To the Editor of the SHOOTING TIMES.

DEAR SIR,-I observe a paragraph in your last issue commencing "American Exhibition," which is calculated to give a wrong impression to the public, as it is there stated that Miss Annie Oakley uses Schultze powder in her wonderful performances, while the fact that she also uses an equal quantity of "E. C." powder is entirely ignored.

Your insertion of the above in your next issue will oblige. R. M. NORTON, Secretary.

"E. C." Powder Company, Limited, London.

June 2nd, 1887

Friday, June 10, 18[illegible] "Little Sure Shot." AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS ANNIE OAKLEY.

[?]t may safely be said that one of the strongest actions at Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is [?]derful skill which Miss Annie Oakley displays [?] manipulation of the American shot-gun. [word] that she is the best markswoman living is [word]ely as much praise as her performance [word], since it is doubtful whether any of the harsher and more boastful sex can at all approach her in this particular line. If there is a man who thinks he can lower Miss Oakley's record, he must be credited with an amount of modest diffidence by no means too common in the sons of Adam.

Feeling assured that our readers would like to know something more of "Little Sure Shot," and her adventurous life, than is already in possession of the public, a representative of The Evening News sought an interview with her, which was acceded with a charming courtesy that greatly enhanced its value.

Although Miss Oakley is somewhat small in stature, and weighs less than eight stone, she is exceedingly strong and wiry, as may be seen by the case and dexterity with which she manipulates a seven-pound gun with one hand. As a hostess she is the very embodiment of unassuming geniality, has a strong vein of quiet, refined humour, and, with a rare diffidence in one who is such a public favourite, would rather discuss any other topic than herself and her performances.

In the very heart of the Wild West camp, and just opposite the wigwam of the Sioux Chief, "Red Shirt," a crowd of visitors may be seen, at any hour that the exhibition is open, standing in front of a tent which is surrounded and half-filled with flowers. Over the entrance is inscribed "Miss Annie Oakley," and within the "crack shot" of the copany is to be found, holding a sort of informal reception. When the rest of the visitors use some of her adventures, in reply to our questions.

"When did I begin to handle a gun?" she repeats, with a pleasant smile. "Well, that's not an easy question to answer. I guess it must have been when I was very young, for I could hold my own with a gun or rifle in the neighbourhood where my mother lived when I was about ten years old. Our home was in a remote part of Ohio, fully eighteen miles from the nearest town. In fact, you might say it was in the woods. There was any quantity of game around us, and we were used to do fairly well by killing it, and sending it to the neighbouring towns for sale."

"Then your earliest practice with firearms was shooting live game."

"That is so. And I never could bring myself to shoot 'sitting' game, as some folks did. I always preferred taking my shot when the game was on the move. It gave them a fair chance, and made me quick of eye and hand. I've shot bear, deer, small game, and birds of almost any kind."

"Did you never meet with accidents in this perilous occupation?"

"No. I've had great luck. Once I was bitten badly on the arm by a wolf I had trapped; and one bitter winter's day I got frozen. I went out of doors against my mother's orders, just because I could not stand being cooped up in the house. The cold was so intense that when I got back to the door I had lost my power of speech and feel in a dead swoon on the threshold. But I was soon all right again."

"You still retain that I love of open-air life."

"Oh, yes! I guess I could never settle down to city life and feel comfortable or happy."

A PLUCKY ADVENTURE. [word] must have had some strange adventures [word] a wild, lonely country as that in which [?]rly years were spent."

[word] Oakley laughed, as though recalling an [word] event, before she answered, "Well, yes. [?]ve a very queer thing happen to me once. [word]. sixteen at the time, and a little one even [?]ge. I'd used to go by the mail-coach [?]ome into Greenville, a town eighteen [?]at, to receive the money for the game [?]died. The coach was driven by an old [word] that time close upon 80 years of age. [word] was no conductor, and not often many [?]ers. But the mails were taken in and out [?]ay.

[word] morning, in the fall, I mounted on the [?]eat by the coachman's side, and we started Greenville. I was the only passenger on [?]. When we had got some four miles on our journey, at a desperate lonely part of the road, a man started out from the woods on the off-side, and levelling his revolver at the coach-driver, said, 'Throw up your hands, old man, or I shall shoot.' The poor old fellow was right sacred, I can tell you, and did as he was bid about as smart as [word] ever done anything. The mail-thief then told [word] to climb down and 'git.' He wasn't long [?]out that either, and he made quick tracks back for the place we'd started from. I was left alone on the coach with the mails. I reckon the thief didn't take no count of me; I was so small. But I wasn't going to be beat, for all that. I had a little handbag with me, and in that bag I'd got a loaded revolver. Fac[?] was, I never was without firearms of some sort in those days. So I put on a very childlike look, and opened my bag as if to take out a handkerchief. But the fellow didn't take any notice of me until he had to. He put his pistol back in his pocket and began to climb on to the driver's seat. Just as his head came in sight above the boot of the coach, I covered him with my revolver, and advisted him to climb down without getting hurt. He didn't like the look of me, so he dropped down very quiet and got as far from the coach as he could, but without turning round or taking his eyes off me. Nor did he attempt to get at his own revolver, for he knew I'd got the draw on him, and should have pulled if he dared to drop his hands. As soon as I had got him at a safe distance from the coach I seized the reins and drove at a smart pace into Greenville, where I handed over the mail bags. The folks made a lot of fuss about it, and insisted on presenting me with a testimonial."

WHY SHE WAS CALLED "LITTLE SURE SHOT." "Who was the first to give you the name of 'Little Sure Shot'?"

"O, that was conferred upon me by the greatest chief we've got in America, Sitting Bull. He was with Colonel Cody's company for some time, and made a great pet of me. He'd discuss his plans with me, and talk about himself and his affairs as he woulndn't with any one else. When one of his daughters died, he adopted me in her place as a member of the Sioux tribe, giving me the name of Watanya Cicila, or Little Sure Shot. I hear from him even now. He is a dear, faithful, old friend, and I've great respect and affection for him."

"Which weapon do you prefer now the rifle or the shot-gun?"

"I like the shot-gun best of any. But I used to do a good deal with both the revolver and rifle at one time. At Tiffin, Ohio, I once shot a ten-cent piece held between the thumb and forefinger of an attendant, at distance of thirty feet, without touching his hand. I have also shot mokeynuts places on the same person's head."

"How long have you been shooting in public?" was our next inquiry.

"Since 1882, when I was sixteen years of age."

"And what was your best record with the rifle?"

"Well, in firing at balls thrown in the air, I tried, in April, 1884, to beat the biggest score that had been made, and that was by De Ruth, of California. He broke 979 balls out of a thousand, and I broke 943. Then, in February of the next year, I attempted to shoot at 5,000 balls in one day, with a sixteen-guage hammer gun. I used three guns, and loaded them myself. The balls were thrown straight away from three separate traps, with a rise of fifteen yards. In the second thousand I broke 984 balls, the highest number on record, and out of the 5,000 I broke 4,772. I got through in less than nine hours."

"What is the smartest thing you have done in pigeon-shooting?"

"I have shot 96 clay pigeons out of 100, and at live pigeons my best record is 23 out of 25."

SOME STRANGE EXPERIENCES. "Have you ever practised shooting on horseback?"

"O, yes. I did a great deal of that at one time; but I've given it up for this while past. I am still passionately fond of horse exercise, though. That reminds me of a thing that happened in the fall of 1884. I think I'll tell you that. A gentleman living near my old home in Ohio had a very vicious, but well-bred horse that had never been broken. He offered to give it me if I could ride him in less than three days. The challenge was fair, the horse was valuable, and I didn't like the notion of being beaten. So I set to work, broke him to the saddle within the time agreed upon, and have since ridden him as high as fifty miles in one day."

"You must have travelled as considerable distance, Miss Oakley, during the time you have been a professional shot, and in some queer places too."

"That is so. I've covered as much as 20,000 miles in one year, and have, as you say, been in some queer places. Texas, I reckon, was about the worst. I was there with a company before I joined Colonel Cody's Wild West, and I shan't forget the visit. In passing through some of the towns we had to place mattresses round the sides of the waggons to protect ourselves against the shots fired at us."

"Why should they fire at you?"

"Well, they seemed to think it was good fun. We didn't. I remember at one performance in a Texan town, a notorious desperado got up with the intention of clearing out the audience with his revolver. He'd been drinking hard-- so it was said-- and I suppose the shooting had excited him. Anyhow, he made a rush for City Marshal, and was in the act of drawing upon him to begin with. But the Marshal was a bit too quick for him, and shot him dead in his tracks. The men fell within ten yards of where I was shooting, but nobody seemed to take much notice of the affair. I had to keep on with my performance, the audience applauded, the dead man was carried out, and the band never ceased playing."

"And what opinion have you formed of London and its people? It is hardly a fair question to ask you, is it?"

"I don't think it is. All the same I'll answer it briefly and candidly. I have not seen very much of London yet, but quite enough to convince me that its wonders as a great city have not been over-stated. I like the English people very much. I can't say as much for your weather. Severe cold I don't mind, and I can stand a good deal of heat. But your British climate puzzles me. I can't make it out at all. I expect it requires a lot of knowing before one gets reconciled to it."

THE GUN CLUB

PROGRAMME OF MISS ANNIE OAKLEY'S

(Of the Wild West Show)

Private Performance

BEFORE THE MEMBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS,

On JUNE 11th, 1887,

AT HALF-PAST ONE O'CLOCK

1. Short exhibition of Rifle Shootingm small rifle. 2. Shooting Clay Pigeons, first two straight. 3. Pulling the trap herself. 4. Standing back to trap, turning and firing. 5. The snap shot or killing bird close to trap. 6. Shooting double. 7. Picking gun from ground after trap is sprung. 8. Same shot double. 9. Standing 20 feet from the gun, running and firing after the trap is sprung. 10. Holding gun with one hand, throwing ball herself. 11. Throwing two balls herself, breaking both. 12. Throwing ball backwards, picking up gun, and breaking it. 13. Breaking six balls thrown in air in four seconds. 14. Breaking five balls in five seconds, first with rifle, others with shot guns, changing guns three times.* 15. To shoot at 25 Blue Rocks from five traps, standing at 23 yards distance.

*Please take time from first report of gun.

THE [EVENING?] NEWS AND TELEPHONE

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1887.

THE GRAND DUKE MICHAEL OF RUSSIA.

Fame, but nor notoriety, is silent about this noble [word?] of Russia, who is said to have visited this country, not alone for the purpose of attending Her Majesty's Jubilee, but also to find a wife from among the daughters of the Princess of Wales. Whatever be the faults on the Grand Duke, and report says they are very many, he must be credited with a great love for sport of all kinds, and in his own country he is a great and generous patron of everything connected with sport. Only a day or two ago he asked to be allowed to enter into competition with Miss Annie Oakley at the Wild West Show at Earl's Court, which permission was at once accorded. But although the Prince made a fairly good score, it showed by poorly in comparison with that of his fair competitor, and he retired from teh contest abashed, but firmly convinced of the superiority of American markswomen over Russia amatour lady-shots. The Grand Duke jas just been photographed in a variety of positions, and as he is a finely-built and powerful man his pictures are likely to be well worth seeing.