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

The Society Times AND TRIBUNE.

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1887.

A lady correspondent writes us as follows :-"I would like to call the attention of our English lady riders to the cool, comfortable and very handsome riding costume worn by Miss Annie Oakley, of the Wild West Show. I had the extreme pleasure of meeting her in the Row a few mornings ago, and I think, after watching her seat in the saddle, that this little American girl is ahead of us. I don't think I can pay her a higher compliment than to say she can ride as well as she can shoot. Hoping some of the English ladies will see this, and introduce her style of riding-dress, I am, &c., A CONSTANT READER AND ADMIRER OF YOUR PAPER."

The Sporting Life, MONDAY, JUNE 13.

SHOOTING.

THE GUN CLUB, NOTTING HILL.

No finer weather than that experience on Saturday last could have been desired for the enjoyment of outdoor sports, and the shooting enclosure at this popular club was largely attended, many members being accompanied by ladies. The programme commenced with a contest for the Members' Challenge Cup, value 100 guineas, and on this occasion five members entered into the necessary $25 sweepstakes in connection with the prize. The shoting was not up to the usual acerage, and after a close struggle between Mr. Kenrick and Mr. Merwyn Watts victory was declared out of twenty, and became the holder of the cup and winner of $125. Mr. Merwyn Watts killed fifteen out of a similar number. The inner used a gun by J. Purdey and Sons, of South Audely-street.

As soon as the above event was concluded, Miss Annie Oakley, of the Wild West Show, gave an exhibition in shooting, similar in all respects to that given before the public at Kensington. The concluding item in her performance was shooting at twenty-five birds from the 23 yards rise mark, and no fewer than 18 rocks fell to her gun, several being brought down with the second barrel. Miss Oakley was greatly applauded throughout her performance, and at the finish the president of the club presented her with a handsome gold medal. Then followed a $1 handicap sweepstakes (19 subs), and Mr. J. Sutchiffe (29 1/2), Mr. Featherstone (24 1/2), Mr. E. B. Cunliffe (31), and Mr. Herbert (27) divided after killing 6 birds. The principal event of the afternoon was next proceeded with, viz., an Accumulative Star $1 Handicap Sweepstakes, with a $40 Cup added. A field of thirty-two members came to their marks, and after a long contest Mr. Leraine (31) secured the cup and $180, bringing down twenty-two birds out of twenty-four shot at. Mr. Norfolk (31) and Mr. Featherstone (24 1/2) shared the second and third prizes, amounting to $121. One competitor put over $70 in the pool, and unfortunately took nothing out. As it was close upon either o'clock before the above event was finished, sport concluded with a $2 handicap sweepstakes, with four entries, and this was own by Mr. Hankey (26 1/2) killing four birds. Scores: -

THE MEMBERS' CHALLENGE CUP, value 100 guineas, added to a $25 sweepstakes, at twenty birds each, 30 yards rise. 5 subs. Killed.

Mr. Kenrick............. 11011-01110-11111-11101 - 16 out of 20 (Won $125, and holder of the Cup.) Mr. Merwyn-Watts... 01001-10111-10111-11111 - 15 out of 20 Mr. E. B. Cunliffe..... 10010-10111-10111-1110 - 13 out of 19 Mr. F. M. Cobb......... 01111-10101-01111-1100 - 13 out of 19 Colonel Persse......... 01011-10010-10110-11 - 10 out of 17

ACCUMULATIVE STAR $1 HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES, with a $40 Yds. rise. cup added 32 subs

31 ... Mr. Leraine.......... 111111010111111111111111 (first prize, $180 and cup.) 31 ... Mr. Norfolk.......... 111110111011011111111110 24 ... Mr. Featherstone.. 010110111101111011111110 (divided second and third prizes, $121) 31 ... Mr. Merwyn Watts. 0111101111100010011110 30 ... Mr. Hastings......... 1111111111001111110 25 ... Mr. S. Shirley........ 1111111111111110100 31 ... Mr. E. B. Cunliffe.. 11011101011101111110

Mr. Hankey (26 1/2), 111100111010; Mr. C. Seaton (26 1/2), 111100111010; Mr. Herbert (27), 1111111010; Mr. W. F. Gambier (25 1/2), 0101111110; Mr. J. W. Sharp (21), 11111110; Mr. Kenrick (27 1/2), 11111110; Mr. J. Sutchffe (29 1/2), 011101110; Mr. F. Cobb (27 1/2), 11111010; Mr. Tudor (25 1/2), 1111110; Mr. Hemaineth (26), 1101110; Mr. Debene (25), 1110110; Mr. Wynill (30 1/2), 111110; Lord Stormnt (25_, 101110; Mr. F. Baring (24 1/2), 11110; Mr. R. R. Beard (26), 1110; Mr. A. Clark (24 1/2), 1110; Col. Persse (27), 0110; Mr. W Ellis (31), 1100; Colonel Shelley (25), 110; Mr. Hatford (27), 100; Mr. D. Ward (28 1/2), 010; Captain Shelley (30), 10; Mr Mould (31), 0.

EXITURES FOR JUNE. 14 (Tuesday). 16 (Thursday). INTERNATION WEEK, during which prizes value $400 will be shot for, including 18 (Saturday). The GunClub Internation Cup, also the Gold Medal of the Club.

21 (Tuesday). Jubilee Day. No Meeting 23 (Thursday). Bibury $3 Handicap, $25 cup or specie. 25 (Saturday). Stockbridge $5 Handicap, $25 cup, then $5, 31 yards, %50 cup or speicie. 28 (Tuesday). Club Found Cup; then $3, 28 yards. 30 (Thursday). $2 Handicap, $15 added, then $2, even distance, $15 added. \

The Members' Thirty Yards Challenge Cup, value 100 guineas, may be challenged for by any member.

The events commence at three o'clock precisely unless otherwise advertized.

FIXTURES FOR JUNE

The Shooting Time AND KENNEL NEWS. OFFICES: EAST TEMPLE CHAMBERS,

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1887. GUN CLUB, NOTTING HILL. "Little Sure Shot" ( Miss Annie Oakley) gave a fine exhibition of her powers at this favourite resort on Saturday afternoon, before a large assemblage of members and their friends. She left in time for the performance at the "Wild West" show, and the usual programme of sport was then proceeded with. Five subscribers entered their names for the contest for the Members' $105 Challenge Cup, added to a $25 Sweepstakes, the conditions being to shoot at 20 birds each, at 30 yards. Killing 16, Mr. Kenrick won $125, and became holder of the cup. Mr. M. Watts being second with one bird less. The chief item on the card was an Accumulative Star $1 Handicap Sweepstakes, with a $40 cup added, and as the number of stars a shooter could have was unlimited, the decision of the event was not quickly arrived at. There were 32 competitors, and Mr. Leraine, 31, grassing 22 rocks out of two dozen shot at, gained the first price, $180, and the cup. Messrs. Norfolk, 31, and Featherstone, 24 1/2, divided the second and third prizes, amounting to $121, the latter gentleman making 18 kills and Mr. Norfolk 20. Mr. Hankey, 26 1/2, secured the pool in a $2 Handicap Sweepstakes, which concluded the proceedings.

THE FIELD.

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1887

SHOOTING WITH ONE OR TWO EYES OPEN.

A FEW days ago a correspondent (whose letter has been mislaid) wrote to us saying that, although he had always been in the habit of shooting with one eye only, and was probably too old to change his habit, he wished to know what was generally considered to be the best mode of practice, in order that he might have his son trained in the way he should go. And he also wished especially to know which method is adopted by Miss Annie Oakley, the "Little Sure Shot" of the Wild West Company.

As to the first part of the question, we may state, as the result of a long discussion which occurred in our columns a few months ago, that the general consensus of opinion was in favour of keeping both eyes open. And with respect to the question especially relating to Miss Annie Oakley, we append the characteristic reply of "Little Sure Shot," who has thus very kindly answered the letter submitted to her.

Sir,-In answer to your question in the letter just received, I will say that I always shoot with both eyes open. No matter whether shooting with rifle, shot gun, or pistol, I always adhere to both eyes-believing that, if a person can see with one eye, he can see better with two ; but I don't mean to say that there are no good shots who shut one eye.

As to learning to shoot, no one ever taught me anything. I will say that the English blue rock is the most difficult of any shooting I have ever tried, and I have done all kinds, even to shooting walnuts from the head, sighting from a mirror. I am in hope, however, that I will learn to kill blue rocks before I leave England ; but I can assure you I will need both eyes to do it ANNIE OAKLEY ("Little Sure Shot").

ESTABLISHED MAY 10, 1887 THE DAILY PRESS PLAINFIELD, N.J.

The Rifle Queen

We are in reciept of a small novellette of 65 pages, published by the General Publishing Company, 280 Stand, London, entitled "The Rifle Queen," with the compliments of Miss Alnie Oakley, the Champion female rifle and shotgun shooter of America, and who is now with the Wild West show in Europe. The heroine of the Rifle Queen is made to be Miss Oakley, incidents of her early life and home being embodied therein. The English people are greatly taken with Miss Oakley, both as regards her wonderful shooting and her ladylike deportment. America is hondered by such a representative of the female sex in her particular and wonderful performances. Her many friends in this section congratulate her upon her sucess in England.