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THE EVENING NEWS, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1887 MISS ANNIE OAKLEY AT THE GUN CLUB.
A HANDSOME MEMENTO.
On Saturday morning last, Miss Annie Oakley, the crack shot of the Wild West Show, gave a private performance at Notting Hill, before the members of the Gun Club and a select circle of their friends. The programme, including several marvellous feats with the rifle and shot-gun, was gone through in fine style, and gave the greatest satisfaction to the many excellent shots who had assembled to witness it. The items which attracted most attentin were the breaking of six balls thrown in the air within four seconds, and the breakingof three balls thrown in the ir at the same time with a repeating gun. At the end of the regular programme Captain Leighton threw a shilling in the air which Miss Oakley hit with a bullet.
Then came the pleasantest part of the day's proceedings, and one that cannot fail to render Miss Oakley's memories of her visit to England very gratifying. The President of the Club presented her with an extremely handsome and valuable gold medal, larger than a five-shilling piece. On the obverse was engraved a highly artistic view of the Gun Club's grounds at Notting Hill. The members are seen in the tent, an attendant is springing one of the five pigeon-traps in the foreground, a well-known shot is standing behind with gun levelled, and a number of pigeons are visible in the air. On the clasps of the medal Miss Oakley's name and the date are inscribed, the whole forming a beautiful momento of a good day's sport.
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The Evening News
AND TELEPHONE.
MONDAY, JULY 18, 1887.
Miss Annie Oakley, the champion shot of the Wild West Show has been presented with the Sloper Award of Merit by Ally of world-wide fame, "because as a shootist she bangs creation." Miss Oakley is very proud of the distinction. Similar honours have been conferred upon Buffalo Bill and Buck Taylor. the King of the Cowboys
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THE FIELD.
SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1887. SHOOTING WITH BOTH EYES OPEN.
SIR,-I am sure a large number of your readers will feel indebted to Miss Annie Oakley for her kind reply to your inquiry as to her mode of shooting. She would, however, add very much to the value of her information if she would say whether the stock of her guns is perfectly straight with the barrel, or bent slightly sideways so as to bring the barrels into a line with the centre of her face, instead of the right eye only. If her stocks are not so bent, I confess I am utterly at a loss to understand how she, or anyone, can equalise the aim from both eyes at once. Like your first correspondent, I am desirous to teach my son the best mode, but do not know whether to order a straight stocked gun, or otherwise. Z. A. SIR,-First of all, permit me to thank Miss Annie Oakley for so courteously replying to my letter, and informing your readers that she shoots with both eyes open when aiming with gun, rifle, or pistol. As a witness of her skill at the "Wild West," I expect, when accustomed to the flight of our blue rocks, these birds will have a bad time whenever that lady pulls the trigger.
Unless she dispenses with the back sight of her rifle, I cannot understand how the aim is to be taken without first closing the left eye or neutralising its vision.
Unknown to some friends who believed they always shot with both eyes open, I have tested them by asking them to "try the mount" of a gun. The results were frequently amusing. I closed my own left eye, placed the gunner at the opposite end of a room, and then said, "Aim quickly at my right eye." Some, in doing this, actually closed their left eye unwittingly, others half-closed the left eye, and very few kept both eyes equally wide open. Those keeping both eyes open seldom aligned their barrels exactly with my own right eye, even when aiming with their own guns.
Beyond stating that I can shoot either with one or both eyes open, but make far better work with only one eye aiming, I think it is quite possible for men to become brilliant shots using both eyes ; but then game must be plentiful and practice regular, otherwise, even with the assistance of Gilbert's two-eyed sight, the results will rarely be satisfactory. The occasional shooter will, I fancy, make the bigger bag if he closes the left eye. To either it is most essential that the shape of a gun is "exactly their mount." OLD RAP.
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THE EVENING NEWS AND TELEPHONE.
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1887.
THE WIMBLEDON MEETING. THIS DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. SPECIAL REPORT.
WIMBLEDON CAMP, Tuesday Morning.
Of course, the great event of to-day is the shooting of the Queen's Hundred, formerly the sixty, if the anachronism of figures can be pardoned, who are detailed for the butts at 800 and 900 yards, at 2.30 this afternoon. The premier prize of the Queen's, as most men in the Empire know, is a cheque for $250 and a gold medal. The weather is everything that can be desired, alike for shooters and spectators, and the latter are likely to come in their thousands this afternoon. Lilian Smith, the champion lady shot of America, dressed in white and oriental sash, now engaged with the exhibition of Buffalo Bill. She was accompanied by a number of cowboys and other celebrities, in full war paint, from the "Wild West." She was taken round the various points of interest by Mr. Gallant, brother of the Queen's Prize winner of 1884. Miss Smith fixed her attention on the Running Deer competition. A riffle was handed her, with which she fired a few shots. The first and second were signalled as missed - with the next two shots she hit the bunch of the iron animal. At this there was some amusement, for this fear involves a money penalty down at Wimbledon. Miss Smith explained that the rifle was heavier than thsoe she was accustomed to use. She has announce her intention of again visiting the camp on Thursday, when she will bring a gun of her own choice.