126
THE BAT JULY 26, 1887.
LILIAN SMITH, the shootist, came to Wimbledon last week and tried her hand at the running deer. She made two misses and then got home twice-on the haunch. After which she retired, observing that the rifle loaned her was a heavier one than she was used to, and that she would return with her own some other evening ; which she forgot to do, as also to pay for the result of her shoot.
127
BARRHEAD INDEPENDENT
BARRHEAD, JULY 30, 1887
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 mechancial shot.
This celebrated girl-shot, we find, was born at Woodland, Darke County, Ohio, August 13, 1866. Ever since a toddling child she has had an inherent love for fire-arms and hunting, and at the age of ten she, as often as ammunition was obtainable, would smuggle her brother's musket and steal into the woods, where game, at that time, was plentiful. Naturally she was a good shot, and came home well supplied with game. At the age of twelve she was presented with a 14-guage muzzle loading shot-gun. With this she imroved rapidly, and became such a fine shot that she rarely missed quail or pheasant; and at the age of fourteen she had paid off a mortgage on her father's homestead with money earned from the sale of game and skins, shot and trapped by herself alone. Then came a local reputation, and with improved firearms she attracted wider notice. For the past five years she has been shooting before the public with great success; though, like the modest little girl she is, she never laid claim to being a champion, yet in 1883-84 Richard K. Fox, of New York, had so much confidence in her ability that he offered to back her against any other so-called chamption. Sitting Bull, the great Indian chief, after seeing her shoot in St. Paul, Minn., adopted her in the Souix tribe, giving her the name of "Watanya Cicila," or Little Sure Shot.
The first two years before the public devoted to rifle and pistol-shooting, and there is very little in that line she has not accomplished. At Tiffia, Ohio, that she once shot a ten-cent piece held between the thumb and forefinger of an attendant, at a distance of 30 feet. In April, 1884, she attempted to beat the best record made at balls thrown in the air, using a 22-cal. riffle. The best record was 979, made by Dr. Ruth. Miss Oakley used a Stevens 22-cal. rifle, and broke 943. Her first attempt at clay pigeon and trap shooting was made about three years ago, in Cincinnati, shooting with such fine shots as Bandle, M'Murchy, and other noted shots. In February, 1885, she attempted the feat of shooting at 5000 balls in one day, loading the guns herself. In this feat she used three 16-guage hammer guns. The balls were thrown straight away from three traps, fifeteen yards rise. Out of the 5000 shot at, she broke 4772. Of the second thousand she only missed 16, making the best 1000 ball record - 1984. This feat was accomplished near Cincinati, Ohio, in less than nine hours.
Besides the thousands of exhibitions she has given, she has shot in thirty-one matches and tournaments, winning twenty-five prizes. Her collection of medals and fire-arms, all of which have been won or presented to her, is considered the finest in America.
She has hunted in many of the game sections of America and Canada, and says, with a pardonable pride, that she has shot quail in Virginia, ducks in Illinois, prairie chickens in Kansas, and deer in northern Michigan. Her style and position at the trap is considered perfection by such critics as Budd, Stice, erb, Bogardus, Cody, Carver, and the English champions, Graham and Price. Shooting clay pigeons her best record is 23 out of 25, made in a match for $100.
That she understands how to manage a horse, the following will show: - In the fall of '84, a gentleman near Greenville, Ohio, who owned a valuable bus vicious and unbroken horse, told her he would give her the animal if she could ride him in less than three days; and without any assistance she broke him to saddle, and has since used him when not engaged, sometimes riding as high as fifty miles in one day. At the fair at Newton, N.J., who she proved herslef to be at home in the saddle by winning four out of five half-mile races, although the horse she rode was selling for third place. What makes Miss Oakley's feats more surprising is the fact that she is small in stature and weighs only 110 pounds.
128
AUGUST 13, 1887.] CAMP SKETCHES. - NO. VII.
MISS ANNIE OAKLEY.
"Place aux Dames! I fear I have been grossly neglectful of you, Miss Oakley," I said, as I entered this popular young lady's tent a few evenings ago, where she was busily engaged arranging a heap of cut flowers, and sorting them into various combinations of light and shade.
"Yes, I think you have, Mr. Touchstone. You have not brought me any flowers."
"No, and I am not likely to if you call me names like that."
"How do you mean? What names?"
"Mr. Touchstone, indeed! I was not aware that I had cast aside the nimble quill and sported the cap and bells, even to afford you amuesement, Miss Oakley."
"Now, don't be cross. But you are Mr. Touchstone, aren't you?"
"No, Miss Annie Oakley, I am not Mr. Touchstone."
"Well, you are something very much like him then. Now, what is your name?"
"Thank you, Miss Oakley. I am Mr. Light Touchman."
"Oh yes, to be sure. How could I have been so silly? Of course I know now. Well, I'm real sorry if I've hurt your feelings. Here, have a rose, and let's be friends."
"Well, if you will promise never to forget me again as long as you live?"
"Oh, I'll promise!"
"Swear!"
"Sure."
And with this compact solemnly entered into, the vivacious little lady pinned the rose into my coat, and made me sit down in the most comfortable chair in her adobe.
"Now, Miss Oakley, I have come here to see you on business to-night, and I want you to collect your thoughts, and give me at least an hour of your undivided attention."
"Is that all? Why, Mr. Touchstone !- I'm so sorry, I mean Mr. Touchman!! - Mr. Light Touchman!!! I could talk to you for a whole week."
"The pleasure would be mutual, but I fear you will be heartily tired of me at the expiration of the time I have specified."
"Well, let's try."
"By all means. Will you commence by giving me the history of your life right up to the present moment."
"I guess that's rather a tall order to commence with; but anyway here goes:
"The history of my life is thoroughly Behemian, and does not contain any very startling episodes. I was born in Woodland, Ohio, on August 13th, 1866. Consequently I shall be twenty-one years of age on Saturday - that is the day upon which, I supposed, this sketch will appear, and I shall consider it your birthday present to me.
"I first began to shoot under the watchful are of my brother, when I was but ten years of age. I was then living beneath the rood where I was born, with my mother, my father having died some six years before. I soon became an expert in shooting rabbits, squirrels, and other small game, and as I was allowed, directly I displayed my efficiency, to roam about the woods by myself, I had plenty of opportunity both of improvement and amusement. My brother naturally encourage me in this, for the more naturally encouraged me in this, for the more proficient I became, the more I added to his stock of dead game, which was daily sent to be disposed of at the nearest market, and I need hardly say, amply repaid for the sending.
"A favorite pastime of mine was trapping wolves. They used to worry the lambs, and on this account I waged war with them; but apart from the pleasure I experienced in killing them, I had that of knowing that I could get four dollars bounty from the Government for every tail I put in. As I grew more skilled in the use of my gun, I would face anything that came along. What with the bounties and the sale of game and skins, I earned my own living by my gun, until I took to fancy shooting.
"I was sixteen years of age when I made my first appearance before the public. This was at Greenville, Ohio, and I have been before them ever since with the exception of one entire winter devoted to schooling, and one brief interval of three weeks rest. My debut was very successful, the exhibition consisting of rifle and pistol shooting, in which I only made one miss. I had not then commenced trap-shooting. Two months later I was engaged for three weeks to appear in Cincinnati, when I shot in the afternoons only, as I had not mastered the secret of shooting by artificial light. I was very successful in my exhibitions there, and after my term had expired, I went touring round until the winter set in. The cold of our winters is so intense as to render outdoor shooting impracticable. I either had to lay by or do something else; I preferred the latter, so a drama was specially written for me, with a part in which I could introduce the whole of my specialities. This play ran through the season, at the expiration of which I got tired of it. The fact was it was not sufficiently realistc for me. But I derived some good from it, and that in what I was most anxious to acquire, namely, the art of shooting by artificial light. I visited many places in the States during the engagement, and at the expiration of it joined the Sells Brothers circus. I remained with them forty weeks, during which time I never missed attending a single performance, afternoon or evening. Our season finally closed in New Orleans, and it was during the last week that Colonel Cody paid us a visit. I was introduced to him, but without any business result, which rather disappointed me at the time, but I was consoled when I learned that he then had all the shots he needed. It appeared that he had Captain Bogardus, who had an interest in the concern, and his three sons. The knowledge of this fact put my wounded vanity 'kind of straight." About a month afterwards I heard that Captain Bogardus had sold out his interest in the Wild West, so I wrote to Colonel Cody right away, and asked for an engagement. In his repy the colonel stated his willingness to engage me, but expressed an opinion that my terms were 'too steep,' but providing I could do the same shoting as the captain had done - that was from traps - he would be willing to give me the salary at Louisville, Kentucky, and I trotted off there to undergo an examination, and show what I could do. Well, I was arranged that I should give the managers a private performance the very afternoon I arrived. I had been travelling some distance, and thought I would like just to get my hand ina bit before the trial came off, so went into the empty showgrounds to have a run through the several feats I had to accomplish. The only spectator present was Mr. Salsbury, who happened to be wandering around, and he became so satisfied with what he witnessed that he ordered a woodcut of me to be executed immediiately, and as a matter of fact my posters were printed before the agreement was signed. I afterwards heard that he told Colonel Cody that I was a real 'daisy,' and completely laid the captain 'away in the shade.' That's how I came to join the Wild West. There were no ladies in the show at that time, all the shooters being men; besides, there were not so many of us as at present, which necessitated my doing about double the number of feats that I do now.
"My strong reason for being so keen upon joining this combination was because I wished to give up rifle and pistol shooting. At first Colonel Cody entertained a grave doubt as to whether I should be able to withstand the recoil from a shot-gun. I think I have pretty successfully demonstrated so far that I have been able to bear up against it.
"I ahve recieved many challenges to shoot matches, both before and since I joined the Wild West. The first I was honoured with was in March, 1883, at Nashville, Tennessee, when Mr. Jack Oats, a gentleman who stood six feet fourt inches in height, threw down the gauntlet. I managed to beat him at all kinds of fancy shooting, which include snuffing candles, shooting an apple from off a man's head, hitting various objects, and breaking glass balls. We fought this out under the electric light.
"At Danville, Illinois, on March 4th, in the following year, I won a prize for shooting at ten clay pigeons. There were twenty-one entries, all men. When they saw me cominga long they laughed at the notion of my shooting aginst them. Somehow, when the match was over, I claimed the 'first money' for making a clean score. I guess they were more surprised and less amused than they had previously been. It kind o' riled me to see those hulking chaps so tickled at what was no doubt to them my impertinence in daring to shoot against them, and I reckon I was tickled too when I walked away with the prize.
"After this I went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and it was there that I met the Indian cheif, Sitting Bull. Major McGlaughlan, the agent, had come down from the reservation and brought the chief along with him for a trip. It was the first time he had ever seen a city, and naturally they took him round to see the sights. I was giving exhibitions of fancy shooting at the Opera House, as well as shooiting at a tournament than being held there. Sitting Bull came to see me at the Opera House, and it appears my shooting had such an effect upon him, that he could not sleep; all he could talk about was the feats I performed. To me they were simple enough, but they almost drove him crazy. He would sit up all night trying to flick out the gas by blowing at it through his big, long calument/ He raved about me, and would not be comforted. His messengers kept coming down to my hotel to enquire if I would come and see him. I had other things to do, and could not spare the time. At length, a messenger came down bringing sixty-five dollars, the proceeds of the sale of Sitting Bull's autographs, which he sent me as the price of one of my photographs, since I wouldn't come myself. This amused me, so I sent him back his money and a photograph with it, with my love, and a message to say I would call the following morning. I did so, and the old man was so pleased with me, he insisted upon adopting me, and I was then and there christened 'Wayanya Cecila,' or 'Little Sure Shot.' I don't exactly know what privileges my rank as a chieftain's daughter confers upon me, but I believe that whenever I choose to take up my residence in my adopted country I am entitled to receive five ponies, a wigwam, no end of cattle, and other presents of live stock, considered sufficient to establish me in housekeeping with that amount of dignity which my position demands. At present I feel quite content with my mode of existence, and however ungrateful it may seem, it will be only as a last resource that I shall avail myself of my Indian rank. What do you think?
"Sitting Bull was very kind, and gave me many presents, including the mocassins he wore in the Custer massacre, also part of a scalp taken from the head of a Crow chief - certainly not nice gifts, but they are relics, and as such are valuable. I have ever and over again been offered twenty pounds for the mocassins.
"Here is a case containing some of the medals I have won. There are twenty-three here in all. This magnificent gold one was presented to me by the members of the London Gun Club, when I gave an exhibition for them on June 11th. Do you know I think more of this than all the others put together, for it is the only medal this club, which is "The Gun Club of the World,' have ever given away.
"You may remember tha upon the day preceding the Jubilee the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the royal-flush of Kings, paid us a visit. Upon that occasion His Royal Highness was condescnding enough to examine the medal, and remarked, as he returned it to me, 'I know of no one so worthy of it' - a kindness I am never likely to forget. A blank had been left upon the obverse side of the medal for me to fill in any inscription I thought best, and these words of His Royal Highness impressed me so I have had them engraved on it, as you now see.
"Here is the lady chamionship medal of America, and this is how I carried it off. I travelled some eight hundred miles to compete for this prize, which was the result of my first competition with a shot-gun. It was offered by a club in Eyrie, which was particularly keen about its being won by a stranger. When I arrived there were only four entries, but directly it got known in the town that I intended to compete they let in men, with the result that there were nineteen entries. I thought it very ungallant, but I didn't mind, as I determined then I would have it. Well, the four ladies who had entered where very soon out of it, and the men followed, barring a Mr. Tracey, who broke all tweny balls, as did I. Ther was one
129
THE WILD WEST ALPHABET.
A is America, with stripes and with star, B are the buffaloes, brought from afar. C stands for Cody, the "great all round man," D are the deeds, so well-known to his clan. E is for Esquival, vaqueros with pluck, F is their firmness whilst taming a "buck." G are the girls, to perfection they ride, H are the horses, with galloping stride. I are the Indians, with whoop and war-paint, J are their jokelets, less polished than quaint. K is Jule Keen, at finance quite the boss, L stands for Lillian, a match for our "Ross." M are the mustangs, which show "Cowboys' fun," N is for John Nelson, the veteran gun. O stands of Oakley, who bangs "all creation," P is her pluck, she's the pride of her nation. Q is her quickness, which makes her rejoice. R stands for Richmond, with stentor-like voice. S is Nate Salsbury T is Buck Taylor, now back on the scene. U is the union, displayed by them all, V is their valour, not heeding a fall. W is the welcome we give to the "Show," X is its "xcellence," which we all know. Y is our yearning to see it again, Z is their zeal, and long may it remain.
THE TOPICAL SAMARITAN.
TOPICAL TIMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 1887.
LONDON : 18, CATHERINE - STREET STRAND, W.C.
130
THE TOPICAL TIMES.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th, 1887.
LONDON: 18, CATHERINE-STREET, STRAND, W.C.
ANOTHER FAREWELL.
A last adien! Farewell, fair Rifle Queen! No longer in the Wild West Brompton camp- No longer will you, gun in hand, be seen In cozy little tent with brilliant lamp. Ere next we meet some time may intervene.
Only six months ago we welcomed here. A gentle girl, to us but known through fame, Keen "Little Sure Shot," fleet as any deer, Learning from her there's something in an aim." E'en as the greatness of your fame extends, Years hence, far West, remember absent friends.
F.G.W.C.