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THE SPORTING LIFE.
THE SPORTING AND DRAMATIC CLUB, BARNES.
There was a big company in the grounds of this club on Wednesday afternoon. The great attraction being the appearance of the Rifle Queen, Miss Annie Oakley, who took part in the fine shooting handicap, at pigeons with seven gentlemen, and so well did she use her 20-bore Lancaster gun (a marvellous piece of workmanship), that she was enabled to divide [honoues?] with Lord Mandercile, they each killing three out of four. In addition to Miss Oakley's brilliant display with the blue rocks, she also greatly interested the large company present by her marvellous performance with the glass balls and to show to what a degree of excolence she {basatlained?], we may question that she only missed one bail out of eighteen when thrown up in the rapid succession. The principal winners of the pigeon on handicap wre Mr. F. Bouverie (also shooting with a Landcaster), Lord Mandeville, and Mr. Malcolm Ross. Messrs. A. and C. Offer, the well-known pigeon purveyors, of Hammersmith, supplied some excellent blue rocks for the occassion, and altogether a very pleasant afternoon was spent.
SEPTEMBER 30, 1887
137
CRACK SHOT AT GAME.
What an English Sportsman Says of the Skill of Annie Oakley.
A well known English sportsman, Mr. W. R. C. Clarke, writing in the London Field of recent date regarding the shooting abilities of Miss Annie Oakley, the American young lady now with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in England, says concerning her shooting on game as well as pigeons and glass balls: "Miss Oakley was shooting with me on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last, and during those days she killed pheasants, partridges, hare and snipe, her shooting being wonderfully clean. The wretched state of the weather prevented her getting a shot at grouse, but judging from her shooting at the other game, there is little doubt that they would have stood but a poor chance before her. Not only did Miss Oakley in this, I understand, her first English game shooting, prove herself an exceptionally good shot, but also a plucky walker over heavy ground."
138
THE BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE BREEDER AND SPORTSMAND PUBLISHING CO
MISS ANNIE OAKLEY
EDITOR BREEDER AND SPORTSMAN:- In your issue of July 23rd appears an article signed "A California," which is so far removed from the truth in many particulars that I, as a regular correspondent, cannot help by endeavor to enlighten your many readers on the subject. The Wild West show is meeting with great success - immense crowds at each performance. "A California" says that Miss Smith is knocking the English shooters crazy, and that she has performed before all the Royal family and was presented to Queen Victoria, and that the Queen took her gun in her hand and examined it. The facts are these: Miss Oakley, Miss Smith, Mr. Nate Salisbury, Buck Taylor and Col. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) were all presented at once on June 11th, they bowed and retired. There was no handling of gun or personal conversation, so Miss Oakley was not left out in the cold any more than the rest of them. I am highly pleased with the excellent performance of Miss Smith, or Mrs. Willoughby, as it is understood she is the wife of one of the cow-boys, and consider her a marvel with the rifle. It is also a great pleasure to note the performance of Miss Annie Oakley with the shotgun. Miss Oakley recently gave an exhibition on the ground of the London Gun Club of which Viscount Stormont is President, and the Prince of Wales a member. Miss Oakley at that exhibition killed eighteen blue rock pigeons out of twenty-five, a feat unexcelled that day, and if it had been in competition would have won the challenge cup. The club expressed their high commendation of the achievement by presenting to her, through the Prince of Wales, the Club Gold medal valued at two hundred and fifty dollars. His Highness on handing the medal to Miss Oakley said: "I know of no one more worthy of it." So far as I can learn this is the first time the medal has ever been presented to a shooter. Since that time Miss Oakley wone $250 in a sweepstake match at blue rocks, killing twenty-eight out of thirty at twenty-five yards rise; this, I believe, is the first prize ever won by a lady at their world-renowned grounds. Miss Oakley also gave an exhibition of rifle shooting before the members, shooting coins thrown in the air with the ball cartridges, and did some very fine work, a shilling which she shot being kept by the President as a memento of her visit. At the time Miss Smith performed before the Royal family, so did Miss Oakley, and so did the Indians and cow-boys as in the daily performances, and at the time that the Queen was present no one but the Royal personages were admitted.
"A Califronia" forgot to mention that the time Miss Smith shot before the grand Duke Michael of Russia, that he came down expressly to see Miss Oakley shoot, and that he, himself, shot her gun. "A Californian" says that Miss Oakley's husband, Mr. Frank Butler, tries to pass off as Miss Oakley's brother. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Butler, having brought a letter of introduction to him from one of the best business men of Boston, and I must say that I have always found him a very honorable and straightforward gentlemen, and he has never to me tried to pass as anything but Miss Oakley's husband, and I, as a correspondent to sporting papers, have never yet had him try to fill me up with news unless I asked him for informaiton. At the time of the visit of their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales to the Wild West, Miss Oakley's and Col. Cody's tents were the only tents that the Price and Priness entered.
At the Wimbledon Riffle meeting I saw the Prince fo Wales push his way through a crowd to shake hands with Miss Oakley, and remained in conversation with her for some time. Miss Oakley recieves a great many invitations to give private exhibitions before some of the leaders of society here, and was honored by an invitation to a reception at the Royal Geographical Society. Miss Oakley has been offered very flattering terms to give to exhibitions at Boulogne and Monaco in France and Brighton, England. Miss Oakley's shooting at live birds and blue rocks, had improved wonderfully since she came to this country, and the American cracks will have to look to their laurels when she returns, or she will be taking them away from them.
Now, Mr. Editor, I write this in no way reflecting on Miss Smith, but when "A California" asserts that Miss Oakley is left out in the cold, I wish to say that he is much mistaken. I send you a few items for publication, taken from English papers, which I hope you will publish in justice to Miss Oakley, and I am willing to say that Mr. Frank Butler did not have to whisper the tiems in the ears of the reporters.
"The highest compliment we can pay this little lady is to say she can ride as well as she can shoot." - Society Times, June 22d.
"Exhibitions of shooting was given by Buffalo Bill, Miss Annie Oakley and Miss Lillian Smith, Miss Oakley being far and away the best shot." - Evening News, May 10th.
"The applause of the evening, however, is reserved for Miss Annie Oakley, because her shooting is clever, precise and dramatic." - The Referee, May 17th.
"Miss Oakley undoubtedly made the hit of the show." - The Era, May 16th.
"Miss Oakley was then presented to her Majesty; she made the prettiest of bows and them scampered off." - Daily Telegraph, May 12th.
One of the attractions at Wimbledon Camp yesterday was Miss Lilliam Smith. She tried her hand at the running deer but without much success. The best she could do being to hit the haunch, which cause much laughter as this involves a fine. Miss Oakley, however, was more successful. She made a fairly good score and was highly complimented by H. R. H., the Prince of Wales, who shook hands with her and asked her many questions regarding her health.
Many Sacramentans, especially those interested in shooting, will remember Miss Lilliam Smith, the young girl that was such an expert rifle shot that she issued a challenge to anyone in the country, male or female, to contest with her. She resided in this country, male or female, to contest with her. She resided in this city for quite a while, her parents maintaining a shooting gallery, where Miss Smith astonished allcomers by her remarkable ability. The Woodland Mail says of her: "She was married some time ago to one of Buffalo Bill's scouts named Jim Kid, and the London Topical Times publishes on interview with the young lady, in which she tells how it was done. The story is simple and uninteresting enough, but what will interest Woodland people will be the highly polished language accredited to her - language that would do credit to the originiator of English. In Woodland she usually said: 'Swab off the target pap, and let me band de eye,' or else 'Swing de apple dere, young fellers, an' let me bust his skin.' How great at the changes." - Record Union
139
LAND AND WATER MISS OAKLEY'S PIGEON SHOOTING
SIR, - In a recent issue you very kindly published published the result of a private exhibition by Miss Anne Oakley's shooting on August 10, with a paid of 20-bore breech-loader hammerless shots gun I had just finished for her.
I have now the pleasure to give you particulars of a match which took place at my private shooting ground on September 30, under the following conditions: - To kill 35 out of 50 of the very best bluerock pigeons at 25 yards rise; five traps, Hurlingham rules, weight of guns, 5lb. 2oz.; 2 1/2drs. of powder, 3/4oz. shot. I append herewith score of Miss Annie Oakley's shooting, in which you will see she grassed 41 birds out of 50, winning the match by 6 birds over the stipulated number:
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 8 out of 10 1 0 1* 1 1 1* 1 1 1* 1* - 9 " 10 1 1 1 0 1 - 4 " 5
1* 1 1 1 1 1* 0 1 0 0 - 7 " 10 1 0 1 1* 0 1 1 1 1 1 - 8 " 10 1* 1* 1 1* 1 - 5 " 5
41 " 50 * Denotes both barrels fired.
The birds were supplied by Mr. T. Morgan, of Latimer-road, Notting-hill.
At the conclusion of the match, Miss Annie Oakley was warmly congratulated on her brilliant shooting by her friends and the gentlemen present. Charles Lancaster. 151, New Bond-street, W.
{We would suggest that there is a certain amount of cruelty in shooting pigeons at the distance of twenty-five yards with so light a gun and charge. It is a fine performance from a gunnery point of view, doubtless, but it involves the principle of shooting at birds which rise at too great a distance to be killed everytime, even with the most perfect aim. At fifteen or twenty yards rise, Miss Oakley would only have missed when she did not hold straight. At twenty-five yards the case is different. No such charge is powerful enough to kill with certainty at such a distance. -ED.}
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THE COUNTY GENTLEMAN, SPORTING GAZETTE, AND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1887.
MISS OAKLEY'S FIELD SHOOTING.-There is no one who will deny for a moment but what Miss Oakley is very clever as well as very graceful in her style of shooting at blue rocks or glass balls ; but what about her performances in the field ? Surely there are plenty of noblemen and gentlemen near London who could arrange to let the little lady try her hand a few hours in the forenoon at partridges or pheasants. Grouse are too far off to allow her to keep her engagements at Earl's Court. I do not think a 20-bore 5 1/8lb gun a very likely one for field or covert shooting late in the season, but as light 20-bores have possibly never been given a very fair trial, an opportunity might be afforded for testing their execution. A light gun may be easier carried, but most clever shots like something of weight and balance, more particularly when shooting up wind or on a hill where there is a heavy cross-breeze. Mr. Lancaster, no doubt, has made Miss Oakley's guns for exhibition purposes, and would turn out something heavier for game shooting. A 20-bore is best suited for walking up wild grouse and dropping wild rising cocks about this time than for driving.