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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.