Friday, April 16, 2021

Little Sure Shot of The Wild West

 

On this day in 1922, Annie Oakley (Phoebe Ann Mosey 1860-1926) set a women's record by shooting 100 clay targets in a row (above in 1899). The American sharpshooter starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show earning more than anyone except Buffalo Bill himself. Born near Greenville, Ohio, she won a shooting contest against experienced marksman Frank E. Butler at age 15. They would later marry and the duo joined Buffalo Bill in 1885, performing in Europe before royalty and other heads of state. At five feet tall, Oakley was given the nickname of "Watanya Cicilla" by fellow performer Sitting Bull, a rough translation meaning "Little Sure Shot" for the purposes of public advertisements. Audiences were astounded to see her shooting a cigar from her husband's lips or splitting a playing-card edge-on at 30 paces, or shooting her rifle backward over her shoulder using a mirror.

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