Evening journal., 1900-12-19
LILLIAN SMITH
DOES GREAT ACT
Marvellous FeatS With Rifle
AStOniSheS Audiences at
DOckStader'S

Probably no act that W. L. Dock
stader has put on since he opened his
theatre seven years ago, has attracted
more attention than that of Lillian
Frances Smith, the shooting prodigy" "
Her remarkable feats OF marks
womanship' have attracted the atten-
tion Of all local sportsmen, who throng
the playhouse to see her performances
with the rife
When at the early age Of s years
she commenced to handle the rife,
discarding the usual playthings Of
girls dolls" etc. Her father made
her home and birthplace. Coleville.
Mono county, California. very bright
for his little daughter by purchasing
for her on her Sth birthday q Ballard
rifle of twenty-five calibre, and weigh
ing seven pounds. Game was very
plentiful around Coleville and good
craftsmanship was thought of more
Importance than good grammar, or a
seat in Congress. and the boys and
girls of Mono county were all more or
less good disciples OF William Tell.
Her father states that at the early
age of 6 years his attention was at
ltracted to Iillian's accuracy in shoot
ling by watching her one day kill a
lsparrcw with an ordinary bow and ar
row. which he had, at her earnest en-
treaty, made for her, and after the
advent of the rife. Miss Lillian made
many excursions into the woods and
country around, mounted on her horse,
accompanied by her dog, and never re-
turned empty-handed.
Her childhood was passed amid an
atmosphere well calculated to develOp
that precOcious skill that has aston
ished not only the Pacific coast. but
/ the world at large. Horsemanship is
IclOsely allied to the cradle in most
lparts Of California, and from the mo-
lment Lillian Frances could hold on to
THE saddle pOmmel she passed a great
lpart of her time there. Her first foray
with the rifle resulted in a bag Of two
cotton-tails, three jackrabbits and two
'quails. On her father accompanying
her 10 a lagoon, near the San Joaquin
river. when she was only years old.
he was greatly surprised to see her
"briDg down" forty redheads and mall
ilards, mostly on the wing. When 10
Years old, when hunting. her dog had
a terrible fight with a wildcat, and the
animal was rapidly getting the best Of
the dog when Miss Lillian dashed up
on her broncho, and firing twice in
rapid succession at the cats hindquar-
tiers, the brute turned his attention
from the dog to the intrepid huntress
who had wounded It with both shots
land springing anghted on the horses
meek, when a blow from the saddle oc-
lcupants rifestOck sent it back to the
learth, where the dog finished the kill
ing
This and several bear exploits won
Lillian Smith the title of the cham
lpion California huntress" at u years
lof age, when her father issued a chal-
llenge TO all California to meet her in
a match at target and wing shooting
(which was not accepted but it brought
many noted shots to her home to wit
mess her remarkable nerve and talent
After short practice with thrown glass
balls she made a score Of 325 without
a miss. and out Of 500 broke 495.
While in London Queen Victoria was
lpresent at one of the Wild West exhi.
lbitions, and Miss Smith was called into
the royal box to allow her majesty tC
congratulate her and examine hel
rife-an honor accorded only two ii
) the show. Buffalo Bill and herself
Miss Smiths many noted feats per
formed, and which she performs witt
the rifle. would I'll a volume. and sh'
thoroughly delights in firearms. being
as proficient with the pistol as riff
and gun. OF the medium height ;
pronounced brunette with clear blu
eyes, and a well-rounded figure dress
ed in the style of a California back
woods belle, she would attract atten
! tion anywhere, as her bearing is of I
! fearless, independent though modes
character, and it would go hard will
any dude who should prove too fresl
lin her company.