The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-13
THIRTEEN BROUGHT
LUCK THROUGH CAREER
Annie Oakley (Nlrs. Frank +. But
Ier) Gives This as Secret Of Her
Success.


~ last exhibition that Annie Oak
ley ikely to give for a civilian au '
dience for sometime to come took
place at the Pinehurst Gun Club on
Monday afternoon, March IL, at 2.3D
o'clock. In d few weeks she starts a
tour of the military cantonments for
the government, shooting for the en-
tertainment and edification of the
National Army.
The performances of Buffalo Bills
Premier markSman-albeit a Wo-
man-are too we'll known to require
any description of the event. When
the Outlook man went to get the
program for her she merely laughed.
Why" she said, L never bother
with a program any more. 1t isn't
worth thinking about. We 10 Ion
ger plan anything. When we get to
the field we pull off an impromptu
shoot, and run the stunts along as
long as the crowd wants them, and
suit the show 70 the audience
There is no admission for the eX-
hibition. But in these strenuous
times it appeared that some advan-
tage should be taken of the big ga
thering that always turns up wher-
ever she shoots, to get some contrl-
button to the work in hand. So An
ME Oakley consented to have the
dramatic story of her life and ad-
ventures while shooting in the Wild
West in every country in the World
put into attractive pamphlet form to
be sold on the field as a souvenir.
The proceeds will go to the Farm
Life School.
The narrative of her extraordinary
career, as told by herself at odd mo-
mCnts in the corridors Of the Caro-
lima, constitute an Iliad unequalled
in this day and generation. They
form an endless story of triumphs
and of diversions. While trying to
get this program we learned why
she would rather shoot on the 18th
than on the 18th. AS usual it is al
so bound up with some of her in
Vulnerable trophies. AS told by her
self, the reason is as follows
Il know that it is common su-
rerstitiCn among shooters to be ter
ritied of the number 13. But then
men who handle firearms casually
are given to superstitions. Some
would as soon reverse the gun as
pull the trigger wearing striped
blazer One of the best shots i'll the
world would never fire cartridge
that he had dropped on the ground.
And it is easier to drive a trap shoot
ing gang into a coral than to get
IL en- to make up thirteenth squad.
But l go at these things from
pragmatic standpoint. That is to
7 hnl in hot nrlyC
l was born on the 18th, and get my
innoculation to begin with. ! didn't
believe l did such bad job, at that,
and so decided to stay with my
horoscope So ] joined William CO.
dy for three days trial on the 18th.
This was my first and greatest trial
of fortune. And it succeeded to thu
extent that l stayed IT years.
consequently 7 was ready to
stand by my guns when l ran up
against the question of this l3 busi-
ness in my match with William Cra-
ham. Ior may not remember. But
Graham was the champion pigeon
shot of England, and hence at that
time of the world. He was in the
United States challenging all COM
ers and what is more, making away
with them. 1t would never do for
him to waltz back to Picadilly with
his belt full of scalps if the Wild
West Outfit had the goods they claim
ed. Anyway we decided that he
would get a run for his money out of
the rough riders. So 1 challenged
him, for fifty shots, two out of three
matches.
Il lost the first match, which has
little to do with the story. Nobody
was much surprised, because he had
been beating everyone in sight. But
my supporters came in large num-
bers still optimistic for the second
shoot. And then it was that the
discovery was made that the man
agement of the hotel had put me up
in room 13. You should have heard
the howl. The old hands at the
traps threw up their hands and said
it was all off, unless l moved at once.
Il said 1 should stay where l was.
They went into a total eclipse, and
spread a gloom all over the Camp.
But this time l won, as much to the
astoniShment CT my friends, as OF
Graham and the public.
But this demonstration of the eX-
cellent use l made of the fatal num-
ber did not lessen the conviction of
the following in the slightest. When
we turned up for the rubber shoot
at Melchantville, New Jersey, and I
was again, by the purest chance, as
signed to room IS, there was riot.
When l refused to bulge again, my
supporters INDUCED in lamentations
to remove the spell, and under the
certainty that the evil was cumula-
| tive, and that both these dreadful
13s would get in their work at one
time, they gave up the fight, and
some of them sought refuge in
dedging their bets, and taking a lit
| tie money on my certain defeat.
"Old hands at the game will re-
| member the contest. 1t was a very
close business. And it appears that
the owner of the grounds shared the
T.