Western
Americana

ANNIVERSARY OAKLEY'S

This celebrated lady-shot was born at Woodland, Darke Co., Ohio, August 13th, 1866. Ever since a
toddling child she has had an inherent love for fire-arms and hunting. 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. From
the old musket she passed to shooting a muzzle-loading shot-gun, and rapidly became such a fine shot that
she rarely missed a quail. Then came a local reputation, and with improved fire-arms she attracted wider
notice, and for the passed four 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 Richard K. Fox, of New
York, had so much confidence in her ability that in 1883-4 he offered to back her against any other so-call-
ed champion then traveling. The great Indian chief, SITTING BULL, after seeing her shoot at St. Paul,
Minn., adopted her in the Sioux tribe, giving her the name of MUZZA CAW AH PAZZO, or LITTLE SURE
SHOT. Besides the thousands of exhibitions she has given she has shot in 23 matches and tournaments,
winning 19 prizes. In April, 1884, she attempted to beat the best 1000-ball record made, at balls thrown
in the air, using a 22-cal. rifle. The best record was 979, made by Dr. Ruth. Miss Oakley broke 943.
February, 1885, she attempted the feat of shooting 5000 (five thousand) balls in one day, using three 16-
guage Parker shot-guns, and loading them herself. The balls were thrown from three traps at fifteen yards
rise. Out of 5.000 shot at she broke 4.772. On the second thousand she only missed sixteen, making the
highest 1.000-ball record -984. This feat was accomplished near Cincinnati, in less than nine hours.
Miss Oakley is also a fine rider and understands how to manage a horse, as the following will show: In
the fall of '84 a gentleman near Greeneville, Ohio, who owned a valuable but vicious and unbroken horse,
told her he would give her the horse if she could ride him in less than three days without any assistance.
She broke him to saddle and has used him since when not engaged in her exhibitions; sometimes riding
50 miles in one day. What makes Miss Oakley's feats more surprising is the fact that she is small in
stature, and weighs only 110 pounds.—*Cincinnati Commercial Gazette*.