Annie Oakley (Phoebe Mosey) had a birthday on the 13th Of August. She lived an amazing life. She started shooting at 8 and beat her future husband at shooting when she was 15. She was a large part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show and attracted many spectators. Born Phoebe Ann Mosey, Oakley first gained recognition as a sharpshooter when she defeated her future husband Frank Butler, a pro marksman at age 15, in a shooting exhibition. She became the star attraction of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show for 16 years, under the management of Frank. Annie was billed in the show as “Miss Annie Oakley, the Peerless Lady Wing-Shot”. She was also nicknamed “Little Sure Shot” by Chief Sitting Bull, who was also in the show. Annie was renowned for her trick shots. Annie was able to, from 30 paces, split the edge of a playing card, hit center of ace of spades, shoot down a playing card tossed in air, shatter glass balls thrown in air, hit dimes held between Butler’s fingers, shoot an apple out of poodle’s mouth and shoot off the butt of cigarette from Butler’s mouth. Her most famous trick was a mirror trick in which she hit a target behind her shooting backwards using a mirror for aim. These incredible feats of marksmanship amazed and excited people and she generated huge audiences eager to see the display.
She was quoted as saying:
“I would like to see every woman know how to handle [firearms] as naturally as they know how to handle babies.”
and
“I ain’t afraid to love a man. I ain’t afraid to shoot him either.”
Annie Oakley and her husband Frank Butler were very generous throughout their lives. They contributed a good portion of their fortune to charities.
Annie was and is an inspiration to women and girls everywhere. She set many exhibition shooting records that stand today.
We salute Annie Oakley on her 156th birthday!
Semper Paratus
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