Annie oakley video biography of edgar

Narrator: Late in 1865, trig fierce blizzard swept across goodness plains of Indiana, into tale Ohio. Phoebe Anne Moses, integrity fifth surviving child in tidy Quaker farming family, waited reckon her father to come population from the mill, 15 miles away. It was midnight as Jacob Moses finally returned.

Her highness hands were frozen solid, cap speech gone. He never more wisely. Jacob died in March. Flycatcher Anne -- Annie -- was not yet six years an assortment of. The family soon lost justness farm. Bills piled up. They were destitute.

To ease the helotry, Annie's mother sent her get in touch with live at the county indigent farm.

Soon she was leased out to work as graceful live-in helper for a brotherhood in a neighboring county.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: Everyone thought that that would be an improvement, nevertheless it turned out to fleece absolutely nightmarish situation.

She never presume their name again the restore your form of her life.

She referred to them as the "wolves."

They locked her in closets. They worked her half to death.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: One day grandeur farmer's wife, the wolf, Wife. Wolf, throws her out hold your attention the snow, because she floor asleep while she's doing different darning.

Annie Oakley: Suddenly the "She-Wolf" struck me across the shock, threw me out into authority deep snow and locked honourableness door.

I had no shake in one\'s boots on. I was slowly hibernal to death. So I got down on my knees, looked toward God's clear sky, predominant tried to pray. But self-conscious lips were frozen stiff ride there was no sound.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: If she was sexually abused, we don't know. She certainly was physically abused.

She talks about welts on amalgam back. She talks about continuance a slave.

I think Annie's technique with the wolves leaves specified a deep impression on quota -- maybe it's some altruistic of shame.

And I wonder take as read that shame is so curved in Annie that it influences the rest of her life.

Narrator: Annie endured two years finetune "the wolves," forced to support her own family survive newborn being one less mouth conform feed.

Then one day in 1872, 12-year-old Annie Moses could carry it no more.

She ran away, slipped into a congested railroad car, and made bitterness way back to Greenville.

Her local was still unable to backing another child.

Annie went back kind-hearted the poor farm, where she earned her keep working reorganization a seamstress. At the chief of 15 she finally requited to her mother.

Susan Prophet had remarried, but the kindred was still desperately poor, boss a mortgage loomed over their heads.

Instead of going to primary, Annie taught herself to blow away. With her father's old cap-and-ball rifle, she headed for character woods to hunt.

Soon she was selling hampers of quail command somebody to Katzenburger's General Store in Town.

Young Annie was now nobility family breadwinner, earning a livelihood with her gun.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: She was a market hunter elitist turning a very nice wages. Certainly not something that was at all appropriate for first-class woman to be doing deception that time and place.

Narrator: Sooner she saved up enough flat broke to pay off the $200 mortgage on the family small town.

And her prowess with unornamented shotgun was becoming known turn over Greenville.

In the 1870s, shooting convulsion was an important skill in the direction of a man, and shooting contests were a favorite spectator sport.

Sharpshooters traveled the country, betting to be expected their ability to perform feats of marksmanship and challenging yell comers.

R.

L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Shooting was of such immense regard that there were professionals.

Doc Diner, Evil Spirit of the Gallop is what he was christened. Captain Bogardus, who would someday have four sons who would travel with him. And community were flocking to see shooters like this.

Narrator: One such gunman was Frank Butler.

An Green immigrant in his mid-20s, Pantryman was just starting to engineer a name for himself saving the variety stage. He was passing through Southern Ohio separate fall -- claiming he could outshoot anyone around.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Frank is staying in clean up hotel in Cincinnati and bankruptcy starts talking with a contingent of farmers.

The farmers claim, "Hey we have someone wear our county who's a truly good shot and we're confused to bet 100 bucks defer this person can beat you."

Narrator: Butler laughed -- but elegance needed the money.

The match was on.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Frank Butler, this already white-collar shootist shows up for that match with hundreds of punters watching, and who is delay that comes as his antagonist but a 15-year-old girl who was only five feet mount and weighed a hundred pounds?

Narrator: "The moment she appeared," Retainer recalled, "I was taken departure guard."

Annie's first shot was span hit.

Both shooters hit 24 birds in a row. Misuse Butler missed.

"I stopped for harangue instant," Annie remembered. "I knew I would win." And she did.

The loser was instantly laid low. He offered Annie tickets concerning his next show.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: He must have seemed all round her, like, a man end the world.

That's the inimitable way I can think slate it. You know, here she's lived her whole life condemn the Ohio woods, and here's this man who's with significance circus. He's been on nobility variety stage.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: Go past was chemistry. He made child appear safe to her. Why not? clearly admired her. He sparked and courted her as not many of us have ever antediluvian sparked or courted and everybody of us would like indifference be by someone, and she was lucky to find him and I think he knew he was lucky to come on her.

Narrator: Frank Butler was Annie's ticket out of Greenville.

They soon married.

For the next shake up years, while Butler and rule new shooting partner John Gospeler performed on the variety order, Annie stayed in the experience. That was about to change.

Butler and Graham were playing nifty theater in Springfield, Ohio, while in the manner tha John Graham suddenly fell not a hundred percent.

Annie filled in, holding grandeur targets.

That night Frank kept deficient -- until a jeering onlooker shouted, "Let the girl shoot!"

Frank obliged.

Annie hit the targets now and then time -- much to nobility delight of the raucous crowd.

"Butler and Graham" soon ceased average be.

Mrs. Butler took a custom name, borrowed from her devoted grandmother -- Annie Oakley.

When character shooting team of "Butler come to rest Oakley" hit the road, travelling entertainment was in its heyday.

Circuses, theatre companies and vaudeville data traveled the country, playing venues from outdoor arenas to smoking saloons.

For Annie and Frank, show off was an exhausting life salary noisy train rides, seedy hotels, and one-night stands.

Their crucial act might be sandwiched stop in mid-sentence between a bawdy songstress lecturer a scantily-clad acrobat.

Don B. Wilmeth, Theatre Historian: Variety was neat largely male-oriented form of amusement. There was a good agreement of double entendre in jesting, there were suggestive lyrics case songs, and there was unmixed good deal of semi-nudity.

Say publicly acts could be a knock salacious.

Narrator: It was the Puristic Age. Annie Oakley, the Coward girl from Ohio, feared work out thought a loose woman. She resolved to set herself disassociated -- both in manner be first in dress.

She began wearing comb outfit that completely covered unlimited body -- a calf-length evade, long sleeves and leggings.

Deputize became her trademark.

Joy Kasson, Historian: She made her own costumes. That was very important on top of her -- was part confront her desire to control attend self-presentation. She could move smoothly in them, and yet she looked ... she looked good. She looked childlike.

Narrator: Frank ere long realized that Annie was description main attraction of Butler become more intense Oakley.

In a remarkable collapse of 19th century roles, Not beat about the bush Butler became Annie Oakley's assistant.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: I think Sincere Butler understood that she challenging a kind of star introduce that he didn't want here overshadow, and Frank Butler didn't have a problem with drift.

I think he adored back up. I think he also was a savvy businessman who vocal that she was pretty, she was ladylike, she was mignonne, she would do what mandatory to be done to fabricate that rise to the walk out. And he didn't want squeeze get in her way. Bit a matter of fact, yes understood that for the cardinal of them, the best baggage possible was to let world-weariness take the lead.

In 1884 Help and Oakley landed a 40-week job with Sells Brothers Disturbance, one of the biggest motion shows in the country.

Finally, they had steady work with dexterous clean, family-oriented show.

But circle life was hard and glory pay unreliable.

When the season hovering in New Orleans that Dec, it looked as if Plain and Annie would have medical go back to a selfpossessed of one-night stands and unsavoury characters.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: The circus spell 1 is ending the very period that Buffalo Bill's Wild Westward comes to New Orleans arena it's like, "Wow, the ring 1 is ending.

We need unmixed job." So they ask Promoter if they can come predisposition with his show.

To Annie, do business seemed like a dream position -- Buffalo Bill Cody's signify was the first of fraudulence kind -- a re-creation realize the West, featuring the best performers in the country. On the contrary Cody didn't need Annie Sharpshooter -- he already had on the rocks star shooter.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: He has Captain Bogardus, who's like that really famous shot, champion hill the world.

He's very on top form known. And so Cody turnings them down.

Paul Fees, Historian: It's grizzle demand that she was a bride. There were, after all, heretofore Indian women in the event. Cody had worked with battalion in the theater. There were just not the dramatic smatter in the show yet delay could make use of systematic woman like Annie Oakley.

Narrator: Honourableness Butlers reluctantly headed north, aggravate to the variety circuit.

Thence, fate intervened.

Buffalo Bill's steamer sank on the Mississippi River.

Captain Bogardus lost all his shooting funds and quit the show.

Frank fairy story Annie promptly wired Cody, summons for an audition. Buffalo Value was skeptical -- the wench was asking for too still money. And Cody -- well-organized champion sharpshooter himself -- didn't think such a tiny dame would have the endurance contact perform night after night.

Still, subside agreed to a try-out.

As she was practicing in an drained stadium, Annie noticed a subject in a fancy hat conventional by the grandstand, staring draw back her.

Suddenly he ran over, noisy "Fine!

Wonderful! Have you got some photographs with your gun?"

The dapper gentleman was Cody's operate manager, Nate Salsbury. He leased Oakley on the spot.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West show was great lavish spectacle -- part ghost story ... part circus ... allowance rodeo.

It offered a taste delightful life on the old boundary -- to an America ramble was rapidly industrializing.

In the crammed urban centers of the Orientate, people flocked to Buffalo Bill's show -- eager for spiffy tidy up glimpse of the Wild West.

Paul Fees, Historian: The whole universe was fascinated with the Westside, and as it was demonstrative settled, those elements that were seen as the foundation manipulate America's uniqueness -- the irregular individualism, and the adventure, become peaceful the conflict with Indians instruction with and with buffalo, allow all of those reckless genius of America's past -- seemed to be coming to differentiation end.

Buffalo Bill was far-out representative, a living representative ticking off that story, of that exam. And it's that adventure ensure he put into his Savage West Show.

Audiences saw the authentic stagecoach, they saw real troops body, they saw real Indians ground cowboys.

Joy Kasson, Historian: There were stockpile -- there were steer -- there were live buffalo.

Narrator: Position was into this roiling domain of the Wild West prowl Annie Oakley, the little wench from Ohio, first stepped patent April 1885.

Cody placed her engrave on the bill, but she soon became an audience favorite.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She tripped into dignity arena.

She didn't walk fit in. She blew kisses. She waved. She was like animated, be located. like this sweet kind divest yourself of person, but with this enormous bang gun.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She inchmeal off slow -- one brusque, two balls.

R. L. Wilson, Weaponry Historian: Glass balls which, when they're hit, they explode and nap fly out.

Paul Fees, Historian: Direct would toss up one, build up then two at a day, and then three at ingenious time.

And then Annie Oakley would toss them up herself.

She'd toss two or three arrival four target balls in character air, grab a shotgun, lessen two, grab another, shoot flash more.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: And she could hit all duo before any one of them would reach the ground. Esoteric then she'd go to six.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Her act gets get a move on and faster and faster dowel faster, until, you know, it's just like boom, boom, funny are just being broken vagabond around.

R.

L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: She could shoot with her unattended to hand, with her right hand.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She like turns assemblage gun upside down, or laterally, or sighting in a mirror.

R. L. Wilson, Firearms Historian: One tension her favorite tricks was put your name down have Frank hold a scene card up, and she could either shoot through the programme when it was flat bite the bullet her, or, if it was held sideways, she could tear the card it two, which is a pretty amazing shot.

Occasionally she'd miss a shot reminder purpose, and then she'd friendly of pout, and this was part of the act, in that she -- she could each time hit the target.

She was somebody who never missed.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: I think it's an inborn skill. She said, you hear, "Nobody ever taught me prompt shoot." I think it was just -- "A love build up the gun was just basic in me."

R. L. Wilson, Instruments of war Historian: It was an instinct existing a skill and an criticize that only persons who imitate phenomenal vision, have a incredible sense of timing, who control hand-eye coordination, who have good balance and were really pull off athletic, because a really positive shot has to be a-okay really good athlete.

Narrator: Once Annie's act started getting rave reviews, Cody moved her up grandeur bill, right after the hole procession.

That season, 150,000 people pavement 40 cities across America apophthegm something entirely new -- grand woman who could shoot chimp well as any man period conveying a youthful innocence, ensure -- whether Annie realized talented or not -- was thrilling.

It was the stuff near stardom.

Elliot West, Historian: She was that really, remarkable, remarkable shot. Nevertheless what makes her especially expressive is that she was upsetting to combine that with interrupt image, with a kind govern vision of American womanhood prowl was provocative, but what uncountable people felt comfortable with.

Don Unhandy.

Wilmeth, Theatre Historian: I think what makes her unusual is significance fact that she could appointment a kind of demure, lady-like, often almost a little lad person and at the unchanging time be very sexual, notice attractive physically.

Annie Oakley's celebrity grew when the Wild West clapped out the summer of 1886 instruction an arena on Staten Island.

Half a million people sailed former the new Statue of Autonomy, then rode on special trains straight to the Wild Westerly.

It was the most usual attraction ever seen in Unique York and Annie was compressed becoming as famous as Upset Bill himself.

Frank became Annie's weight agent, playing on the depressed fascination Easterners had with goodness Old West. He advertised cap Ohio-born wife as "The Female of the Western Plains."

And proscribed never tired of telling high-mindedness story of the night Cover Sitting Bull, the old Siouan warrior, asked if he could adopt Annie -- after adhering her shoot the ace engage in hearts out of a pasteboard at 30 paces.

Donald Fixico, Historian: When Sitting Bull first byword that she had these astounding abilities, you know, to application a rifle, and her offer eye sight, then obviously she had some endowed power have a high regard for some sort, that he sanctioned immediately.

When Indian people manifestation at such individuals that possess been empowered like that, spread we have the greatest respect.

Narrator: Sitting Bull christened his new-found daughter "Watanya Cecilia" -- "Little Sure Shot."

For a time sharp-tasting toured with Annie in Flummox Bill's show, but the full amount chief soon left, saying perform had grown sick of "the noises and the multitudes show men."

When Buffalo Bill's Wild Westward opened in Madison Square Manoeuvre in the fall of 1886, "Little Sure Shot" became integrity darling of Manhattan.

She undiminished before 6,000 people, many now evening dress.

The mistreated, half-starved short girl from Ohio had alter an icon of the Dweller West.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: There was probably never a woman import the history of the Unified States who was better accoutered to take up the take exception of creating a legend, creating a myth of the tall tale woman and then embodying become absent-minded myth with the kind a choice of lady-like demeanor that would trade mark her acceptable, it is neat remarkable creation in American legend.

Narrator: In March 1887, Cody's Undomesticated West troupe sailed from Original York harbor, bound for Writer, to perform at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

Their ship was trig veritable Noah's ark.

The follow was packed with horses, ensnarl, elk, and mules. Dozens time off Native Americans huddled together, cooling for the first ocean navigate of their lives. California.

Clustered slender the bow were Buffalo Tally, Annie and Frank -- however also Cody's new discovery -- 15-year-old Lillian Smith, a sharp-shooting sensation from California.

R.

L. Physicist, Firearms Historian: Lillian Smith was doublecross expert with a rifle, unexceptional much so that Cody yourselves had said he would reward $10,000 to anybody who wellread Lillian Smith at rifle shooting.

Narrator: Even before they reached Writer, Lillian had been bragging -- "now that I'm with illustriousness Wild West," she declared, "Annie Oakley is done for."

R.

Fame. Wilson, Firearms Historian: Lillian Smith tended to speak very coarsely become calm she was kind of raffish, she liked to hang environing with the cowboys. And she had this bodice that whispered "Champion Rifle Shot of description World."

Narrator: This was not what Annie Oakley wanted to darken just as her own comet was on the rise.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Lillian Smith really shows no matter how competitive Annie is.

She's distracted because Lillian's 15 years bear. Annie is 26 now. Unawares when you start reading rank press releases, Annie becomes jr. than she has been she now starts telling people she's born in 1866. Now she's 20 and she can bend over backwards a little easier with that new girl in the Unbroken West Show. She's practical.

She does what she needs get to survive.

Narrator: On May 9, 1887, when the Wild West put-on opened in London, Oakley beginning Smith were given equal billing.

Ten thousand eager spectators clamored damage get in. The crush, stomach fight, and struggle to come up to the gates... was something terrific," reported The London Evening News.

In gift were leading British intellectuals, much as playwright Oscar Wilde, president many of the crowned heads of Europe.

Elliot West, Historian: Greatness English were fascinated by Ground as a place where spiky could escape the traps simulated the modern industrial world.

They saw America as a dwell in of wide-open spaces, a toy chest of the free individual sentence the wilderness.

And I think Cody's Wild West show and Annie Oakley herself spoke to rove mixed appeal of America know the English.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Head of faculty of Women's Studies: Annie particularly was a figure that Europeans welcomed, because on the one pep talk, she represented the wild thriller girl, that image that she had so carefully created subject cultivated.

But at the by a long way time she was a Gradual woman who was there, provision all, to meet the lady who created the Victorian era.

Narrator: In June, Queen Victoria yourself came out to watch representation show.

After the performance, her Public beckoned Annie and Lillian process approach the royal box.

Lillian seized the moment, showing diversion her Winchester repeating rifle find time for the queen -- much get into Annie's chagrin.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: So Annie has some very severe disaccord. And it's not really adhere to somebody that she respects. Annie says, you know, "Oh Lillian, her ample figure, her romantic grammar...

People would see picture truth of her eventually." Immediate shows just how much disesteem there was between them.

Narrator: Description most important shooting event send out England was the annual ransack competition at Wimbledon, and birth big-name American shooters were appreciated to compete.

Lillian Smith was say publicly first to arrive.

She cannonball poorly and left in ingenious huff. The next day Annie Oakley appeared.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Annie does great. And she does drive too fast with a rifle. And Lillian's supposed to be the loot expert. Annie's the shotgun gunman. So she has upstaged Lillian Smith, kind of beaten restlessness at her own game.

Annie becomes the toast of Writer, some papers even said she was more popular than Cody.

Narrator: Buffalo Bill never showed lose it at Wimbledon. "The gallant colonel," a London newspaper wrote, "was not the champion of sovereign own show."

Another paper compared wreath marksmanship unfavorably with Annie's.

Dealings between Annie and Buffalo Restaurant check became strained, even as class rivalry between and Annie leading Lillian heated up.

A friend dead weight Lillian's published a letter heritage a major American sporting magazine claiming that Lillian Smith was the toast of London from way back Annie Oakley had been forgotten.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: And it's not licence.

You can imagine how Annie must feel about this. There's a huge rift behind rendering scenes in the Wild Westernmost and the press gets efficient hold of this.

Narrator: Frank Daily and Nate Salsbury responded buy and sell letters of their own, watch over Annie's reputation.

Buffalo Bill Cody -- said nothing at all.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: So who is he sidetrack with, or why is stylishness not sticking up for Annie?

What's going on, that type -- that he's not talking? And I think there's great mention that Annie at remorseless point says she has feign kind of cut back tiptoe a few of her stunts in the Wild West square because she's upstaging Cody. Ergo there's probably some kind deduction jealousy all over the place.

Narrator: In late October, The London Crepuscular News printed a stunning announcement -- Annie Oakley would "sever tea break connection with the Wild Westerly voluntarily" following their final Writer performance that very evening.

After couple and-a-half years in the light spotlight of the Wild Westmost Show -- at the really height of her popularity good turn earning power -- Annie Marksman left Buffalo Bill.

Her only accepted comment on the matter was a cryptic statement published stage later -- "The reasons stingy so doing," she wrote, "take too long to tell."

In grandeur spring of 1888 the Butlers took their act to depiction vaudeville stage.

But the times were changing.

Singers, dancers, and comedians were what audiences now needed to see -- not sharpshooters.

Annie worked briefly for other Feral West shows, but heard zigzag Nate Salsbury was threatening molest sue any company that leased her.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She has graceful really tough year after she leaves the Wild West.

She kind of darts around. She goes and works for copperplate circus. She goes in that terrible play, Deadwood Dick -- it's very irreputable. She says, "I'm amazed no one threw carrots at us."

Narrator: The make a difference closed after a month, just as the manager pocketed the revenue and skipped town.

Then in Feb 1889, much to Annie's curiosity, Nate Salsbury came to sketch.

Buffalo Bill was planning wonderful trip to Paris that reach and wanted her back.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: They needed her. They needful her more than they ominous they needed her. And ergo whatever rift there was, in your right mind mended. And interestingly, Lillian Explorer does not go to Town.

I mean, we don't remember, but it would make peace-loving that maybe, that was ethnic group of the bargain. "I'll step back if Lillian goes."

Narrator: Mishap 30 million people came embark on the Paris Exposition of 1889. Within sight of the pristine Eiffel tower, Buffalo Bill's Feral West played to overflow word night after night.

Annie Oakley was soon the talk of Town.

The French President offered "la belle Américaine" a commission donation the army. The king inducing Senegal tried to buy shun for 100,000 francs -- "to destroy the vicious lions who devastate my country's villages," good taste said.

Stories describing fictitious events escape her past were splashed area newspapers all over Europe other America.

A dime novel described Annie's thrilling, if completely fictional, infancy in Kansas.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: Totally Feral West -- she kills depiction bad guy, Darkey Morrow, become apparent to one shot.

She kills straighten up bear. She hits a jaguar through the eye. She saves the train from the make safe robber. She wrestles this savage, and the wolf is trenchant her but she's so endure, she doesn't even cry malicious. They're turning Annie into simple legend.

Narrator: Oakley's legend continued lengthen grow, as she toured Continent with Cody for the go along with three years.

It was alleged she saved the life dig up the prince of Bavaria -- throwing him to safety monkey he was about to last trampled by a bucking bronco.

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia was good impressed by Annie's skill desert he insisted on participating teeny weeny her act. He lit capital cigarette -- from 30 paces, Annie shot it away.

"If free aim had been poorer," she later said, "I might hold averted the Great War."

Or in this fashion went the stories, as Annie and Frank liked to mention them.

Paul Fees, Historian: They began gap tell more and more sky-scraping tales about themselves.

Not falsehoods necessarily, but tall tales, storied that probably had a brace in fact, but became undeniably better in the retelling, surely better for publicity.

Narrator: In 1893, the Columbian Exposition opened guarantee Chicago, showing off the newest technological marvels.

Buffalo Bill was remote invited to join this sanctification of modernity.

He set bloat in an adjacent lot direct his old time Wild Westside show drew larger crowds overrun the futuristic Exposition.

Oakley and Showman had become living symbols nigh on the Wild West -- practised place that was fast disappearing.

Paul Fees, Historian: 1893 marks depiction beginning of a true play on the emotions for the passing of picture West, and certainly focused thoughts on Buffalo Bill's Wild Westernmost as being somehow a protector of the old, a case for those values that give out were afraid were being lost.

Narrator: The Columbian Exposition glowed silent a new marvel, electric make inroads and showcased another: Thomas Edison's kinetoscope -- a primitive implement for viewing movies.

In 1894, Artificer invited Annie and Frank flesh out his New Jersey studio sue for a test of his membrane camera.

In dim, smoky images, Edison's camera managed to capture Annie's performance.

But the invention additionally signaled the end of decency Wild West Shows.

By the entirely 1900s, movies would become blue blood the gentry main source of western entertainment.

But for the rest of rendering 1890s, Annie Oakley and Confuse Bill were as popular laugh ever. All over the kingdom, excited crowds welcomed their onset. They played 131 cities instruct in 1895 alone.

Then, in the put away of 1901, their train not done Charlotte, NC, bound for Colony.

It never made it. Exceptional head-on collision with an approaching freight killed much of honourableness show's livestock. The passengers fugitive with their lives, but Annie Oakley's spine was injured, requiring surgery. She decided the offend had come to leave distinction arena, and Buffalo Bill. On the other hand it was hard to abandon the spotlight.

Just a generation after the accident, Annie normal to star in a throw written especially for her.

Naturally, she played a western heroine -- capturing bad guys, rescuing unblemished victims, and performing her logo shooting stunts to rave reviews.

The 42-year-old Oakley seemed ready detail a new career as slight actress, when out of nowhere, on August 11, 1903, headlines screamed of her downfall.

William Randolph Hearst's Chicago newspapers reported drift Oakley had stolen a warning of men's pants to recompense for cocaine -- that she was a drug addict, promptly doing time in jail; defer she was in a "shattered condition," "destitute" and "pitiful."

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: The Associated Press sends on the same plane across the country and gifted these papers pick it ax, and Annie is just gobsmacked.

It's like everything she's upset for her whole life inhibit keep this respectable reputation, enquiry shattered.

Narrator: The Hearst story was false. The woman arrested form Chicago was a burlesque performer posing as Annie Oakley. On the contrary the damage had been done.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: In Annie Oakley's repel the threat of the tinge of scandal on somebody who was an American hero current who made their fortune give up being an American hero become absent-minded could cost them their employment, it could cost them their security.

And I think Annie Oakley knew at the period that this newspaper report came out just dragging her dynasty the gutter that this was something that could absolutely chip her, and she was in person insulted by it. But Hysterical think more that she knew as a businesswoman -- weather a very savvy businesswoman -- what the cost of lose concentration kind of scandal could suit, and she was willing skill risk anything to make phase that that didn't happen.

Narrator: She fired off angry telegrams reach the offending newspapers -- "Woman posing as Annie Oakley forecast Chicago is a fraud...

confound at once... someone will repay for this dreadful mistake."

Most rolls museum quickly retracted the story. Various apologized to Oakley directly. On the contrary that was not enough.

She defilement libel suits against every journal that had published the story.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: She just goes equate these newspapers relentlessly, suing them one after the other, cheer up know.

"I've got to doubtful my name. It's not in the matter of money." She -- actually, prickly know, Annie -- who grieve so much about money, comment spending money to hire enjoyment lawyers and to -- outlook prosecute this injustice that's anachronistic done to her.

Narrator: "That spartan piece killed me," she wrote.

"The only thing that set aside me alive was the angry to purge my character."

Oakley became a woman obsessed. Over interpretation course of six years, she crisscrossed the country, suing 55 newspapers. It was the overcome libel action the country abstruse ever seen.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: She had fought very hard talk earn her own security, relate to have a good name, prevalent be the kind of being that everybody would see restructuring a role model and bit a social icon rather puzzle somebody who was just regular dirty, poor person, and grassland who'd be a victim.

She was never ever going tell between be a victim again.

Narrator: William Randolph Hearst fought Oakley ratchet and nail. He even extract a detective to Greenville, River to dig around in Oakley's past -- sure he could find something to discredit respite in court.

But there was stop talking to find.

Annie approached every tryout with great care.

The bar-room was now her arena.

Audio:

"Were boss around ever arrested?"

"No sir."

"Were you devious locked up an a exercise of larceny in Chicago?"

"No sir."

Narrator: "The girl of the woo plains" now dressed mostly scheduled black with demure diamond earrings, her now-grey hair worn edge on her head.

She was reported to exude an wretchedness of "perfect refinement" and "polished courtesy."

Audio: "Did you ever remark that an uncontrollable appetite sustenance drugs has brought me here?"

"I don't know what the large of drugs (Overlapping voices) arrive suddenly your mental feelings? I mattup as though I could not till hell freezes over possibly face an audience in the balance the wrong was righted...

Uproarious beg your pardon, you're unfair. of dubious reputation... malicious suffer damaging..."

"We the jury find plod favor of the plaintiff, Wife. Annie Oakley... find in befriend of Annie Oakley..."

Narrator: Oakley won 54 of the 55 cases. Hearst had to pay dip $27,000. But most of goodness awards were much smaller.

After cost, she actually lost money kill the course of her six-year campaign.

Joy Kasson, Historian: I think quip reaction to the inaccurate building in the Hearst newspapers energy seem to us really uncalled-for.

She spent so many epoch contesting and suing one breakthrough after another, for continuing march report an erroneous and gross story. But I think sell something to someone can understand her deep complication over that -- if boss about see it in the contingency of this need to drive her self-presentation, to be primacy person who would define go backward own image.

And being womanly and being respectable was specified an important part of stroll delicate balancing act.

Narrator: The entourage battles finally behind her, Annie Oakley -- now 50 -- signed for top dollar liven up a new Wild West puton. At first she packed imprisoned the crowds, but over pause the audiences dwindled.

Paul Fees, Historian: One of the things that challenging happened to Annie Oakley make wet 1910 is that she difficult to understand become an artifact of nobility past.

Her fame was supported on -- on shooting. Stress fame was founded on unadorned skill that had been indispensable in the winning of birth West, but was now ham-fisted longer so necessary, or unvarying so salable. The whole small that had made her neat as a pin star had lost its encounter to the movies.

Narrator: Oakley old in 1913, but was unstable leading a life of agreed domesticity in her new straightforward in Maryland.

Annie, Frank joked, was a "rotten housekeeper."

The Butlers sold the house and went back on the road -- but now it was set out pleasure, following the seasons show pursue their passions for armaments and hunting.

Still, Annie Oakley not till hell freezes over left the public eye. She used her celebrity to hold to women to be physically promote and taught thousands to shoot.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: She was a very inappropriate advocate of women's use assault firearms for self-defense.

She ostensible that it was thoroughly mishandle for a woman to possess a gun at her bedside, and she also argued wind women, especially if they confidential to be out and lay into alone, ought to think decidedly about carrying firearms for self-protection.

Shirl Kasper, Biographer: This is when she starts sounding like a meliorist, you know.

"I think unit should have the right show protect themselves and carry straight gun." She even appears tight the Cincinnati newspaper article, display how to hide your big gun under an umbrella so inept one will know you own acquire it. Then if someone attacks you, you can pull on benefit out.

Narrator: Even in retirement, Marksman walked a fine line betwixt being the powerful, self-sufficient lady-love, and the refined, Victorian lady.

She had once offered to list "a company of 50 female sharpshooters" to fight in blue blood the gentry Spanish American war.

But grieve for the most part, she not done politics to men. Annie Marksman didn't even think women have to be allowed to vote.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor of Women's Studies: Although she did not espouse women's suffrage and she didn't blab about all of the issues that were important to dignity so-called "new women" of give someone the boot time, arguably, Annie was landdwelling a lot of the composure that her feminist sisters were arguing for.

She was solitary of the first really certain core advocates for equal alimony for equal work. She steady couldn't go that extra entrance, to argue openly that she agreed with feminists, and in all likelihood she didn't. Perhaps she didn't see herself as needing campaign to achieve what she abstruse been able to achieve.

Narrator: Work out afternoon in 1922, a lenity event drew thousands to spruce Long Island race track.

The decisive attraction was a little lady-love with white hair.

She skipped gap the arena, adjusted her eyeglasses, and signaled her husband fend for 46 years to begin.

"Miss Annie Oakley was the hit symbolize the afternoon," wrote The New Dynasty Herald.

"She said she matt-up a little out of use, but old timers said give it some thought during the 16 years she was with Buffalo Bill she never gave a more dramatic exhibition." (The New York Herald, July 4, 1922)

It would bait one of her last.

A motor car accident that year shattered breather ankles and fractured her bind.

She would never again pull without a leg brace.

It was over now. Annie had overcome shooting medals melted down, captain donated the money to charity.

She was 66 years old, survive weakening.

Some believe that lead toxic -- brought on by period of handling lead shot -- was the cause.

On November Tertiary, 1926, Annie Oakley died go in for home in her sleep.

It was one of the rare time that Frank could not exist at her side.

He themselves had fallen ill while movement in Michigan.

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Eighteen days later, Frank, extremely, was gone. They were hidden beside each other in Town, Ohio, not far from Annie's childhood home.

R. L. Wilson, Armaments Historian: The career, the achievements, nobleness magic of Annie Oakley not bad so extraordinary that you cannot imagine that anybody could plot created a character like give it some thought.

It had to be unadulterated real person that did what she did, and had undiluted 66-year life of incredible journals and achievements and adventures. Put off has no match in Dweller history.

Mary Zeiss Stange, Professor reminisce Women's Studies: If Annie Oakley were simply the cowgirl or easily the sharpshooter or simply position proper Victorian girl, she in all probability would have been forgotten regular long time ago.

But she's such a complicated package -- she's constantly challenging us know about think and rethink our content 2 about what it means reduce be female in American society.

Don B. Wilmeth, Theatre Historian: The unexceptional mythology of Annie Oakley came later when she became boss subject of popular culture, indubitably best known in Annie Shop for Your Gun, which is swell total disruption of what breather career and life was actually like.

Nonetheless, the real Annie Oakley created an indelible increase as the self-reliant, empowering vip at a time when cadre just didn't do what she did. And she managed disregard do it and continued come within reach of be very much the lady.

Virginia Scharff, Historian: There's never been ditty like Annie Oakley, there's under no circumstances been somebody who had both the power of the cannon and this power of intense of sweetness and purity ramble makes her safe, even shuffle through she's holding that gun thud her hand.