Annie Oakley was a famous sharpshooter in the late 1800s who toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.

She could split a playing card edge-on at 30 paces, hit dimes people threw into the air, hole a thrown playing card multiple times before it struck the ground, and shoot cigarettes from her husband's lips. She could also hit targets while standing on the back of a moving horse. Even at age 62, she was setting accuracy records in clay pigeon competitions against the best in the country.

In 1875 she met her eventual husband, a marksman himself who bet $100 ($5000 today) that no one could defeat him. Then-15yo Oakley defeated him by one shot in a 25 shot match. They went on to marry.

After being injured in a car crash and a period of failing health, Oakley died at age 66. Her husband was distraught, stopped eating, and died 18 days later.

Oakley shooting targets over her shoulder, date unknown,

Annie Oakley mirror

Oakley in 1902,

Oakley 1902

An 1894 drawn circus ad, Oakley shooting targets while standing on a moving horse. Apparently, audience safety was not given a great deal of consideration.

Oakley on Horseback

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[–] 2 points 2 months ago

Was she that good as a sharpshooter if she didn't even manage to hit the huge spectator stands? Come on, even a toddler could hit them - and she missed? Pathetic.

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