Annie Oakley was one of the stars of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the 1890's. Her specialty was sharpshooting. Oakley, born Phoebe Ann Mosey, joined the troupe only five years before. Only 5 feet tall, Oakley was nicknamed “Watanya Cicilla” (Little Sure Shot) by fellow performer Sitting Bull.
While touring Europe, she performed for Queen Victoria, and other crowned heads of state. In Berlin’s Charlottenburg Race Course, she performed a feat of legendary proportions. Annie announced that she would shot the ashes off any man or woman’s Havana cigar. Normally her husband Frank Butler come out of the audience for the stunt and her speech was just for show.
Unexpectedly, Kaiser Wilhelm II himself accepted her offer; the police thought it was a joke until the Kaiser took his position and told the police to get out of the way. Annie Oakley raised her pistol, aimed and blew the ashes off Kaiser Wilhelm II cigar.
Talk about a coming together of two individuals of uncommon nerve!
When World War I started, Annie wrote the Kaiser asking for a second chance. The Kaiser did not respond.
If she missed, she could have prevented World War I from happening.
ReplyDeleteGreat story ... too bad Kaiser Bill didn't write back.
ReplyDelete