Lillian Smith (entertainer)

Lillian Francis Smith (1871 – 1930) was a young sharpshooter who joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at the age of fifteen. She was billed as "the champion California huntress," and was a direct rival to Annie Oakley in the show.

Biography

Smith and Oakley were never friends; Smith was a braggart and at one point declared "Annie Oakley was done for." Moreover, in contrast to Annie, who was an extremely conservative dresser, Lillian enjoyed flashy clothing and had a reputation as a "shameless flirt." Both Smith and Oakley met Queen Victoria in 1887. Smith's poor performance at the annual Wimbledon rifle competition (as opposed to Oakley's favorable performance) brought mocking coverage by both the British and American press. A friend of Smith attempted to reverse the roles of Smith and Oakley in his recounting of the competition (and London's reception), but the claims received public responses by reputable sources. Smith left the show in 1889 (when Oakley returned to it).

In 1907, Smith moved permanently to Oklahoma and became a fixture with the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show, performing as "Princess Wenona", a fictionalized Sioux princess. However, she continued to perform in other shows like Pawnee Bill's. After another 13 years as a record-setting sharpshooter and performer, Smith retired around 1920 and died in 1930 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the home site of the 101 Ranch.