Smith continued with the notorious show back in the States where


Buffalo Bill offered $10,000 if anyone could beat her at shooting. She never reached the professional level that Oakley did in her career and left


the Wild West Show in 1889. In a twist of fate, with the stage cleared, Oakley rejoined the show and Buffalo Bill Cody.


After the Wild West Show, Smith joined a competing show, the Miller Brothers


101 Ranch Wild West Show, performing as the Sioux Indian “Princess Wenona” and Sharpshooter.


In 1902, Smith and Oakley competed against each other at the Grand Ameri-


can Handicap shooting competition. Oakley won. Smith set roots down in Oklahoma and continued to perform with the Miller


Brothers until she retired in 1920. She passed away in 1930. At her funeral, a close friend stated, “No one else has ever equaled her


record of breaking 300 swinging balls in 14 minutes and 33 seconds, using a single .22 caliber rifle, nor her other record of shooting from the back of a horse and breaking 71 out of 72 balls thrown in the air.”


Among Lillian Smith’s personal effects, which were donated to the


State Historical Society, were two gold-plated Winchester rifles, .22 caliber, one gold plated Smith & Wesson revolver, .38 caliber, one bullet proof vest and one life size portrait of Princess Wenona, “world’s greatest horseback rifle shot”.


Lillian Smith lived and died in the shadows of her world famous rival,


Annie Oakley. And Oakley’s age disparity, sparked by her competition with Smith, haunted her the rest of her life.


So much so that she requested the date of her birth be left off her tombstone


when she died. Her request was honored.


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