Phoebe Ann Moses
Annie Oakley (August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926), born Phoebe Ann Moses, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Annie was born in a log cabin in Darke County, Ohio. Beginning in the spring of 1870, she was "bound out" to a local family to help care for their infant son, on the false promise of fifty cents a week and an education. She spent about two years in near-slavery to them.
Annie ran away and went back to her family and helped feed them by shooting and trapping local game. Annie entered a shooting contest in 1876 against Frank Butler. On the 25th round Frank missed his shot and Annie won the contest. Frank started courting Annie and they were married later that year. They started to perform together in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. For the next decade they performed not only in America but in Europe as well.
One of Oakley's most famous tricks was being able to repeatedly split a playing card, edge-on, and put several more holes in it before it could touch the ground, while using a .22 caliber rifle, at 90 feet. Another trick Annie is known for was holding a mirror in one hand and shooting her gun over her shoulder at a target behind her.
In 1926 both Annie and Frank died. A legend in her own time, the remarkable life of Annie Oakley was celebrated in the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun. In her life, Annie overcame poverty and played a role in breaking barriers for women with her talent and accomplishments in her sport. She showed great compassion and generosity to orphans, widows and other young women.
The cache is NOT at the published coordinates; however, you can park there. To find Annie, solve the simple puzzle below:
Located on Marshall's Corner-Woodsville Road, the Skyview Preserve was primarily used for agriculture in the past. The preserve is made up of meadows and forest and the trail winds through both and passes by portions of the Woodsville Brook and the Stony Brook. Along the trail that runs through the meadows, you will see a variety of wildflowers and small trees. You may also see numerous birds and insects, especially in summer and fall. Parts of the trail can be muddy, especially after heavy rains. Please stay on the established trails as much as possible, keep pets leashed, and do your part to preserve this beautiful tract of land by remembering to Cache In – Trash Out.
Please note that hunting is allowed in the Preserve on certain dates during the Fall and Winter; check the notice at the entrance to the Preserve for more detailed information.
For more information on WJC events and caches, please visit www.wnjc.org.
