Little Sure Shot: The Incredible Life of Annie Oakley

Annie continued freelancing until 1884, when fate intervened on the Mississippi River. A steamboat carrying Buffalo Bill’s performers sank, marking the beginning of the end for Captain Adam Bogardus. While everyone escaped safely, his prized guns were lost to the depths.

Struggling to adjust to a new set of firearms, his precision wavered, and after months of frustration, he decided to walk away. His departure left a crucial vacancy in the Wild West show—and there was no better fit than Annie Oakley.