To the staccato accompaniment of pistol shots and shrill cowboy yells, the Oklahoma Ranch Wild West Show opened at Eighth and Market streets yesterday afternoon, and at both afternoon and evening performances the big tents were packed with crowds that came prepared to be thrilled. And the thrills were plentifully besprinkled throughout the long programme, from the gala entry of cowboys, cowgirls, Russian Cossacks and Indians in the opening event down to the final act, when an emigrant train is captured by the Indians and burned.

Except for the "bulldogging" of steers, which has been branded as cruel and upon which a ban has been placed in this city, the Oklahoma Ranch Wild West show has all of the thrilling and picturesque features which Buffalo Bill incorporated in his famous but not defunct organization. Roping and riding of every variety are well illustrated by experts, and there are numerous other features in which Wild West stunts are combined, such as the stage hold-up, capture and sumary punishment of a horse thief, and the massacre of the immigrants and burning of their "prairie schooner."

There is no lack of genuine wild West talent in the aggregation, for every man in the show, from the stake drivers to Colonel "Zack" Mulhall, the ring director, is a real product of the plains. And in addition to the horsemen and cowgirls they brought out to the Coast, the showmen have nabbed the pick of the California plainsmen who, only a few weeks ago, competed at the Salinas rodeo.

These include "Happy Jack" Hawn, the most famous vaquero i the State, and Mrs. "Happy Jack" Hawn, who is almost as famous a rider as her husband. George Wilson, Joe Fowler, Arthur Manning and Dave Bier are also well-known California cowboys who have been added th the aggregation.

One of the stars of the show is Miss Lucille Mulhall, the comely young daughter of Colonel "Zack," who is as expert with the rope as any cowboy. Miss Mulhall has just returned from the annual stampede held at Winnipeg, where she gathered many prizes for her skill with the lariat.

COASACKS PROVIDE THRILLS
She was a favorite with the crowds yesterday, as was her sister, Miss Georgia Mulhall, who also is an expert horsewoman. Other stars among the women are May Holmes, an expert with the lariat, Emma Blair, who puts her beautiful animal over the high jumps: Georgia Kearny, a sharpshooter, and Kate Sweigert, Lena Hackney and May Foster, all daring equestriennes.

Among the men Harmon Wilson and Jack Goldberg corral most of the spectacular honors. Wilson using the rope and Goldberg thrilling the crowd with daring tricks on horseback. Wilson ropes six horsemen at one throw, and a little later, using a lariat in each hand, gathers in two bunches of horsemen going in opposite directions, there being eight men altogether.

Not the least of the thrills is furnished by Prince Lucca and his band of wild riding Russian Cossacks. These men perform all sorts of daring and spectacular stunts while riding at break-neck speed, and are thorough masters of the splendid animals they use.

The show is being given twice daily, at 2 and 3 P. M.