Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-09-22
JANE"
Friend of Our Dime Novel Days Living
in Montana.


who figured for years in many
of the dime novel stories of western
adventure, is living on ranch near
Crow agency, Montana. Her name in
private life is Mrs. Martha Burk, and
her story is fully as interesting as any
of the wild yarns that penny-a-liners
have penned about her prowess.
In the little town of Princeton, Mo-,
there was born to Mr.. and Mrs. j..
Canary a group of six children, the
eldest of whom was Martha. When
she was 13 years old, that is, in 1868,
excitement was rampant throughout
the United States owing to the extern
sive gold discoveries in Montana. Mr..
Canary was not proof against the
fever" and with his family he started
overland for Virginia City, Mont, in
the famous Alder gulch digging.. Five
months were required to make the
journey, while 1T present but two days
are requisite. The country traversed
was but sparsely settled, and for sub
sistence the party was mainly depend
ent upon what game they could secure
with their rifles. On this long and
tedious trip Martha developed a love
for outdoor sport, which, by the time
they finally arrived in Montana, had
rendered her remarkably good shot
and a fearless rider for a girl of her
age.
Shortly after reaching Montana the
mother died, and the father, who, in
common with 95 per cent. of the argo-
nauts, had failed to make strike"
determined to return to Missouri.
Reaching Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1867.
Mr.. Canary also succumbed, and the
children were left to face the world
as best they could. Employment was
found for Martha on ranch at Fort
Bridger, Wyo., and here she improved
her time not in book learning" for
books were not to be had, but at shoot
ing and riding, as the next best accom-
plishment, and her reputation in that
line soon became widespread.
In 1870, learning that Ger. Custer
was at Fort Russell, Wyo., she deter'
mined to proceed thither, in high hope
that she might be able to induce him
to allow her to accompany him on his
campaign against the Apache Indians
in Arizona. Up to this time she had
always worn the dress of her sex, but,
fearing that Gen. Custer would be re-
luctant to permit her to enlist were
he aware of her sex, she, after much
deliberation, donned the regulation
cowboy attire, and was promptly ac-
cepted as scout, being uniformed as
4 soldier, and, although it was but a
short time before her identity was dis
covered, her ability as a rider was rec
ognized to such an extent that Gen.
Custer, with only slight reprimand
for the deception, permitted her to re-
tain her assignment as scout.
While the campaign was a thrilling
one from start to finish, M. Canary"
as her name appeared on the muster
roll, fully bore her share of the hard
ships, and met with many adventures
in the sometimes dangerous missions
given her to be performed, but these
she always succeeded in accomplish
ing in safety. Only at one time did she
despair of he" life, being entrapped
by two Indians, but her ability as a
shot served her well, and, after
wounding one of the Indians, she made
her escape, and, upon reporting to
Gen. Custer, was warmly praised.
The outbreak was duly quelled, and
upon returning to Fort Sanders, Wyo,,
In 1872, it was reported that the Nez
Perces Indians, in the musselshell
country, were on the warpath, and an
expedition under Gems Custer, Miles,
Terry and Crook was ordered there.
1t was during this campaign that she
received her cognomen Calamity
Jane" Relating the circumstances
thereof, she said: Il was serving up-
der Capt. Egar, and while near Goose
Creek 1.-THE present city of Sheridan,
Wyo), after having been on a three
days skirmish, during which the COM
pany had six men killed and several
wounded, we were ambushed about q
mile from our destination. Capt.
Egan was one of the first to be shot
during the engagement, and /, happen
ing to be in close proximity 20 him, no.
ticed him reeling in his saddle. l was
able to reach his side in time to pre-
vent him from falling, and, getting
him on my horse, in front of me, bore
him to camp in safety. After he had
recovered, one day he laughipgly
christened me Calamity Jane, the
heroine of the plains and even to this
day | have borne that title among my
more intimate friends"
The Nez Perces were subdued in
1873, and the early portion of 1874 was
spent in various minor engagements
in Montana and Wyoming, when. in
1875, under Gen. Crook, she was or
dered to the Black Hills of South Da-
kota, to protect the miners and set
tiers in that section. as the country
was overrun and practically con-
trolled by the Sioux Indians. After a