The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-13

A Globe-Democrat correspondent
writes from Crow Agency. Mont, as
follows:
Residing on ranch near this little
city, in close proximity to the historic
Custer battlefield, and not far distant
from the western home of ". F. Cody,
better known. as Buffalo Bill" there
lives woman with an interesting his
tory, little known even here in Mon
tana.
If one were asked what woman in
the western states had seen more hard
ships on the plains, run ranch sue
cessfully, and, in fact, performed all
the necessary accomplishments sup
posed to be done only by the stronger
sex whereby the result would be sat
isfactory financially, throuaf the usual
outdoor Vocations, the invariable an
swer would be Mamie L. Collins, Mon
tana's cattle queen, with her immense
bank accounts, thousands of acres of
land in northern Montana, well stock
ed with cattle and sheep, to say moth
ing of her varied and remunerative
mining interests.
That answer would be partially true;
entirely so as TO the latter portion of
the question, but as far as concerns
real life on the frontier" such as a
government scout, driving stage
coach, carrying United States mails
over practically unbroken trails, Shout
dering a n1usket in the service of the
United States army under the brave
Custer, and, in fact, facing with forth
tude every phase of life in those early
days when at times even cowardice
was bravery, Mrs. Collins, without de-
tracing in the least from her note
worthy career, must yield the palm to
Mrs. Martha Burk, probably better
known under the somewhat fastidious
TITLE OF CALAMITY JANE"
A Globe-Democrat representative had
an interview with this exceedingly ro-
mantle character, and, feeling that the
story of her life may prove interesting
to its multitude of readers, it is ap-
pended herewith. as well as a photo
graph of her in the garb of a frontiers
woman. obtained only after great solic-
itation, for the reason, as she expressed
it, her dislike toward "eXtolling her
own adventures"
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 Is years old, that is, in 1865,
was rampant
the United States owing to the extern
sive gold discoveries in Montana. NJ,
Canary was not proof against the
fever" and with his family he started
overland for Virginia City, Mont. in
the famous Alder gulch diggings. Five
months were required to make the
journey, while at present but two days
are requisite. The country traversed
was but sparsely settled, and for sub
he r-fy nj rl
dent upon what game they could Sc
cure 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 a
REMARKABLY GOOD SHOT
and fearless rider for a girl of her
age.
Shortly after reaching Montana the
mother died. and the father who in
common with SO per cent of the argo-
nauts. had failed to make a 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 a 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 ac-
complishment, and her reputation in
that line soon became widespread.
In 1870. learning that General 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 General Custer would be
reluctant to permit her to enlist were
he aware of her sex. she after much de-
liberation, donned the regulation cow
boy attire, and was promptly accepted
as a scout, being uniformed as a SOL
der, and. although it was but a short
time before her
IDENTITY WAS DISCOVERED,
her ability as a rider was recognized to
such an extent that General Custer,
with only a slight reprimand for the
deception, permitted her to retain her
assignment as a scout.
While the campaign was a thrilling
one from start to finish, IN. 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