Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-27
HEROIC aeALAmiTY JANE"
Strange Story of n Woman who Won
Fame on the Frontier.

Strange Story of n Woman who Won
Fame on the Frontier.
Near the famous Custer battlefield in
Montana lives Mrs. Martha Burk, better
| known as Calamity Jane" She is the old
est daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. J. CANARY
of Princeton. No The family went to
| Montana during the gold fever of 1868
| Martha was then I3 years old Both par
ents died and the children were left to
| their own resources. In 1870, writes Leon
| Shaw in the st Louis Giobe-Democrat.
learning that General Custer was at Fort
Russell. Wy. Martha determined to pro-
coed thithcr in high hope tha5 she might
be able 20 indGcc him TO allow her to ac-
company 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 rclucfl1t to permit her to enlist
were he aware cJ her sex, she after much
sdeliberatiOn donned the regulation cowboy
attire and was promptly accepted as
scout, being uniformed as a soldier, and,
although it was but short time before
her identity was discovered, her ability as
u rider was recognized To such an extent
that General Custer with only slight
rcprimand for the deception, permitted her
to retain her assignment as n scout.
While the campaign was thrilling one
from start to finish, M. Canary" as
her name appeared on tho muster roll,
fully bore her share of the hardshipS, and
met with many adventures in the some
times dangerous missions given her to be
performed, but these she always succeeded
I'm accomplishing in safety. Only at one
time did she despair of her life, being en-
trapped by two Indians, but her ability as
a shot served her we'll, and after wound
ing one of the Indians, she made her
escape, and upon reporting to General
Custer was warmly praised.
The outbreak was duly quelled, ard
upon returning to Fort Sanders, Wy, in
1872, it WIS reported that the NursCy
Pursry Indians, in the Musselshell coun-
try, were on the warpath, and an expedi-
ton under Generals Custer, Miles, Terry
and Crook vas ordered there. 1t was dur
ing this campaign that she received her
cCgnoIncn Calamity Jane Relating the
circumstances thereof. she said: Il was
serving under Captain Egan, and while
near Goose creek (the present city of Sher-
idan, Wy, after having been on u three
days skirInish, during which the COM
pany had six men killed and several
wounded, we were ambushed about
mile from our destination. Captain Egan
was one of the first TO be shot during the
engagement, and l, happening to be in
close proximity to him, noticed him reel
ing in his saddle. was able to reach his
side i'll timC to prevent him from falling,
and, getting him on my horse in front of
me, bore him to camp in safety. After he
had recovered ono day he iaughinply chris
tened me Calamity Jane, the heroine of
the plains, - and even to this day she has
borne that tito among her moro intimate
friends.
The Nurscy Purseys were subdued in
1873, and the early portion of 1874 was
spent in various minor engagements in
Montana and Wyoming, when, in 1875,
under General Crook. she was ordered to
the Black Hills OF South Dakota, to pro-
tcct the miners and settlers in that sec
ton, as the country Was overrun and prac
Iically controlled by the Sioux Indians.
After "a nominal campaign in that section
lasting until 1876, they were again ordered
north to join Generals Custer, Miles and
Terry on the Big Horn river.
During this march Mrs. Burk was de-
tailed ;.s TIE bearer of important dis
patches, and although the trip was one of
30 miles, the weather wet and cold, and it
nCccssitGtcd swimming the Platte river at
Fort FctterinGn, she performed her duty
willingly, but at Il fearful cdst, as she con-