The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-18
tLAMITY IANEn
Tho strange and ThrIliInE Career q a
Missouri Woman ~ Ihv Sorihwe't

a ranch near this little city, in close
proximity to the historic Custer battle
dcl5. ara not far distan; from the west
ern home OF W +. CODY, better known
as "BuFa.o BIZ" there Hives a woman
with an Interesting history.siittle known
even here in Montana.
II one were asked what woman In the
western states hud saen more hardships
On the p,aing, run a faE'ch successfully
and In fact, performed all the necessary
accomplishments supposed TO be done
ou.y by the stronger sex WHEREBY the
result would be satisfactory hnanclal-
IL tbrough the usual outdoor VOcations,
tbe inyariable answer would be Mamie
i. Collins. Montana'E cattle queen, with
Tor Immense bank accounts. thousands
al acres OF land In northern Montana
wei stocked with cattle and sheep, 20
sly nothing OF her varied and remunsr-
alive mining interests.
THAT answer would be partially true;
entirety 50 as to the latter portion OF
HE question. but as far as concerns the
'reai lie on the frontier" such as gov
eminent scout, driving stage coaen'
carry United States mails over practi-
cal!y unbroken trails. shoulderlng
musket In the service OF the United
states army under the brave Custer,
M in fact facing with fortitude every
pbase OF lie in those early days, when
nj times even cowavdice was bravery.
Mrs Collins. without detrstcting In the
ieast from her noteworthy career, must
yIeId the palm to Mrs. Martha Burk,
probably better known under the SOME
what fastidlous title OF Calamity Jane.
A Globe Democrat representative had
an Interview with this exceedingly ro-
mantle character, and feeling that the
story Of her afe may prove interesting
II Is appended herewith obtaiHed only
after great solicitation, for the reason,
us she expressed It, her dislike toward
''exIpHng her own adventures.
In the little town OF Princeton No.,
there was born to Mt. and Mrs. j. Can
nar,r. q group OF SIX children, the eldest
~ wbom Was Martha, When she was
n wears Old, that Is In 1865, excitement
was rampant throughout the United
states owing to the extensive gold dis
coyerIes In Montana Mr.. CANARY was
no, proof against the fever" and with
his family he started overland for Vlr-
plnIa City, Mont. Five months were
required to make the journey. while at
the present but two days are requisite.
THE country traversed was but sparsely
eartlgd and for subsistence the party
was mainly dependent upon the game
they could secure with their rifles. on
this long and tedious trip, Martha de-
ve.oped a love for outdoor sport Which
BY the time they finally arrived in Mon-
tara. had rendered her remarkably
good shot and fearless rider for a girl
Of her age.
mother died. and. the father, who In
common with % per cent OF the argo-
nauts had failed TO make a ''strlke' and
determineu to return to Missouri.
Reaching Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1861,
Mr.. Canary alsd succumbed md the
children were left to face the world as
best they could. Employment was
found for Martha on a ranch at Fort
Badger, Wyo.. where she improved her
time rot In book learning" for books
were not TO be had, but at shooting and
riding, as the next best accomplishment,
and her reputation in that zine soon be-
came widespread.
In 1870, learning that General Gus
ter was at Fort RUSSELL Wyom-
inc. she determined TO proceed thther
in the hope that she might be able TO
induce him to aIlow her 10 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 reluctant TO enlist her were he aware
OF her sex, She, after much elaboration,
G0nnsd the regulation cowboy attire,
and was promptly accepted as O scout,
being uniformed as a soldier, and, al
though II was but short time before
her Identity was discovered, her ability
as a rider was recognized to such an eX-
tent that Gen. Custer, with only Night
reprlmand for the deception permitted
her to retain her assignment as scout
While the campaign was a thrilling
ore 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, bus these
size always succeeded in accomplishing
in safety. Only at one time did She
Despair Of her life. being entrapped by
two Indians, but her ability as 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 queHed, and
upon returning TO Fort Sanders, Wyo'.
in 1872, It was reported that the Nursey
Pursey Indians, in the Musseilshell
country, we're on the warpath, and an
expedition under Gems. Custer, Miles,
Terry ard Crook was ordered There. 1t
was during this campaign that she re-
Cs!ved her cognomen OF Calamity
Jane" Relating the circumstances
thereof, she said: ~ was serving under
Capt Eagan, and while near Goose
Creek, (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 ambusheG about
mile from our destination. Capt. Ea-
gan was one Of the FIRST to be shot dur
ing the engagement, and ], happening
10 be in close proximity to him, noticed
him reeSlBg In his saddle. ! was able
to reach him and 70 prevent 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
laugMngly chTistened me Calamity
Jane, the heroine Of the plains, and
even to this day she has borne that tide
among her more Intimate friends.
The Nursey Purseys were subdned in
1873. and the early portion Of 1874 was
spent in various minor engagements in
Montana and Wyoming, when. in 1873,
under Gen. Crook, she waI ordered to
the Back HNls Of South Dakota. to
protect the miners and settlers in that
section, as the country was overrun and
practically controlled by the Sioux In
dams. After a nominal campaign in
that section lasting until 1875. they were
again ordered north to Join Gems. Custer,
Mics and Terry on the Big Horn river.
During this march Mrs. BurlS was de-
tailed as the bearer OF important dis
patches. and although the trip was one
Of ninety miles, the weather wet and
cold, and II nccessithted swimming the
Platte river at Fort FetteTmar. she per-
fnrLn.h hnt. duty. tNlNlnnlN- hml nj a