The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-09-17
"CALAMITY N
Friend of Our Dime Novel Days Living
in Montana.
HNALAMITY JANE" a character

who figured for years in many
of the dime novel stories of western
adventure, IS living on a 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 - years old, that is, in 1865,
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 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
sistence the party was mainly depend
eat 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 a 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 a strike"
determined to return to Missouri.
Bleaching Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1867,
Mr.. Canary also succumbed, and the
children were left to face the world
ns best they could. Employment was
found for Martha on a ranch at Fort
Eridg"r. 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-
f!ishment. and her reputation in that
!iEc soor 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
20 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-
iuctant to permit her to enlist were
h. aware of her sex, she, after much
~aeliberatioa. donned the regulation
cowboy attire, and was promptly ac-
,epted as a scout, being uniformed as
= soldier. and. although it was but a
snort time before her identity was dis
Covered. her ability as a rider was rec
3gnized to such an extent that Gen.
ulster, with only a slight reprimand
for the deception, permitted her to re-
TN her assignment as n scout.
While the campaign Sas 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 her 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