Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-08-26
: ROMANCE OF CALAMITY JANE.

Burk, probably better known under
the somewhat fastidious title of Ca
lamity Jane"
The story of her ife is like ro-
nance. In the little town of Prince
ton. Mo-. there was born to Mr.. and
Mrs j. CANARY a group of six chill
Gren, the eldest of whom was Martha.
When she was ID years old, that is,
in 1865. excitement was rampant
throughout the United States owing to
the extensive gold discoveries in Mon
tana. Mir. Canary was not proof
against the fever" and. with his fam
lily. he started overland for Virginia
City, Mont. in the famous Adler Gulch
diggings. Five months were required
to make the journey, while at present
but two days are requisite The coun-
try traversed was but sparsely settled,
and for subsistence the party was
mainly dependent 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
rived in Montana, had rendered her
remarkably good shot and a fear
less rider for 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
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 i'm
proved her time, not in book learn
ing for books were not to be had,
but at shooting and riding, as the next
best accomplishment, and her reputa-
tiOn in that line became wide
spread.
In 1870, learning that Gen. 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 In
dams in Arizona. Up to this time she
| had always worn the dress of her SEX
but, fearing that Gen. Custer would
! be reluctant to permit her to enlist
were he aware of her sex, she. after
deliberation, donned the regulation
cowboy attire, and was promptly ac-
cepted as a scout. being uniformed as
a soldier,and, although it was but a
short time before her identity was dis
covered, her ability as a rider was
recognized TO such an extent that Gen.
| Custer, with only slight reprimand
for the deception, permitted her to
tain her assignment as a scout.
While the campaign was a thrilling
one, from start to finish, M. Can
nary, as her name appeared on the
muster roll. fully bore her share of
the hardships, and met with many
| adventures in the sometimes danger
Gus missions given her to be per-
formed, but these she always succeed
ed in accomplishing 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 In
dams, 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 Nur-
sey Pursey Indians, in the Musselshell
country, were on the warpath and an
expedition under Gems. Custer, Miles,
| Terry and Crook was ordered there
L, was during this campaign that she
received her cognomen Calamity
Jane Relating to the circumstances
thereof, she said: Il was serving I'M
der Capt. Egan, and while near Goose
Creek (the present city of Sheridan,
Wyoming), after having been on
three days skirmish, during which
the company had six men killed and
several wounded, we were ambushed
about a 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 reeling in his sad
die. was able to reach his side in
time 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, one day he laugh
| ingly christened me Calamity Jane
the heroine of the plains and even
to this day she has borne that title
| among her more intimate friends
The Nursey Purseys were subdued
in 1873 and the early portion of 1874
was spent in various minor engage
ments in Montana and Wyoming,
| when, in 1875, under General Crook
she was ordered to the Black Hills of
South Dakota, to protect the miners
| and settlers in that section, as the
country was overrun and practically
controlled by the Sioux Indians. After
a nominal campaign in that section
lasting until 1876, they were again
| full massacre in which Gen Custer
Miles and Terry on the Big Horn
| River
During this march Mrs. Burl was
detailed as the bearer of impof ,ant
| dispatches. and although the trip was
one of ninety miles. the weather wet
and cold, and it necessitated swim
ming the Platte River at For. Fetter-
man. she performed her duty -yilling-
| ly, but at fearful cost, as she con-
tracted pneumonia, and was confined