The Opelousas courier., 1904-01-16
4C& E were waiting at the depot

1vrvk in Billings. Mont, for tn,
9 NM Q incoming train. Outsid'
IN on the platform stood
IGN strong, muscular woman
dressed in mems clothes. On the bacl
Il her head was tilted g ~E puncher'!
hat. Every line of her Weather-beate1
face Indicated determination, while in
yincible spirit cleaned from her brigh'
eyes. "That woman" said my friend, i.
the most remarkable and best known
character in the West" president
of what clubT I innocently asked
THE Indian war club, if any," was the
laughing retort; "but, seriously, she il
really worth while I knew her in
the old days, on the Muscle Shell, and
am going to introduce you. Hello,
Calamity! You can't keep away from
Billings, can you? Here's a tender.
foot that wants stufing. Let's see,
you're Mrs. John Burk this timer "
Calamity James good enough for me-
was the response.
Down the narrowing track the train
could be seen, skirting the mountains,
crossing the Yellowstone, and creep
ing through the sunbaked aikali fats.
"Born in Missouri? Yes; but I've
learned a whole lot more, tramping in
the other States. No, I didn't know
Jesse James or the Younger boys, or
any other jailbirds; was only ten years
old when we left" Nearer and nearer
came the train. "Not another mo-
ment," called my friend, and with a
hearty h%andshake we were off. For
several years my hasty notes lay I'M
touched in my desk. l had almost
forgotten Calamity Jane, when I saw
the notice of her death on August 6
and knew that one of the most unique
characters that ever played a part in
Western history had passed"
BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.
OF her early childhood little is
known, nothing, in fact, excepting the
statements made by Colonel Cody, that
she was born in Princeton, Mo-, in
1852, from whence she migrated ten
years later, after the death of her
mother, to Virginia City, where by an
Indian uprising she was separated
from her family and thrown upon her
own resources.
A strange school was Virginia City
at that date in which to teach a moth
erless girl the lessons of life. Not
half so red was the ruby rim rock that
walled the mining town or the crimson
sands of the mountain streams, as the
bloody tragedies, enacted before the
eyes of the child. To this day Vir-
GINA City is associated with lynching
bees, vigilance committees and Indian
scares. Almost every old building of
its long, narrow street has its history.
With such influences to shape her
life, it is not strange that Martha
Canary" for that, according to Colonel
Cody, was her real name, should devel-
op unusual characteristics. Rough,
laWless, but kind hearted men were
her boon companions. From them she
learned to ride like a centaur and
handle Aer gun with either hand with
equal ease and skill. Her more than
local reputation as a crack shot and
rider, together with her un-
finching nerve, attracted the atten-
ton of General Crook, who made her a
scout under Colonel Cody, before she
was out of her teens. It has also been
that she was at one time a
soldier in the army, where she hid
her sex for several years. If Sc, the
fact is not mentioned by Buffalo Bill"
although she early adopted mems gar
ments and always rode astride. Al
warm hearted and generous
to a fault, she became a dangerous
enemy when aroused, dealing out I'M
justice in behalf of a friend.
No member Of the vigilance committee
was more active or infexible. Yet in
stricken camps she became sweet
Ind womanIy, nursing the sick. caring
the dying.
SCOUTING AND MINING.
From British Columbia to Mexico
The tracked as scout or followed min
ng booms, handling pick and spade
the skill and strength of a man
Ind spending the proceeds Of her ven
.ure with lavish hand.
From Dakota to California she was
Known for her eccentricities and dar-
ne, and welcomed as a brave COM
'ade and jolly good fellow at every
sampfre. BY the Indians she was re-
as one leading a charmed life.
How her name was changed from
Canary to Calamity Jane is
old by Colonel Cody in a thrilling
sketch Of Western life. 1t was in
1872, and the Goose Creek camp, in
South Dakota, was poorly manped-a
mall body OF troops, under Colonel
Egan. was standing off a band of
soux. Too far from help to hope for
endorsements, they fought with the