, 1921-11-25

ca The "old guard" among v
very large degree have passed
ten records that the p~ictureso
actors In h drama OF the early west
can now be appreciated
Although the early history OF the ma
Ito viii always be associated with the
deeds Of famous men. It should not be
forgotten that there were women also
who played important parts in tho
building OF tho great empire west OF
h Missouri. In thu same category
with Buffalo Bill and Red WOLF should
be mentioned the names of Calamity
Jane and Cattle Kate. John Falcs.
now a resident Of North Casper. Is one
Of the old timers who recalls with per-
sonai interest the bizarre career OF
Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane. otherwise Nell King.
wife OF ono Tom King. camo 3 from
P~ennsyivania as q young woman She
had had many of the opportunities and
rennemets that graced the life OF a
gentlewoman so years ago. for in the
beginning she was a gentlewoman- In
her youth she was beautiful. Of splen-
did physique. being more than six feet
al HclH lLt VIII u CAEaL CDIlaHAC&Aoll aba
ave black hair. Her yes had that
quality which enabled her TO command
by n look
A love affair that ended IN bitter
disappointment Is SAID to have caused
the young woman to leave her Penn
uylvania home 10 seek forsetfulncss
In the west It seems to have been
accountable also for the crude title by
which she later became so well
known. since the term Calamity
Jane" appears to have been of her
own choosing. probably expressive OF
bitterness rooted In the belief thai
abe was the victim of an inordinateiy
unirind fate.
For two years after her arrival
she worked as a cowboy In Nebraska,
disguised Is q man. and for D time
none rave her husband knew differ
entity. When finally her identity be-
came known she moved further west
becoming an indian scout. WORKING
with Buffalo Bill and Red Wolf. under
Genera Crook at Fort Kearney. 1t is
claimed for her that h had no peer
IN her work, that mont except Buffalo
Bill questioned her supremacy as the
greatest Indian scout in oil Wyoming
and Dakota territory.
Calamity Jane won strong favor
with the Arapahocs and Shawnees.
who did not suspect the cunning U b
tisty. worthy OF an Indian himself.
by which she made use Of this friend
ship to thwart contemplated Indian
attacks upon the whits settlers. h
had the freedom Of the camps. and
on more than one occasion stampcded
the horses Of the Indians to prevent
contemplated attacks. She wss 4
rcout in the Deadwood region at he
time of Clusters massacre.
Calamity Jane had such a variety
of disguises that her sclosest friends
could not follow her owe It was a
Sondness OF hers. to dress as a man.
and because Of her great height n
bald. no one could tell the difference
Her hair was clipped short, and 81
hal numerous mustaches and boards
that she wore on occasion. Her fem
inine makeup included a wig Of au-
burn hair. and she was always known
AZ Nell IN the dance halls. Che should
nsver hc confused with the dance hall
riris since It is said OF her that she
was ever Hfour square and played
clean" Tt is told that she would give
tho shoes off her feet to n n
whom she thought needed them worse
than she. On the other hand she was
as free to take the shoes Of another
Il she considered that she needed
them more than he.
An incident illustrating her fear
lessness is related by Mr.. Fales. The
most feared mar on the ple'-s was a
certain sheriff. but 10 was nj !. atch
for Calamity Jane. woman though h
was. On one occasion he attempted
to arrest her. but before he could ad-
just the handouts she had him "cov-
cred" with a six shooter. She deied
him to lay hands on her. challenging
him with her wonderful eyes. The
sheriff departed with more haste thar
grace and never again interfered with
Calamity Jane.
Another time. an arch enemy had
reekoned the time for James earthly
departure had come. He had her
esemingly at his mercy with a gun
pointed straight at her heart. Calam-
ity Jane gave an ironical laugh, look
a sfrofcht fnto the barrel of the gun