The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-08-06

sCvly M nno pleSutte ~ s a Ls re-
ago by Mrs. William Polly, of Billings,
who remembers Jane well. It was many
years ago, when Billings was young and
carefree, and Mrs. Polly's father had
a new business partner who had come
from the east to join him in the cattle
ant enough chap, but he was very con-
ceited. His fault was self-adoration
and it was nj other than Calamity"
Jane herself who was the first to take
some of the conceit out Of him in
conner was standing in front Of a Bill
lings saloon one evening when "Calam-
ity1 Jane, aslittle tipsE, perhaps, strOlled
by. She was dressed IN buckskin
trousers and jacket and the man from
the east made some light remark about
Calamity" heard the remark and
turned upon the fellow in q fury. With
a series of rousing, descriptive oaths
she eloQuently presented her opinion
of him, and ended her performance
by swinging a swift kick in his direc-
tion, landing The sharp toe OF her 200
cash he did not Dor forget. Nor was
the conceited gentleman from east of
the Mississippi the only man to feel
the toe of "Calamity's" boot upon his
chin, for the high kick, says Mrs. Polly,
was "Calamity's" favorite method of
retaliation.
Calamity Lived in Stable
Mrs. Polly recalls seeing Calamity
Jane at several stages of her checkered
career. At one time, she says, "Calam-
ity" lived in a Billings stable with
several companions of the rougher ele:
a stove set in one of the stalls and there
they were at home among the horses
when not making rounds of the towns
less reputable hangouts.
On another occasion, when "Calam-
ity' was well over fifty, Mrs. Polly lived
next door to her in q village in the
Judith basin country. Then Calamity
husbands, a certain MI. Dorsey. Ca
lamity' was doing service as the town
waShWoman and making a meager
living. Because of her notorious rep
utation, few would associate with Ca
lamity" and Mrs. Polly avoided her
Jane was a great borrower who always
had a generous portion Of her neigh
bors' household utensils in her own
kitchen.
Jumped Bills
Mrs. Polly made it her policy never
to enter Calamity" James home, but
day Dorsey came to her door and
OGCldItU LIS Vile WdS III dAO dUOuG w
die. The western code demanded that
Mrs. Polly go in to see a sick neighbor
no matter who she might be, and she
found Calamity" lying seriously i'll.
In a corner was q basket Of unironed
clothes and Calamity" explained that
she must get them delivered that day
and ordered Mrs. Polly to iron the lot
and be quick about it. Calamity" was
in a sullen and imperious mood and
Mrs. Polly carried out the order, quak-
ing with fear all the while. Shortly
thereafter Calamity" Jane recovered
and one night under cover of darkness
she hitched up her ponies and left
town, leaving several hundred dollars
in unpaid bills behind.
Those who knew Calamity" Jane de-
clare that although legend pictures her
as a wonderful rifle shot, she was prob
ably a better cook than she was a gun
woman. She male attire but she
was an expert in the culinary line and
as long as she remained sober could
command a good wage as q cook in
frontier restaurants. But alas, Jane
dearly loved to battle the demon rum
and found playing wildcat in barrooms
much more to her liking than being
q mere cook for q band of COW pokeS
on q ranch or in some falSe-fronted
eating house. Almost anybody could
be a cook but not everyone could be
the lady wildcat Of the frontier. Ca
lamity" Jane was a reputation to
uphold.